This may be Mercedes-Benz's vision of 2025, but the looks of this concept point to the next S-class
F125 is just of 5 metres long.
- What's with this gull-wing brouhaha?
Such doors are pet items of car designers, despite the fact that their colleagues in the finance department rarely give them the green light for production. On the brighter side of things, roof-hinged doors allow the interior of concept cars to be more easily appreciated from below the stage.
But hey, gull-wing doors are now in use in the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (but not the Roadster version), so the Stuttgart boys are no strangers to such portals. The car you see here is Mercedes-Benz's highlight at the ongoing Frankfurt motor show: the F125, an experimental vehicle marking 125 years of the brand.
The driver gets a 3D display.
- What's so cool about it?
The F125 is Merc's vision of the car from the year 2025, featuring a lightweight body made from carbon-reinforced plastics.
It is powered by a plug-in hybrid combining electric and hydrogen power that can develop a maximum 313hp. There's also an electric motor driving each wheel with independent torque adjustment, effectively making it an all-wheel-drive.
Mercedes says the lithium-sulphur battery is the next step in electricity storage, for being lighter and more powerful than the lithium-ion type. It can propel the F125 for 50km.
The range-extender comes in the form of hydrogen fuel-cells to which Mercedes, again, is no stranger, and it helps increase the touring range to 1,000km.
The 0-100kph time is rated at 4.9sec, top speed at 220kph and economy at 0.79kg per 100km (equivalent to some 37kpl if running on diesel).
The front seat folds for the owner’s sake.
- Cool. Will it come any time soon?
Probably not, even in a high-margin mainstream model like the S-class. But it's this particular flagship model that will have ramifications from the F125 when it is replaced next year.
Mercedes says the all-new S-class would get some design cues from this concept, although the 23-inch wheels are most likely to be declared off-limits.
The proportions of the F125 are intriguing as well. It measures 4,999mm in overall length with 3,333mm going between the front and rear axles. These are dimensions of a luxury car in long wheelbase form.
Amazing even is that the F125 has only two doors, so don't let these pictures here deceive you. It's a big car in the real world and can also be a pointer to the new S-class coupe to replace today's CL.
- What's with those interior monitors?
Although the general interior theme is futuristic rather than realistic, the 3D display for both the driver and passenger and internet-based voice control system could be arriving in the next S-class. The current model has heralded split-view monitor screen for the driver and front passenger.
In keeping with tradition, the new S-class will pack several novelties in engineering.
And now that there's a 4-cylinder S250 CDI being sold in Germany, don't be surprised to see a hybrid version in the future.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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