Vision One Eleven Concept May Inspire Future Mercedes-Benz Sports Cars
Mercedes-Benz today presented a new electric sports car study called Vision One Eleven at the International Design Center Carlsbad in California. This bold concept expresses how the brand envisions a future sports car inspired by the tradition of the legendary C 111 experimental vehicles from the 1960s and 1970s.
We’ve seen a number of iconic Mercedes-Benz designs over the years, including the gullwing-equipped 300SL and C 111. The latter served as a rolling laboratory to test revolutionary Wankel and turbodiesel engines as well as polymer-based body shells.
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Axial-Flux Motors
The Vision One Eleven follows a similar path, both in terms of styling and technology. The fully electric drive unit consists of a pair of new axial-flux motors developed by Yasa, a British company that Mercedes-Benz acquired in July 2021.
Unlike radial-flux motors used in pretty much all modern EVs (where the electromagnetic flow runs perpendicular to the motor's rotational axis), Yasa’s motors are more efficient because the flow runs parallel to the rotational axis. They’re also a third of the size, much lighter and especially more powerful.
Unfortunately, Mercedes-Benz did not specify output and torque at the event. We also don’t know about the capacity of the high-performance, liquid-cooled, cylindrical-cell battery with F1-inspired cell chemistry driving those motors.
Neo-Retro Styling
The design of the Vision One Eleven centres on skillful execution of the One-Bow concept. It’s also super-low with a height of just 1,170 mm. The extremely sculptural body harmonizes perfectly with the deep orange paintwork tinged with a hint of copper—an unmistakable reference to the colour of the C 111.
Under the flared fenders are 22-inch alloy wheels that incorporate powerfully structured elements evocative of electric motor windings. They’re fitted with Pirelli 275/35R22 tires, by the way. Low-slung, deeply scooped front and rear skirts finished in matte black are visually connected by two blade profiles in the same colour running along the flanks beneath the sills.
The distinctive front end consists of a rectangular element with rounded ends left and right. The panel in the middle is a flexible display with a 3D pixelated look, interpreting the C 111's characteristic round lights in digitized form while also conveying messages to other road users.
Spanning the breadth above the rear diffuser is a display that echoes the shape of its counterpart at the front end and features the same pixelated structure in the red taillights.
The Car as a User Interface
Opening the doors reveals a minimalist yet technologically advanced cabin. The F1-like driving position is similar to that in the Mercedes-AMG One, complete with four-point seat harnesses. The difference is that the angle of the seatback can be adjusted to improve comfort.
The only highly complex feature in the interior is the rectangular, leather-clad steering wheel, which is fitted with various functional controls and state-of-the-art touch elements. This is complemented by a compact touchscreen with high-resolution display mounted to the side of the steering wheel and angled towards the driver, showing all relevant vehicle information as required.
For the premiere of the Vision One Eleven, Mercedes-Benz designers created a visionary user experience with the aid of augmented reality. As soon as the driver dons the Magic Leap 2 headset, their experience is enriched with high-definition digital content that is contextually integrated into their surroundings. The company says it creates a seamless spatial blend of physical interior and digital user interface beyond the screen. In effect, the entire car becomes the user interface.
Just to be clear, this electric concept is designed with autonomous driving capability. Future sports models from Mercedes-Benz may very well adopt styling cues inspired by the Vision One Eleven, not to mention new drive units based on axial-flux motors. We can’t wait to see it all in action.