Its still not a beauty queen but its better looking than the EQS and quite a forward looking design for future Mercedes models. I do like the aerodynamic advancements and how the body and rear has been designed to maximize airflow.
The interior looks fantastic and could be good for a production car, the seat design looks really comfortable and the clarity and graphics of the huge full width screen is staggering.
Very interesting technical details for this car and innovations with the chassis/underbody design with the 3D printed bionic structures looks really cool. I like it that they made all efforts to reduce the weight of the batteries to 480kg and the total weight to 1750kg, which is even lighter than a ICE compact saloon with equivalent power.
From JESMB:
Mercedes Vision EQXX 1,000 km range
With a drag coefficient of 0.17 and 95% efficiency, the Vision EQXX has a range of 1,000 km
Range and efficiency are decisive factors in the age of electromobility. Long-range electric cars are also suitable for long journeys and thus for long road trips. This once again increases their acceptance. High efficiency also makes it possible to use a smaller and therefore lighter battery in order to achieve more with less. Mercedes-Benz is doing pioneering work here, as exemplified by the EQS as the current range leader. In a test by the renowned American automobile information service Edmunds, an EQS 450+ with 333 hp covered 422 miles (679 km) with one battery charge. That's 77 miles (124 km) more than any other electric car tested before.
With the VISION EQXX, Mercedes-Benz is now taking the next step. According to internal, digital simulations, it can be assumed that the technology carrier will drive over 1,000 kilometers in real road traffic with a single battery charge. This would take it to a new level in terms of range. In addition to increasing efficiency, resource conservation and the best possible environmental compatibility were equally important development goals. That is why the Mercedes-Benz engineers chose a holistic approach. Starting with the improvement of all components of the ultra-modern electric drive train as well as the use of lightweight materials and sustainable materials. In addition, there are other efficiency measures, from the extremely low rolling resistance tires to the sophisticated aerodynamics (cW 0. 17) through to the use of the latest software. The result: The VISION EQXX overcomes the previous technological limits and sets the new standard for energy efficiency.
Less CO2 from production
With the VISION EQXX, Mercedes-Benz is breaking new ground. The research vehicle represents a courageous yet absolutely realistic step into the future of electric vehicle technology. In addition to its outstanding energy efficiency when driving, the technology platform also offers meaningful answers to other pressing questions. For example, the CO2 footprint is significantly reduced through the use of sustainable materials. The UI / UX has a completely new, one-piece display that extends over the entire width of the interior. User interface elements support the seamless interaction between driver and vehicle. Among other things, through Artificial Intelligence (AI), which mimics the functioning of the human brain. The software-controlled development process is revolutionizing the way
The VISION EQXX is the result of a comprehensive program that provides a blueprint for the future of automotive engineering. Many of the innovative developments are already being integrated into production, some of them also in the next generation of the MMA, the modular architecture for compact and mid-range vehicles from Mercedes-Benz.
Vision EQXX: A car with a mission - the most efficient Mercedes-Benz ever built
The key facts:
#EnergyWizard: Measures to increase efficiency lead to extremely low consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 km.
#ElectricDrive: The radically new drive concept developed by Mercedes-Benz achieves a benchmark efficiency of 95 percent from the battery to the wheels.
#RangeBuster: More than 1,000 km on a single battery charge on public roads enable relaxed long-distance journeys.
#EnergyDensity: Know-how from Formula 1 helped the battery experts to compress the energy storage of the EQXX into an extremely compact format. The battery pack of the VISION EQXX stores almost 100 kWh of energy with 50 percent less volume and 30 percent less weight than the world's best battery pack of the EQS so far in this regard.
#AeroChamp: Outstanding work in the areas of aerodynamics and exterior design enables a benchmark drag coefficient of 0.17.
#Sustainable Materials: Innovative recycled and vegetable materials avoid waste in landfills and reduce the carbon footprint.
#BionicEngineering: Inspired by natural shapes and in collaboration with innovative start-ups, the engineers used advanced digital tools to reduce weight and reduce waste. With the help of 3D printing, they were able to save excess material.
#SolarPower: Ultra-thin roof panels feed the battery system and provide an additional range of up to 25 km per day (currently solar energy can only be used by secondary consumers).
#RollingEfficiency: Tires with extremely low rolling resistance and improved aerodynamic geometry, in combination with lightweight magnesium wheels, ensure greater range.
#BrakingLightly: Lightweight aluminum alloy brake discs help reduce the weight of the VISION EQXX.
technical data Vision EQXX
Efficiency is the new currency
With an output of up to 150 kW, the highly efficient electric drive train of the VISION EQXX ensures outstanding endurance on long journeys. The prototype is more than the sum of its parts. It is an engineering total work of art. The team pursued the clear goal of developing an electric drive train with a unique combination of efficiency, energy density and lightweight construction. Above all, there is a number that stands for this: 95 percent efficiency. This means that up to 95 percent of the energy stored in the battery arrives at the wheels. For comparison: in a vehicle with an efficient combustion engine it is around 30 percent, in an average (human) long-distance runner around 50 percent.
The electric drive system in the VISION EQXX is an independent unit consisting of an electric motor, gearbox and power electronics with a new generation of silicon carbides (SiC is also used in the MMA) . The inverter is based on that of the upcoming Mercedes-AMG Project ONE hypercar.
Battery development on a new level in cooperation with Mercedes HPP
For the VISION EQXX, Mercedes-Benz and the HPP team have developed a completely new, compact and lightweight battery pack that achieves a remarkable energy density of almost 400 Wh / l. This benchmark value made it possible to install a battery with almost 100 kWh of usable energy in a space-saving manner.
“We have packed the energy of the EQS into the dimensions of a small car,” says Adam Allsopp, Advanced Technology Director at HPP. “The battery has almost the same amount of energy as the EQS battery, but is only half the size and 30 percent lighter. When developing the battery management system and the power electronics, great importance was attached to reducing losses. In reaching this efficiency milestone, we learned a lot that will be incorporated into future development programs. "
The chemistry of the anodes also plays a major role in the increased energy density. Their higher silicon content and their composition make it possible to store significantly more energy than the previously available anodes. Another advantage that enables the impressive energy density is the high level of integration of the battery pack. This platform, which was jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz R&D and HPP, creates more space for the cells and reduces the overall weight. The separate compartment for the electrical and electronic components (EE), the so-called OneBox, which also offers advantages during installation and removal, also provides more space for the cells. In addition, the OneBox contains innovative safety devices with energy-efficient operation, which consume significantly less energy than the corresponding components in current series electric vehicles.
The battery also has what is known as active cell balancing . It ensures that the energy is drawn evenly from the cells while driving, which further increases the system efficiency. In total, the battery weighs around 495 kilograms , including the OneBox.
Cooling-on-demand brings a range of up to 20 km
This innovative solution is based on the Mercedes-Benz "cooling-on-demand" concept, which was further developed for the VISION EQXX. This ensures optimal cooling in all operating states. Since the electric drive generates very little waste heat thanks to its high level of efficiency, the heat management system of the technology carrier could be kept very compact and light. The perfectly coordinated interaction of air flaps, coolant valves and water pumps ensures that the drive train, including the power electronics, always works in the optimal temperature window. And that with minimal energy consumption. The reason for this is the effective combination of the airflow management system with a cooling plate, which is placed in the underbody of the vehicle and uses the airflow at this point.
This cooling element is the most aerodynamically efficient solution for regulating the temperature balance of the drive train. Under normal conditions, it can increase the range of the vehicle by up to 20 kilometers. The cooling system only shifts up a gear when the outside temperature is very high or when the driving style is dynamic. The normally closed flaps on the front of the VISION EQXX open at higher temperatures and introduce additional cooling air via an air duct system. The inlets are located along the high pressure zone of the front bumper. The outlets are located in the low pressure zones on the bonnet.
The advantage of this demand-controlled cooling: When the flaps are closed, the drag coefficient remains unchanged, which is the case most of the time. With the flaps open, the drag coefficient only increases by seven points (0.007). If the vehicle needs to be cooled while stationary, an additional cooling fan switches on (thermal efficiency mode).
Keeping the heat - a heat pump uses ambient and waste heat
The innovative heat pump of the VISION EQXX uses the heat generated by the drive system and present in the outside air to heat the interior. Thanks to its excellent efficiency, it can significantly increase the range of the battery, for example in colder regions of the world.
The so-called multi-source heat pump draws heat from the ambient air via an external heat exchanger. This new additional function increases the operating temperature range. This is particularly effective when it comes to heating up the interior quickly at very low temperatures. And in order to utilize even the last remaining heat, it uses the "evaporator enthalpy" to dehumidify the ambient air. Enthalpy is the latent energy that is released as heat when water vapor in the air changes its physical state from gaseous to liquid.
The sun rises - more range thanks to solar power
The sun is the original source of all energy on earth, but it mostly reaches the consumer in a roundabout way - via plants, for example. It was therefore an obvious choice for the development engineers at Mercedes-Benz to work without “intermediaries” and to go straight to the source in the sky to recharge their batteries.
The electrical system, which supplies many ancillary units in the VISION EQXX with electricity, draws additional energy from 117 solar cells on the roof. It was developed in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE - Europe's largest research institute for solar energy. The bottom line is that the reduced energy requirement of the high-voltage system leads to a greater range. In a single day and under ideal conditions, this can result in an extra range of up to 25 km for long-distance journeys.
Mercedes-Benz and its partners are working on using solar energy to charge the high-voltage system (not just for secondary consumers).
Aerodynamicists break one world record after another.
The list of Mercedes models with the world's best aerodynamics is long: it ranges from the W 125 from 1937 to the 540 K “Streamline” from 1938, the C111 from the 1970s, the CLA from 2013 with cW 0.22 to the current EQS with 0.20. Another aero champion is the Concept IAA from 2015. With numerous active aerodynamic elements for the first time, the four-door coupé achieves an extremely favorable drag coefficient of Cd 0.19 - paired with the unmistakable design typical of Mercedes.
The VISION EQXX owes its outstanding drag coefficient of 0.17 to the flow-like basic shape, the innovative, aerodynamically neutral cooling plate in the underbody and the complex integration of passive and active aero elements into the body.
The body of the VISION EQXX, painted in Mercedes-Benz Alubeam silver, integrates the smooth-surfaced dome of the greenhouse and flows backwards elegantly like a drop of water. The retractable rear diffuser is an impressive example of the collaboration between design, aerodynamics and technology. It is used from 80 km / h and then ensures reduced air resistance and increased driving stability . When retracted, it blends seamlessly into the body and maintains the balance, proportions and the light aesthetics of the rear end.
The big technical challenge with the rear diffuser was to prepare the apparently simple mechanism for a number of different requirements - which sometimes conflicts with the laws of physics. On the one hand, it was about combining functional reliability under all circumstances and consistent lightweight construction. In addition, the construction had to be designed in such a way that the diffuser retracts automatically and without delay in the event of a rear impact.
The VISION EQXX has a number of optically less conspicuous, but important active and passive aerodynamic details. In addition, there is its small frontal area. It is even smaller than that of today's CLA or the vehicles from smart. What is hardly noticeable at first glance: The rear track is 50 millimeters narrower than the front and ensures that the rear wheels are ideally positioned in the slipstream of the front wheels. Two ingenious details are the air curtain in front of and the air vent behind the front wheel arches. Together with the aero wheels and tires, this ingenious system closes the aerodynamic “break” of the front wheel arches almost completely. If the cooling plate is insufficient and the cooling air flaps in the bow open,
The front of the VISION EQXX is a real eye-catcher despite the small front surface. Above the shiny black radiator grille with rose gold accents, a band of light flows into the energy-efficient headlights, reminiscent of those of the EQS. Each headlight consists of two star-shaped elements, with the larger element bundling both the low beam and high beam behind a shiny center lens. This arrangement, paired with the 2D star pattern of the front bumper, gives an outlook on the details of the front design of future Mercedes-Benz models.
Efficient wheels and tires - optimized in terms of rolling resistance and aerodynamics
When developing the wheel-tire combination for the VISION EQXX, the engineers from Mercedes-Benz worked together with tire experts from Bridgestone. The technology carrier rolls on Turanza Eco tires from Bridgestone, which thanks to the light and environmentally friendly ENLITEN and ologic technology ensure particularly low rolling resistance. The tire sidewalls are aerodynamically optimized. The covers of the 20-inch lightweight magnesium forged wheels are precisely tailored to the tire format. The semi-transparent double-spoke design of these covers meets all aerodynamic requirements and at the same time reveals the rose gold accents that adorn the wheels.
Sustainable materials
Sustainable materials and organically designed design details convey a feeling of lightness and luxury. The basic principle is: maximum comfort and style with minimum weight - and that without products of animal origin.
The intelligent use of sustainable materials and methods inspired by nature is known as bionic technology. It is made possible by a digital process known as bionic network design. Mercedes-Benz has a long tradition in the application of bionic technologies, which goes back to the “Bionic Car” concept study from 2005.
BIONEQXX cast part - optimal functionality in the smallest of spaces
The BIONEQXX element, manufactured using the aluminum casting process, is currently the largest light metal structural component at Mercedes-Benz and forms the main component in the rear of the VISION EQXX - the rear floor. Mercedes-Benz developed this complex casting in just four months using fully digital techniques and a software approach that is unique in the automotive industry. The result is optimal functionality with extremely compact dimensions.
BIONICAST damper domes
BIONICAST is a registered trademark of Mercedes-Benz for cast parts that are constructed according to natural, bionic principles. In addition to the BIONEQXX cast part for the rear floor, the VISION EQXX also uses BIONICAST damper domes that accommodate the suspension elements in the front end. Like the BIONEQXX cast part, they also make a decisive contribution to weight reduction and save around four kilograms in weight compared to conventionally manufactured domes. The supports for the windshield wipers and the motor of the VISION EQXX are also designed according to bionic principles. This also shows the enormous potential of this future-oriented technology, which can significantly reduce weight and at the same time guarantee high strength. BIONEQXX has already flowed into the series production of Mercedes-Benz models,
The huge screen in the Vision EQXX also saves energy
Another important efficiency feature of the VISION EQXX is its ability to think ahead. For system control, Mercedes-Benz uses a new type of information processing known as neuromorphic computing. So-called spiking neural networks run on the hardware. These artificial neural networks imitate their natural counterparts in the human brain and only send signals when certain threshold values are reached. This significantly reduces energy consumption.
The user experience in the VISION EQXX catapults us into an intelligent, software-controlled future. With an impressive design and intuitive operation, the first completely seamless display in a Mercedes-Benz extends over 47.5 inches from one A-pillar to the other . With an 8K resolution (7680 x 660 pixels), the thin and light mini-LED display functions as a portal that connects the driver and occupants with the car and the outside world.
The one-piece display is also extremely energy-efficient. Its mini LED backlight consists of more than 3,000 local dimming zones. This means that electricity is only used in the areas of the screen where it is needed.
The interior looks fantastic and could be good for a production car, the seat design looks really comfortable and the clarity and graphics of the huge full width screen is staggering.
Very interesting technical details for this car and innovations with the chassis/underbody design with the 3D printed bionic structures looks really cool. I like it that they made all efforts to reduce the weight of the batteries to 480kg and the total weight to 1750kg, which is even lighter than a ICE compact saloon with equivalent power.
From JESMB:
Mercedes Vision EQXX 1,000 km range
With a drag coefficient of 0.17 and 95% efficiency, the Vision EQXX has a range of 1,000 km
Range and efficiency are decisive factors in the age of electromobility. Long-range electric cars are also suitable for long journeys and thus for long road trips. This once again increases their acceptance. High efficiency also makes it possible to use a smaller and therefore lighter battery in order to achieve more with less. Mercedes-Benz is doing pioneering work here, as exemplified by the EQS as the current range leader. In a test by the renowned American automobile information service Edmunds, an EQS 450+ with 333 hp covered 422 miles (679 km) with one battery charge. That's 77 miles (124 km) more than any other electric car tested before.
With the VISION EQXX, Mercedes-Benz is now taking the next step. According to internal, digital simulations, it can be assumed that the technology carrier will drive over 1,000 kilometers in real road traffic with a single battery charge. This would take it to a new level in terms of range. In addition to increasing efficiency, resource conservation and the best possible environmental compatibility were equally important development goals. That is why the Mercedes-Benz engineers chose a holistic approach. Starting with the improvement of all components of the ultra-modern electric drive train as well as the use of lightweight materials and sustainable materials. In addition, there are other efficiency measures, from the extremely low rolling resistance tires to the sophisticated aerodynamics (cW 0. 17) through to the use of the latest software. The result: The VISION EQXX overcomes the previous technological limits and sets the new standard for energy efficiency.
Less CO2 from production
With the VISION EQXX, Mercedes-Benz is breaking new ground. The research vehicle represents a courageous yet absolutely realistic step into the future of electric vehicle technology. In addition to its outstanding energy efficiency when driving, the technology platform also offers meaningful answers to other pressing questions. For example, the CO2 footprint is significantly reduced through the use of sustainable materials. The UI / UX has a completely new, one-piece display that extends over the entire width of the interior. User interface elements support the seamless interaction between driver and vehicle. Among other things, through Artificial Intelligence (AI), which mimics the functioning of the human brain. The software-controlled development process is revolutionizing the way
The VISION EQXX is the result of a comprehensive program that provides a blueprint for the future of automotive engineering. Many of the innovative developments are already being integrated into production, some of them also in the next generation of the MMA, the modular architecture for compact and mid-range vehicles from Mercedes-Benz.
Vision EQXX: A car with a mission - the most efficient Mercedes-Benz ever built
The key facts:
#EnergyWizard: Measures to increase efficiency lead to extremely low consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 km.
#ElectricDrive: The radically new drive concept developed by Mercedes-Benz achieves a benchmark efficiency of 95 percent from the battery to the wheels.
#RangeBuster: More than 1,000 km on a single battery charge on public roads enable relaxed long-distance journeys.
#EnergyDensity: Know-how from Formula 1 helped the battery experts to compress the energy storage of the EQXX into an extremely compact format. The battery pack of the VISION EQXX stores almost 100 kWh of energy with 50 percent less volume and 30 percent less weight than the world's best battery pack of the EQS so far in this regard.
#AeroChamp: Outstanding work in the areas of aerodynamics and exterior design enables a benchmark drag coefficient of 0.17.
#Sustainable Materials: Innovative recycled and vegetable materials avoid waste in landfills and reduce the carbon footprint.
#BionicEngineering: Inspired by natural shapes and in collaboration with innovative start-ups, the engineers used advanced digital tools to reduce weight and reduce waste. With the help of 3D printing, they were able to save excess material.
#SolarPower: Ultra-thin roof panels feed the battery system and provide an additional range of up to 25 km per day (currently solar energy can only be used by secondary consumers).
#RollingEfficiency: Tires with extremely low rolling resistance and improved aerodynamic geometry, in combination with lightweight magnesium wheels, ensure greater range.
#BrakingLightly: Lightweight aluminum alloy brake discs help reduce the weight of the VISION EQXX.
Efficiency is the new currency
With an output of up to 150 kW, the highly efficient electric drive train of the VISION EQXX ensures outstanding endurance on long journeys. The prototype is more than the sum of its parts. It is an engineering total work of art. The team pursued the clear goal of developing an electric drive train with a unique combination of efficiency, energy density and lightweight construction. Above all, there is a number that stands for this: 95 percent efficiency. This means that up to 95 percent of the energy stored in the battery arrives at the wheels. For comparison: in a vehicle with an efficient combustion engine it is around 30 percent, in an average (human) long-distance runner around 50 percent.
The electric drive system in the VISION EQXX is an independent unit consisting of an electric motor, gearbox and power electronics with a new generation of silicon carbides (SiC is also used in the MMA) . The inverter is based on that of the upcoming Mercedes-AMG Project ONE hypercar.
Battery development on a new level in cooperation with Mercedes HPP
For the VISION EQXX, Mercedes-Benz and the HPP team have developed a completely new, compact and lightweight battery pack that achieves a remarkable energy density of almost 400 Wh / l. This benchmark value made it possible to install a battery with almost 100 kWh of usable energy in a space-saving manner.
“We have packed the energy of the EQS into the dimensions of a small car,” says Adam Allsopp, Advanced Technology Director at HPP. “The battery has almost the same amount of energy as the EQS battery, but is only half the size and 30 percent lighter. When developing the battery management system and the power electronics, great importance was attached to reducing losses. In reaching this efficiency milestone, we learned a lot that will be incorporated into future development programs. "
The chemistry of the anodes also plays a major role in the increased energy density. Their higher silicon content and their composition make it possible to store significantly more energy than the previously available anodes. Another advantage that enables the impressive energy density is the high level of integration of the battery pack. This platform, which was jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz R&D and HPP, creates more space for the cells and reduces the overall weight. The separate compartment for the electrical and electronic components (EE), the so-called OneBox, which also offers advantages during installation and removal, also provides more space for the cells. In addition, the OneBox contains innovative safety devices with energy-efficient operation, which consume significantly less energy than the corresponding components in current series electric vehicles.
The battery also has what is known as active cell balancing . It ensures that the energy is drawn evenly from the cells while driving, which further increases the system efficiency. In total, the battery weighs around 495 kilograms , including the OneBox.
Cooling-on-demand brings a range of up to 20 km
This innovative solution is based on the Mercedes-Benz "cooling-on-demand" concept, which was further developed for the VISION EQXX. This ensures optimal cooling in all operating states. Since the electric drive generates very little waste heat thanks to its high level of efficiency, the heat management system of the technology carrier could be kept very compact and light. The perfectly coordinated interaction of air flaps, coolant valves and water pumps ensures that the drive train, including the power electronics, always works in the optimal temperature window. And that with minimal energy consumption. The reason for this is the effective combination of the airflow management system with a cooling plate, which is placed in the underbody of the vehicle and uses the airflow at this point.
This cooling element is the most aerodynamically efficient solution for regulating the temperature balance of the drive train. Under normal conditions, it can increase the range of the vehicle by up to 20 kilometers. The cooling system only shifts up a gear when the outside temperature is very high or when the driving style is dynamic. The normally closed flaps on the front of the VISION EQXX open at higher temperatures and introduce additional cooling air via an air duct system. The inlets are located along the high pressure zone of the front bumper. The outlets are located in the low pressure zones on the bonnet.
The advantage of this demand-controlled cooling: When the flaps are closed, the drag coefficient remains unchanged, which is the case most of the time. With the flaps open, the drag coefficient only increases by seven points (0.007). If the vehicle needs to be cooled while stationary, an additional cooling fan switches on (thermal efficiency mode).
Keeping the heat - a heat pump uses ambient and waste heat
The innovative heat pump of the VISION EQXX uses the heat generated by the drive system and present in the outside air to heat the interior. Thanks to its excellent efficiency, it can significantly increase the range of the battery, for example in colder regions of the world.
The so-called multi-source heat pump draws heat from the ambient air via an external heat exchanger. This new additional function increases the operating temperature range. This is particularly effective when it comes to heating up the interior quickly at very low temperatures. And in order to utilize even the last remaining heat, it uses the "evaporator enthalpy" to dehumidify the ambient air. Enthalpy is the latent energy that is released as heat when water vapor in the air changes its physical state from gaseous to liquid.
The sun rises - more range thanks to solar power
The sun is the original source of all energy on earth, but it mostly reaches the consumer in a roundabout way - via plants, for example. It was therefore an obvious choice for the development engineers at Mercedes-Benz to work without “intermediaries” and to go straight to the source in the sky to recharge their batteries.
The electrical system, which supplies many ancillary units in the VISION EQXX with electricity, draws additional energy from 117 solar cells on the roof. It was developed in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE - Europe's largest research institute for solar energy. The bottom line is that the reduced energy requirement of the high-voltage system leads to a greater range. In a single day and under ideal conditions, this can result in an extra range of up to 25 km for long-distance journeys.
Mercedes-Benz and its partners are working on using solar energy to charge the high-voltage system (not just for secondary consumers).
Aerodynamicists break one world record after another.
The list of Mercedes models with the world's best aerodynamics is long: it ranges from the W 125 from 1937 to the 540 K “Streamline” from 1938, the C111 from the 1970s, the CLA from 2013 with cW 0.22 to the current EQS with 0.20. Another aero champion is the Concept IAA from 2015. With numerous active aerodynamic elements for the first time, the four-door coupé achieves an extremely favorable drag coefficient of Cd 0.19 - paired with the unmistakable design typical of Mercedes.
The VISION EQXX owes its outstanding drag coefficient of 0.17 to the flow-like basic shape, the innovative, aerodynamically neutral cooling plate in the underbody and the complex integration of passive and active aero elements into the body.
The body of the VISION EQXX, painted in Mercedes-Benz Alubeam silver, integrates the smooth-surfaced dome of the greenhouse and flows backwards elegantly like a drop of water. The retractable rear diffuser is an impressive example of the collaboration between design, aerodynamics and technology. It is used from 80 km / h and then ensures reduced air resistance and increased driving stability . When retracted, it blends seamlessly into the body and maintains the balance, proportions and the light aesthetics of the rear end.
The big technical challenge with the rear diffuser was to prepare the apparently simple mechanism for a number of different requirements - which sometimes conflicts with the laws of physics. On the one hand, it was about combining functional reliability under all circumstances and consistent lightweight construction. In addition, the construction had to be designed in such a way that the diffuser retracts automatically and without delay in the event of a rear impact.
The VISION EQXX has a number of optically less conspicuous, but important active and passive aerodynamic details. In addition, there is its small frontal area. It is even smaller than that of today's CLA or the vehicles from smart. What is hardly noticeable at first glance: The rear track is 50 millimeters narrower than the front and ensures that the rear wheels are ideally positioned in the slipstream of the front wheels. Two ingenious details are the air curtain in front of and the air vent behind the front wheel arches. Together with the aero wheels and tires, this ingenious system closes the aerodynamic “break” of the front wheel arches almost completely. If the cooling plate is insufficient and the cooling air flaps in the bow open,
The front of the VISION EQXX is a real eye-catcher despite the small front surface. Above the shiny black radiator grille with rose gold accents, a band of light flows into the energy-efficient headlights, reminiscent of those of the EQS. Each headlight consists of two star-shaped elements, with the larger element bundling both the low beam and high beam behind a shiny center lens. This arrangement, paired with the 2D star pattern of the front bumper, gives an outlook on the details of the front design of future Mercedes-Benz models.
Efficient wheels and tires - optimized in terms of rolling resistance and aerodynamics
When developing the wheel-tire combination for the VISION EQXX, the engineers from Mercedes-Benz worked together with tire experts from Bridgestone. The technology carrier rolls on Turanza Eco tires from Bridgestone, which thanks to the light and environmentally friendly ENLITEN and ologic technology ensure particularly low rolling resistance. The tire sidewalls are aerodynamically optimized. The covers of the 20-inch lightweight magnesium forged wheels are precisely tailored to the tire format. The semi-transparent double-spoke design of these covers meets all aerodynamic requirements and at the same time reveals the rose gold accents that adorn the wheels.
Sustainable materials
Sustainable materials and organically designed design details convey a feeling of lightness and luxury. The basic principle is: maximum comfort and style with minimum weight - and that without products of animal origin.
The intelligent use of sustainable materials and methods inspired by nature is known as bionic technology. It is made possible by a digital process known as bionic network design. Mercedes-Benz has a long tradition in the application of bionic technologies, which goes back to the “Bionic Car” concept study from 2005.
BIONEQXX cast part - optimal functionality in the smallest of spaces
The BIONEQXX element, manufactured using the aluminum casting process, is currently the largest light metal structural component at Mercedes-Benz and forms the main component in the rear of the VISION EQXX - the rear floor. Mercedes-Benz developed this complex casting in just four months using fully digital techniques and a software approach that is unique in the automotive industry. The result is optimal functionality with extremely compact dimensions.
BIONICAST damper domes
BIONICAST is a registered trademark of Mercedes-Benz for cast parts that are constructed according to natural, bionic principles. In addition to the BIONEQXX cast part for the rear floor, the VISION EQXX also uses BIONICAST damper domes that accommodate the suspension elements in the front end. Like the BIONEQXX cast part, they also make a decisive contribution to weight reduction and save around four kilograms in weight compared to conventionally manufactured domes. The supports for the windshield wipers and the motor of the VISION EQXX are also designed according to bionic principles. This also shows the enormous potential of this future-oriented technology, which can significantly reduce weight and at the same time guarantee high strength. BIONEQXX has already flowed into the series production of Mercedes-Benz models,
The huge screen in the Vision EQXX also saves energy
Another important efficiency feature of the VISION EQXX is its ability to think ahead. For system control, Mercedes-Benz uses a new type of information processing known as neuromorphic computing. So-called spiking neural networks run on the hardware. These artificial neural networks imitate their natural counterparts in the human brain and only send signals when certain threshold values are reached. This significantly reduces energy consumption.
The user experience in the VISION EQXX catapults us into an intelligent, software-controlled future. With an impressive design and intuitive operation, the first completely seamless display in a Mercedes-Benz extends over 47.5 inches from one A-pillar to the other . With an 8K resolution (7680 x 660 pixels), the thin and light mini-LED display functions as a portal that connects the driver and occupants with the car and the outside world.
The one-piece display is also extremely energy-efficient. Its mini LED backlight consists of more than 3,000 local dimming zones. This means that electricity is only used in the areas of the screen where it is needed.
