The concept is Daimler’s submission for this year's LA Auto Show design challenge. Designed at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Sindelfingen, the "Knitted" Smart 454 is a four-seater concept for their new Weight Watch Technologies.
For the LA Design Challenge, the creators had to imagine a car that is light, weighing in the area of 1,000 pounds (approx. 454 kilograms). The concepts also had to be safe and comfortable, offer good handling performance, but above all have world class design.
"As the prototype of the lightweight and environmentally friendly city car smart is predestined for this challenge. It met all the basic requirements. We just had to further optimize the lightweight construction coupled with a distinctive and individual design," said Steffen Köhl, Head of Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design.
The 454 moves thanks to a couple of 15 kW electric motors, housed between the rear wheels, that get their juice from replaceable lithium-ion batteries. In the interior the city runabout does not need an instrument panel, as all the controls are managed using an iPad app that displays things like the speedometer and battery charge indicator, navigation system, or air conditioning.
The Los Angeles Design Challenge takes part during the Design Los Angeles Conference, on November 17th, 2010, within the framework of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Studios from across the world will participate for the first time in addition to South Californian design studios working in the automotive industry. The winner of the competition will be announced on November 18th, 2010.
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