The wait is over folks, Mercedes-Benz fully unveiled its dubious futuristic concept. It’s called the F 015 Luxury in Motion and according to chief Dieter Zetsche, it’s “a mobile living space”.
We were right in our previous report though, the F 015 is indeed an autonomous vehicle and its wheels are powered by electricity coming from a fuel cell. And although it looks like a Prius fighter, the concept is almost as big as the long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz S Class, so don’t let these photos here fool you.
Honestly, this car looks to be coming straight out from the Demolition Man movie. It’s huge teardrop body shape looks almost the same front and back while the sides are adorned with big doors that open at 90 degrees to allow passengers a quick and easy entry.
There is no B pillar here, with the rear doors adopting an oldschool “suicide” style while the front ones open in a normal way. A very sturdy interconnected system with mechanical locking system with mechanical locking elements ensures exemplary safety standards in case of a side impact, while carbon fiber reinforced plastic, aluminum and high-strength steels work together to provide a hard shell in the absence of the B pillars.
An interior like you’ve never seen
Opening the doors will reveal a lounge-like space with an overall fell-good ambience achieved through smooth flowing surfaces, organic materials, soft nappa leather, metal and glass surfaces as well as four free pivoting seats that allow a face-to-face position. They are electrically powered and can also swing outwards by 30 degrees as soon as the doors are opened.
As many as six displays are adorning the dashboard and door panels to keep occupants entertained and informed, while the driver can take manual control via a rectangular steering wheel automatically extending from the dashboard, moment when the LEDs outside will switch from blue to white, notifying passers by a human is controlling it. Told you it’s like in the Demolition Man movie.
Passengers can interact with the connected vehicle through gestures, eye-tracking or by touching the high resolution screens. There are no physical buttons or switches.
Performance of the future
Although the F 015 is a mere prototype trying to show us how cars might turn in 2030, it is powered by a fuel cell fed by hydrogen or batteries recharged from the grid. The powertrain is said to make around 268 hp and 294 lb-ft (398 Nm) of torque which could show up the 62 mph (100 km/h) mark on the speedo in 6.7 seconds on its way to a limited 124 mph (200 km/h).
Some 5.4 kg 700 bar tanks are integrated into the floor of the car along with the batteries and provide a total range of 684 miles (1,100 km). Well, in this case, we can say hydrogen fuel cells are the future of transportation.
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