Mercedes-Benz Style Helicopter Ready to Take Off [Gallery]

Eurocopter has today taken the wraps off the first product from “Mercedes-Benz Style”, as the EC145 helicopter has had its world premiere at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2011 (EBACE) in Geneva. The EC145 “Mercedes-Benz Style” helicopter, designed for luxury-class business and private travel, will then be handed over to an European customer.

The interior of the EC145 “Mercedes-Benz Style” is inspired by the luxury-class saloons created by the brand with the three-pointed star badge, featuring deluxe materials, elegant woods, and ambient lighting familiar from the S and E-Klasse that can be adjusted to a number of different color and brightness settings, as well as spacious multi-function boxes with various equipment options.

In addition, all seats are fixed to rails and can be rearranged very easily in a number of different arrangements for four to eight passengers, or removed altogether in order to create space for luggage. The load area also offers a high degree of flexibility with an extensive range of anchoring options on the floor and walls.

“Only one year after Eurocopter presented the EC145 ‘Mercedes-Benz Style’ concept at EBACE 2010, we now are unveiling the first aircraft and can already announce the initial sale to a European corporate operator,” said Olivier Lambert, Eurocopter’s Senior Vice President Sales and Customer Relations. “These achievements confirm Eurocopter’s successful approach in developing products that meet the demanding expectations of executive and private customers worldwide.”

“We are very pleased to have realized the first product of ‘Mercedes-Benz Style’ with Eurocopter,” said Prof. h.c. Dr. Gorden Wagener, head of design at Mercedes-Benz. “The interior design of the EC145 ‘Mercedes-Benz Style’ helicopter represents the classic passion of the Mercedes-Benz design language and fulfils the very highest expectations in terms of elegance, luxury and comfort.”