The One-Eleven Concept takes inspiration from the series of C 111 experimental vehicles from the 60s and the 70s. which were used to check revolutionary Wankel and turbodiesel engines.
They were also prototypes for testing polymer-based bodyshells. The mid-engine sports cars are considered design icons of their era, not least because of their distinctive gullwing doors and attention-grabbing orange-and-black paintwork.
From the official Press Release:
Exterior Design
The body of the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven centres on the execution of the One-Bow design. From the low-slung front end to the muscular hind quarters, it runs in a smooth bow that endows the just 1,170 mm-high vehicle silhouette with a particularly sculptural feel.
This harmonises with the copper-orange alubeam paintwork and provides an unmistakeable reference to the distinctive color of the C 111.
Further notable features of the side view include the flush-fit gullwing doors and the side windows, that are opaque from the surface and camouflaged by a pixelated pattern.
One other is the large-diameter wheels inserted seamlessly into the wheel arches beneath voluminous flared wings. The wheel design incorporates elements evocative of electrical motor windings.
They stand in spirited contrast to the vehicle’s minimalist and smooth surface design, which is more akin to a sculptural art piece. This contrast is typical of the X-factors the brand applies to its design pondering and a particular feature of the Vision One-Eleven.
One other striking contrast arises through the very low-slung front and rear skirts finished in matte black. The 2 deeply scooped aerodynamic elements are visually connected by two blade profiles in the identical color running along the flanks beneath the sills.
These profiles feature piercings which are backlit in blue. The functional aerodynamic elements also function an extra design reference to the C 111, which is painted black on the lower portion of its bodyshell.
The dark “keel line” of the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven generates an impression of seamless transition between the vehicle and the bottom beneath it that’s much more powerful than that of the C 111. The shape of the automobile appears fused with the road surface.
The front-end design
From the frontal aspect, too, the Vision One-Eleven is evocative of the C 111. Intimately, nevertheless, there are differences.
On each vehicles the front end consists of a low-lying rectangular element with rounded ends left and right. On the C 111, it is a closed plastic element with a honeycomb structure, fitted with round foglamps.
Within the corresponding part on the Vision One-Eleven the panel is a versatile external display with a 3D pixelated look, which interprets the C 111’s characteristic round lights in digitised form and may convey messages to other road users.
In contrast to the C 111, the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven bears a U-shaped and strongly profiled front apron. Above the slender light band, each forefather and descendant show further similarities, most notably the black air intakes on the bonnet.
The rear-end design
The rear-end of the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven is likewise dominated by a diffuser. Spanning the breadth above it’s a display that echoes the form of its counterpart on the front end and features the identical pixelated structure within the red taillights. Just like the blade profiles along the edges, blue lighting effects are also visible on the rear. The inner face of the wheels is fitted with circular lighting elements.
Interior design
Inside, the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven presents the primary sports automobile interior with a lounge concept. It reflects the paradigm shift from self-driven sports automobile to autonomous electric vehicle throughout the super sportscar segment and unites two completely different states of being.
In race mode with the backrest upright and the compact driver-oriented touchscreen, the inside becomes that of a minimalist driving machine. Conversely, in lounge mode, the seats are fully integrated into the inside sculpture, which merges sills, centre tunnel and luggage compartment right into a single unit.
This creates an entire recent, exceptionally airy spatial concept. In contrast to previous mid-engine sports cars, it takes advantage of the compact proportions of electrical motors to increase the inside rearwards. Consequently, the lounge-like interior invites occupants to take their time and calm down – a very recent approach for the sports automobile of the long run.
The massive surfaces equivalent to the dashboard are upholstered in white fabric displaying a tech-look honeycomb structure. The fabric is constituted of 100-percent recycled polyester. Other elements equivalent to the armrests on the sills and centre console, in addition to the rear parcel shelf beneath the expansive rear windscreen, are clad in vivid orange leather. This creates a smooth transition from interior to luggage compartment. The sustainably processed leather was tanned using coffee bean husks. Polished aluminium within the steering-wheel spokes and inlaid as straps across the armrests underscore the tech appear and feel. The identical applies to the brake and accelerator pedals, each of that are constituted of polished aluminium and floor mounted.
Otherwise, the inside equipment within the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven has been reduced to a minimum. Like the outside, the duty here too was to maintain the variety of add-on features to a bare minimum. The seats are good examples as they don’t follow the classic format. As an alternative, the seat cushions are integrated flush-fit into the ground. This creates the initial impression of the bucket seat in a Formula 1 race automobile. The orange 4‑point harness and its high-gloss polished buckle further reinforce the sporting character.
Nevertheless, the progressive seats mix this sporting feel with luxurious comfort because, unlike in a Formula 1 race automobile, the angle of the backrest may be adjusted. The silver shimmer of their diamond-quilted upholstery underscores the first-class interior ambience. Between the seats is a compact centre console, freestanding in space.
The one highly complex feature in the inside is the leather-clad steering wheel, which is fitted with various functional controls and state-of-the-art touch elements. That is complemented by a compact touchscreen with high-resolution display mounted to the side of the steering wheel and angled towards the motive force. It shows all relevant vehicle information as required.
UI/UX Technology
The contrast to the trendy interior is provided by the slender pixel display spanning your complete breadth of the dashboard, picking up on the shape of the front and rear light bands. Here too, the pixel structure is intentionally coarse, which provides the knowledge displayed – equivalent to the present speed – a strikingly daring appearance. Furthermore, the 3D pixel display shows digital art pieces as a coarsely rasterised stream of QR codes within the form of “early digital” news tickers. This is finished with the assistance of glass pixels that show a changing color gradient depending on the viewing angle. The corresponding real image then appears razor sharp on the high-resolution screen next to the steering wheel.
This mixture of vastly differing representations of the identical image embodies an extra interpretation of the MBUX Hyperscreen with a concentrate on flexible interfaces. The retro-futuristic, 8-bit look thus creates an extra X-factor. The event within the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven reinforces the increasing fusion of physical and digital.
For the premiere of the Vision One-Eleven, Mercedes-Benz designers have created a visionary user experience with the help of augmented reality (AR), setting it inside a virtual prototype of the Vision One‑Eleven interior. As soon as the motive force dons the Magic Leap 2 augmented reality headset, their experience is enriched with high-definition digital content that’s contextually integrated into their surroundings. It creates a seamless spatial mix of physical interior and digital user interface beyond the screen. In effect, your complete automobile becomes the user interface.
Mercedes-Benz has been exploring the advantages of AR for the reason that launch of the F015 concept automobile in 2015. The AR UI on this recent automobile presents a vision of the long run that works on two levels: the knowledge attached to the dashboard and knowledge placed within the environment inside and out of doors the automobile. This marks the subsequent step from screen-based UI with Mercedes-Benz intuitive zero-layer technology to an AR UI that arranges zero‑layer elements across the user in space. Elements include modules, 3D icons and the navigation map. The control interface across the dashboard and steering wheel can be augmented with additional contextualised information attached to actual objects equivalent to buttons or switches.
The 180-degree AR view incorporates the world outside the virtual prototype – fusing the automobile effortlessly with its surroundings and placing the motive force on the centre. Map elements are projected into the environment, which is enriched with further information equivalent to places of interests or hidden hazards equivalent to roadworks beyond a bend. With this X-ray view, the system enhances situational awareness by mixing out unimportant details to create an uncluttered image of relevant input. Elements that obstruct the motive force’s line of sight – equivalent to the A-pillar, doors and even the bonnet – then appear “transparent”. Mercedes-Benz designers and experts worked with the technical specialists at Magic Leap to develop and refine the AR experience showcased within the Vision One-Eleven using the highly advanced Magic Leap 2 AR glasses.
The spatial user interface is a beacon for a Mercedes-Benz user experience that’s unencumbered by technology. It is an element of a wider vision that appears towards prolonged reality, whereby technology and hardware stop to be the point of interest; as a substitute becoming fully integrated and seamless facilitators of user needs and desires.
Electric powertrain
Technology highlights include a brand new battery concept featuring high-performance liquid-cooled cylindrical cells with a novel cell chemistry. Over again, the extensive knowledge of the motorsport experts from Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrain in Brixworth found its way into this promising concept for future performance-oriented batteries. Except for that, the Vision One-Eleven features two exceptionally powerful and advanced axial-flux motors from YASA. Mercedes-Benz is developing this technology along with YASA to large scale production maturity for its next-generation electric drives. YASA is a British electric-motor specialist based in Oxford and has been a 100-percent subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz AG since July 2021. The corporate has thus secured access to a singular future technology that has the potential to take electric mobility to a brand new level of performance.
Alongside its power and torque density, one other major profit is the narrow package, which reduces each its weight and dimensions. The load of an axial-flux motor is only one third of that of current electric motors with the identical power output. At the identical time, it requires just one-third of the space occupied by a radial-flux motor. This opens up completely recent options for engineers in addition to recent freedoms within the design of an electrical vehicle as demonstrated by the Vision One-Eleven.
The long run generation of YASA axial-flux motors will probably be produced on the Mercedes-Benz Berlin-Marienfelde plant. The motors manufactured there will probably be at the center of the forthcoming powertrain for the performance segment.
(Source: Mercedes-Benz)
This Article First Appeared At www.carbodydesign.com
