AUTOMOBILES
MERCEDES-BENZ
VISION ONE-ELEVEN | BY JARONE ASHKENAZI
T
he Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven recently debuted at Mercedes-Benz’s International Design Center in Carlsbad, California. The supercar silhouette combines a highly dynamic design language with innovative all-electric powertrain technology, becoming the first of its 21st-century style. Inspired by the tradition of the legendary C 111 experimental vehicles from the 1960s and 70s, “our all-electric vision show car is the modern-day interpretation of the C 111, which was avant-garde at the time. The element of surprise comes from its exceptionally clean, purist, and, at the same time, extremely muscular proportions. This iconic clarity is also reflected in the interior. The equally sensual but minimalist design language stands for ICONIC LUXURY by Mercedes-Benz,” said Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer, Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Its exterior is a sporty interpretation of the OneBow design with high-tech references as the “Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven combines breathtaking design with groundbreaking powertrain technology,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer. From the low-slung front end to the muscular hindquarters and side view flush-fit gullwing doors and the side windows, the 46-inch-high vehicle silhouette presents an extremely sculptural feel. The car pays homage to the distinctive color of the C 111 without adopting it one-to-one, with the deep orange paintwork tinged with a hint of copper. Its front-end design boasts a high-tech look, while its rear-end design combines aerodynamic features and digital elements.
12 | UPSCALE LIVING MAGAZINE | AUG/SEPT 2023
Its interior fuses a lounge-like feel with super sports car minimalism, making it the first sports car interior with a lounge concept. The car has a race mode offering a minimalist driving machine, while lounge mode presents a new exceptionally airy spatial concept. Its dashboard is made from 100 percent recycled polyester, while its sustainably processed leather was tanned using coffee bean husks. The Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven uses an extremely powerful and highly efficient axial-flux motor developed by electric motor specialist YASA, offering a “motorsport-like power output from a considerably smaller package,” said Schäfer. Along with improved performance, the axial-flux motors are significantly lighter and more compact. Still, they can offer more power than radial-flux motors in other electric cars. The new battery concept features high-performance liquid-cooled cylindrical cells with novel cell chemistry that with “Formula-1 inspired cell chemistry, the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven is yet another proof point for the broad performance spectrum encompassed by our four-pronged development strategy for electric drive,” said Schäfer. Mercedes-Benz is also launching the “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111” collection, including a weekender bag, aviator sunglasses, a modern-fit hoodie, an orange cotton cap, and an iPhone 14 Pro cover. The items in the “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111” collection will be available in August 2023 at www.1of111.com.
