Mercedes Concept: Mind-blowing design, functionality

The Auto China 2012 event, which goes on until May 2, will witness a total of 120 global launches, 36 of them from international brands, and will include dozens of concept vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupé.

According to Mercedes-Benz, the four-door coupé is a rebel when it comes to style: nonconformist, provocative and masculine. Technical highlights include its striking headlamp design featuring innovative indicators, the new four-cylinder 211hp turbocharged petrol engine and the all-wheel drive system 4MATIC.

“The Concept Style Coupé is expressive and powerful in its design,” said Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “We are staking our claim very clearly here. This is the model against which sporty vehicles in the executive segment will have to measure up to in future.”

“The almost production-standard Concept Style Coupé sets a new benchmark for avant-garde design in the executive segment,” emphasised Gorden Wagener, head of design at Mercedes-Benz. “Its breathtaking proportions, sinewy fluid surfaces and sculptural lines are the physical expression of our dynamic design idiom.”

 

PROVOCATIVE, MASCULINE: THE EXTERIOR

The car’s sporty proportions and powerful dynamic design idiom features an interplay between concave and convex surfaces that is typical for new-age Mercedes.

One of the most striking features is the way the bonnet with its powerdome is set right into the front-end assembly, as well as its diamond-look grille, which follows through on design cues set by the Concept A-Class. The paint finish of the concept vehicle is in Alubeam – a colour that helps to emphasise the sculptural quality of its lines.

The innovative headlamps of the Concept Style Coupé are reminiscent of the ever wary, almost intimidating eyes of a predatory animal. In standby mode they shine red. Another special feature is the indicators: individual points light up in succession, rather like a piano keyboard.

Three prominent lines give structure to the vehicle when viewed from the side: the front structural edge over the wings flows towards the rear end in a characteristic dropping line. Another, more sinewy line spans the shoulder muscle above the rear axle, while the third line extends upward in a sweeping curve from the front wheel towards the rear. Together, these lines lend more depth and dynamism to the side profile. The ripple design of the prominent exterior mirrors takes advantage of the design freedoms enjoyed by a concept car.

The same is true of the 21-inch wheels, with their very sporty turbine design. Perforated pins on the spokes pick up once again on the diamond-theme of the radiator grille. The Concept Style Coupé features frameless side windows and has no B-pillar.

A large panoramic roof creates a light and airy interior. A metal rib, the shape of which evokes a roll-over bar, separates the roof from the rear windscreen, which in turn flows down to merge smoothly into the tail end. The avant-garde lines of the Coupé are further emphasised by the way the tail lights, with their metallic-red colouring, taper to a sharp point both to the front and toward the rear centre. An integrated dual-flow exhaust system underlines the car’s sporty credentials and gives added width to the tail end. A narrow rear diffuser picks up again on the dotted pattern of the diamond grille.

 

HIGH-GRADE SPORTINESS: THE INTERIOR

The interior opens up to reveal taut, expressively sculptured surfaces. The structure of the instrument panel is reminiscent of an outstretched wing, with a large carbon-fibre trim panel that spans its full width, giving it the elegance and distinctive appeal of a coupé. Standing proud from the instrument cluster are two tubes, similarly in carbon fibre and individually glazed. When the indicator is activated, a ring lights up in the tubes.

Flowing back in a long, continuous wave from the instrument panel is the centre console. Embedded in this is an intricately designed fan module for the two rear seats, which also incorporates a stowage compartment.

The world of fashion provided the inspiration for the colour mix of light grey and anthracite. A fresh, sporty touch is added by neon green piping and topstitching, which appear on the instrument panel, steering wheel, seat and door centre panels, amongst other places.

Fine materials combine with high-grade workmanship to set a new benchmark for quality. There has been no stinting on the use of leather, either: the instrument panel is upholstered in white nubuck leather, providing an interesting contrast with the anthracite-coloured Alcantara used on the upper section of the instrument panel. Suede is used on the sports steering wheel to ensure better grip. All chrome trim elements and control panels now for the first time feature a black anodised finish, as seen on top-of-the-range limited Sports Edition chronograph watches. The surfaces around the HMI control panel have the glossy shimmer of black anodised aluminium. 

The four integral seats with integrated head restraints are already familiar from the Sports version of the new A-Class. An electroplated insert in the upper part of the seat adds to the impression of lightness and is illuminated.

The design of the air vents in the instrument panel evokes an aircraft jet engine. As in the Concept A-Class they are backlit and change colour according to the temperature set by the occupants for the climate-control system. When cool, fresh air is brought into the car, they are blue, but they light up red when the airflow is warm. At a mid-range temperature setting the vents are illuminated in fluorescent yellow, and thus match the colour of the piping perfectly.

 

ALWAYS ON: THE MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM

With Command Online and the various Mercedes-Benz apps developed specifically to be used and controlled while on the move, as well as with the ability to browse the Internet when the vehicle is stationary, the occupants of the Concept Style Coupé are “always on” and able to maintain their digital lifestyle at all times.

 

SPORTINESS IN TUNE WITH THE TIMES: THE ENGINE

Sporty driving dynamics coupled with exemplary efficiency are the hallmarks of the engine of the Concept Style Coupé. Powerful wheel-hub drive is provided by the 2.0-litre version of the new petrol engine which generates 211hp, combined with the efficient 4MATIC all-wheel drive system and the 7G-DCT dual clutch automatic transmission.

Among the highlights of the four-cylinder engine are its direct-injection system with exhaust gas turbocharging, an enhanced combustion system and extended stratification ranges for a lean-burn operation using fast-acting injectors for the multiple fuel injections and multi-spark ignition according to need.