Mercedes-Benz Cars at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA): Mobility rethought – from Formula 1 hybrid drive to fuel cell technology

Frankfurt. September 12, 2017; Mercedes-Benz Cars is shaping the mobility of the future – with courage, creativity and with exceptional solutions for diverse needs. The inventor of the automobile is demonstrating this at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) with world premieres of four concept vehicles. The show car Mercedes-AMG Project ONE with Formula 1 hybrid technology stands for the “Future of Driving Performance”. The smart vision EQ fortwo presents an electric and autonomous solution for highly efficient and flexible local traffic. The Concept EQA is the first all-electric EQ concept vehicle from Mercedes-Benz in the compact segment. With pre-production models of the Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL, the brand with the three-pointed star is showcasing for the first time worldwide an electric vehicle with fuel-cell and battery drive. With these electrified vehicles the company provides a taster of the future electrification of the entire lineup by 2022. With the world premiere of the new S 560 e (combined fuel consumption: 2.1 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 49 g/km; weighted electricity consumption: 15.5 kWh/100 km) Mercedes-Benz presents the new flagship in its plug-in hybrid lineup. Also celebrating their world premieres are the production and AMG variants of the new S-Class Coupé and Cabriolet.

The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE, a two-seater supersports show car brings the very latest and efficient, fully-fledged Formula 1 hybrid technology from the race track to the road almost par for par to represent the highlight of AMG 50th anniversary. The performance hybrid is said to produce over 1000 hp and reach top speeds beyond 350 km/h. The high-performance plug-in drive comes directly from Formula 1 and consists of a highly integrated and intelligently

networked unit compromising one hybrid, turbocharged combustion engine and a total of four electric motors. One has been integrated into the turbocharger, another has been installed directly on the combustion engine with a link to the crankcase and the two remaining motors drive the front wheels.

“Never before has racetrack technology been transferred so directly to the road. Never before was an AMG show car so close to the Formula 1 champions as the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE,” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “The development target for our first hypercar was clear: the perfect interaction of all components for ultimate racetrack performance.”

smart vision EQ fortwo – urban mobility at the very highest level

Individuality, outstanding flexibility and efficiency for local public transport – that’s what the smart vision EQ fortwo stands for, thanks to its swarm intelligence and demand prediction. The autonomous concept vehicle picks up its passengers at their preferred location and is operated entirely via smartphone. Through its black-panel grille at the front as well as large side-facing projection surfaces, it offers a level of individualization previously unheard of in carsharing. Relieved from driving duties, the passengers can relax in the spacious interior. This show car is the first passenger vehicle from the Daimler Group to dispense completely with steering wheel and pedals. At the same time, the smart vision EQ fortwo is the first vehicle to offer the individual areas of competence encompassed by the CASE strategy in their entirety: Connected, Autonomous, Shared & Services and Electric.

“With the smart vision EQ fortwo, we are developing a whole new concept for mobility. Without steering wheel and pedals and completely oriented towards customer needs,” says Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales. “This approach offers three major benefits to users: comfort, individuality and a new communication experience.”

Concept EQA – maximum fascination in a compact vehicle

The Concept EQA is the first all-electric EQ concept vehicle from Mercedes-Benz within the compact segment. Its permanent all-wheel drive with two electric motors delivers outstanding performance, with a system output that can be increased to more than 200 kW thanks to scalable battery components. In combination with the Mercedes-Benz intelligent operating strategy, the Concept EQA achieves a range of around 400 kilometres based on the installed battery capacity. With significantly reduced seams and lines as well as the black panel at the front, which serves as a virtual grille, the vehicle is a further example of the systematic further development of the design language of sensual clarity. Its innovative lighting technology is based on laser fibres. The spiral light insignia stands for electric thinking and is visually evocative of the copper windings on an electric motor.

“The Concept EQA shows how much fascination can fit into a compact car. It provides an example of how electric mobility might look like for our compact cars, because they are an important driver of our success,” says Hubertus Troska, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Greater China. “Around the world, many new customers have come to Mercedes-Benz through this vehicle segment. In Europe, the A-Class has a conquest rate of around 70 percent. In the USA, more than half of CLA owners are driving a Mercedes for the first time. And China is our biggest market for the GLA.”

GLC F-CELL – electric mobility with a dual heart

Mercedes-Benz is presenting preproduction models of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC F CELL as the next milestone on the road to emission-free driving. Under the technology designation EQ Power, the latest electric model (destined for subsequent series production) from the Mercedes-Benz family is doubly electrifying, for, in a world first, it is set to combine innovative fuel-cell and battery technology in the form of a plug-in hybrid: in addition to hydrogen, the all-electric variant of the popular SUV will also run on electricity. Intelligent interplay between battery and fuel cell, along with short refuelling times, will in future make the GLC F CELL a vehicle of high everyday practicality and also suitable for long-distance motoring. With 4.4 kg of hydrogen on board, the preproduction model produces enough energy for a range of up to 437 km in the NEDC. F-CELL drivers will also benefit from a range of up to 49 km in the NEDC thanks to the large lithium-ion battery. An output of 147 kW guarantees both dynamic performance and locally zero emissions driving pleasure.

“The GLC F-CELL shows how well-suited the combination of a battery and fuel cell is for everyday use. The benefits of the fuel cell are compelling: long range, short refuelling times and all that comes out of the “exhaust” is water. We have no doubt that this technology has a future. Wherever the necessary infrastructure exists,” says Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

S-Class – the new Coupé and Cabrio complete the model line-up

The new Coupé and Cabriolet in both production and AMG versions now complete the S-Class model line-up. They benefit from extensive new features that have just been introduced in the Sedan – such as the extensively enhanced driver assistance system, the modern widescreen cockpit, a new generation of steering wheel and the holistic ENERGIZING comfort control. Mercedes-AMG has updated its S 63 Coupé (Fuel consumption combined: 9.3 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 211 g/km) and Cabrio (Fuel consumption combined: 10.1 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 229 g/km) with a host of technical and visual highlights. The new-design front end of the S 65 Coupé (Fuel consumption combined: 11.9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 279 g/km) and Cabrio (Fuel consumption combined: 12.0 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 272 g/km) now is dominated by the Panamericana radiator grille.

With the world premiere of the new S 560 e (combined fuel consumption: 2.1 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 49 g/km; weighted electricity consumption: 15.5 kWh/100 km) the inventor of the automobile presents the new flagship in its plug-in hybrid lineup. The latest lithium-ion technology and the further developed, intelligent operating strategy mean that, for the first time, a Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid is offering a range of 50 kilometres.

The new X-Class – the Mercedes of the pickups

The new X-Class, the pickup from Mercedes-Benz, unites the typical characteristics of a pickup – robust, functional, reliable and all-terrain – with the classic characteristics of a true Mercedes-Benz – design, comfort, performance and safety. The X-Class fits seamlessly into the Mercedes-Benz line-up with a central star, twin-fin radiator grille, powerfully sculpted bonnet and headlamps pulled deep into the fenders.

A new interactive digital format – the me Convention

Over the next few days, Mercedes-Benz is offering an exciting and inspiring programme at the IAA. On Wednesday 13 September, at hourly intervals from 10.00 until 1.00 pm, experts from the company present a variety of different topics relating to the brand and future mobility at “Meet the Experts”. From 15 – 17 September, the classic vehicle presentations will be augmented for three days by an interactive dialogue format. “Meet the Experts” can be followed love on the new https://media.mercedes-benz.com/ online platform.