Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force Concept (Foto Ufficiali)

[Touareg 2.5]

Press Release :

Stuttgart – Is it possible that the Mercedes-Benz G-Class will still be around in 2025? A cool design study from Mercedes-Benz demonstrates how the genes of the classic off-roader from 1979 may still assert themselves in the far future. It is based on the concept of a future police car developed for the Los Angeles Design Challenge.

The Los Angeles Design Challenge 2012 looks far ahead with a quest for the “Highway Patrol Vehicle 2025”. Law enforcement will have to prepare for even more crowded roads with electronically monitored and guided traffic, a much larger population and changes in human behaviour. People will feel young and active until even later in life. Outdoor activities will dominate leisure, the desire for freedom and adventure. The new times will also call for new police vehicles. They must be able to reach any place conceivable quickly and reliably – even far away from any pavement. And they must do so in an exceptionally environmentally friendly way using alternative energy sources. Enhanced green-car characteristics and off-road capabilities will be among the fundamental virtues of a police car in

2025.

As an environmentally friendly SUV, the Ener-G-Force, which Mercedes-Benz is presenting in Los Angeles as a design study, meets these requirements and would be fully capable of supporting police and emergency services in every corner of the world. Gorden Wagener, Director of Design at Mercedes-Benz Cars: “The Ener-G-Force is the vision of an off-roader that, while reflecting tomorrow’s adventures, also invokes the genes of the Mercedes-Benz off-road icon, the G model. Modern and cool, it could also be a clue about a new beginning for the off-road design idiom of Mercedes-Benz”.

The small glass areas make the police vehicle a safe cocoon for law enforcement officers who are faced with many dangers. Emergency lights integrated into the roof ensure attention that is impossible to ignore; the striking front leaves no doubt as to the commanding presence of the police, and the gigantic wheels guarantee the right of way even where no way exists.

Back from the future – clean concept for beyond tomorrow

Of course the concept of the Ener-G-Force for the Los Angeles Design Challenge is pure, rendered science fiction. However, the notion of designing tomorrow’s off-roader fascinated the designers at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Carlsbad, California to such an extent that they evolved the vision of a police version into a civilian version and even built a 1:1-scale model. Like the “Highway Patrol Vehicle 2025”, the shape of the civilian Ener-G-Force is modelled after the G-Class, the off-road icon whose continuous history goes all the way back to the 1970s and that to this very day still tackles the future as a stylistically and technologically advanced SUV.

Like the police version, the model of the civilian Ener-G-Force is unmistakably inspired by the G-Class, which has long been considered an automotive icon. However, it presents a radical reinterpretation of this classic that looks far into the future. Important genes such as proportions and design elements were adopted conceptually and completely redesigned and updated in a clean concept for beyond tomorrow. Ener-G-Force Designer Hubert Lee: “Of course we wanted to take a clear step forward, but we also wanted the G’s characteristic features”. The Ener-G-Force has a similar profile, however with a high shoulder line and scaled-down glass areas.

While the clear design idiom of the G-Class has remained, all surfaces are designed to express intensity and tension. The meticulously executed details also are a clear indication that the Ener-G-Force is the product of modern times. Like the G-Class, the Ener-G-Force sports a front with an expressive radiator grille that incorporates the headlamps. LEDs in the headlamps form lamp units in the shape of a G. This gives the Ener-G-Force a strong, iconic appearance and demonstrates dominance. The front indicators and position lights are mounted on top of the wings as a significant G-Class element.

The mounted roof distinctive to the G-Class and the tripartite glass area also cite the fundamental genes of the classic off-roader from Mercedes-Benz, but represent a clear step forward. This is also evident in the large wheels, whose 20-inch rims give the Ener-G-Force a powerful, towering stance. The Ener-G-Force also plays on the utility factor in an entirely new way. For instance, the distinctive feature in the rear is a slightly off-centre pull-out compartment whose cover takes up the characteristic look of the spare wheel carrier of the classic G-Class. This pull-out tool box can hold a wide variety of equipment items that consequently are quickly in reach without having to open the whole liftgate.

Bursting with energy

The Ener-G-Force stores recycled water in tanks on the roof, and transfers it to the “hydro-tech converter,” where natural and renewable resources are converted into hydrogen for operating the fuel cells. The storage units for the electricity generated in this process are housed easily accessible in the striking side skirts. The Ener-G-Force emits nothing but water, has an operating range of about 800 kilometres and as a result truly is a green car. Four wheel-hub motors, whose output for each individual wheel is adapted precisely to the respective terrain by high-performance electronics, provide the pulling power.

A “Terra-Scan” 360-degree topography scanner on the roof permanently scans the surroundings and uses the results to adjust the spring and damping rates as well as other suspension parameters for maximum traction on the respective surface, regardless of whether it is in terrain or on the road. The strikingly styled side skirts house either the energy storage units or hot-swappable battery packs. Changes in the colour of the illumination of the side skirts indicate the operating and charge status of the energy packs. A roof carrier and additional lamps are integrated into the roof. The ensemble appears to have been carved from a single piece. The overall package of this design model is a clean thing – stylistically and functionally.

Mercedes-Benz

Nell'ambito del Los Angeles Design Challenge 2012, concomitante con il Salone di Los Angeles, la Mercedes-Benzpresenterà lo studio del prototipo Ener-G-Force Fuel Cell. Il tema del concorso è dedicato quest'anno alla vetture delle forze dell'ordine del 2025, un salto nel futuro per immaginare soluzioni tecniche e stilistiche di veicoli speciali che faranno della tecnologia la loro "arma" migliore.

Guarda la galleria fotografica della Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force Concept

Design. Come si intuisce dalla denominazione, la Casa tedesca ha deciso di cogliere l'occasione per proiettare nel futuro il suo evergreen, la Classe G, tanto da realizzare un doppio progetto, con un modello 1:1 di una possibile versione civile. Le proporzioni, la presenza su strada e l'impostazione da fuoristrada sono quelle di sempre, esaltando l'altezza da terra e riducendo notevolmente l'altezza delle superfici vetrate. Il frontale è volutamente imponente e aggressivo, con il "vezzo" dei gruppi ottici Led a forma di G. I cerchi da 20" dominano la vista laterale, mentre al posto della ruota di scorta posteriore è integrato nel portellone un box aggiuntivo per le attrezzature speciali.

Tecnologia. Sul tetto è prevista la possibilità di immagazzinare acqua riciclata, da inviare poi al sistema hydro-tech converter che ne ricava idrogeno per alimentare il sistema Fuel-Cell: la Ener-G-Force è infatti un veicolo elettrico che non emette alcun tipo di emissioni nocive, con un'autonomia teorica di circa 800 km. Ogni ruota è dotata di un motore elettrico, così da gestire elettronicamente la trazione integrale attraverso l'inedito software Terra-Scan, che analizza la topografia del percorso con telecamere e sensori e regola di conseguenza assetto e ripartizione della coppia. Nei profili laterali inferiori, stilizzati come grossi predellini, sono integrati i pacchi batteria intercambiabili con illuminazione variabile che ne indica lo stato di carica.

Prefigura la futura Classe G. Pur trattandosi di un puro esercizio di stile, lo stesso responsabile design della casa tedesca, Gorden Wagener, ha dichiarato che questo modello potrebbe anticipare le soluzioni stilistiche che vedremo sulla futura generazione di fuoristrada della Stella: un riferimento chiaro alla chiacchierata erede della Classe G, che dal 1979 continua a rimanere fedele a se stessa.

Quattroruote

Tra le varie robe presentate al design challenge di L.A., questa è imho la più interessante... anche perché è più che un semplice esercizio. Oltre alla versione in divisa, MB ha deciso di presentarla anche in salsa civile (in foto)... ammettendo che potrebbe benissimo anticipare la futura generazione della Classe G di cui si è cominciato a parlare già da un po' di tempo.

Io la trovo assolutamente riuscita e stupenda.

Modificato 16 Novembre 2012 da Touareg 2.5

[madmaf]

Il frontale è anche molto Mercedes... il posteriore invece mi ricorda un SUV enorme che non riesco a focalizzare (un Nissan se non erro)

[ROCKY77]

spettacolare!!!!!

[Andrea_M]

Prima cosa che ho pensato è stata tipo "WOW pure la piscina sul tetto!" ... ma poi leggo.

The Ener-G-Force stores recycled water in tanks on the roof, and transfers it to the “hydro-tech converter,” where natural and renewable resources are converted into hydrogen for operating the fuel cells.

[superkappa125]

Faicherrima. Ripulita dagli orpelli da concept è anche piuttosto pulita e fedele al concetto di G-Klasse.

L'unico appunto è una vetratura laterale che richiama fin troppo la Jeep Patriot.

[Cosimo]

molto bella, in versione sobria l'unica perplessità in effetti potrebbero essere i finestrini un po' claustrofobici, ma promette molto bene.

[Pandino]

Sarei curioso di vederla con dei lattoni ai piedi e dei pneumatici normali

[Martin Venator]

Siamo entrati nell'era post-atomica?

[Beckervdo]

[ROCKY77]

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