Mercedes-Benz F125! Concept at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show
- Looks like: The alien from “Alien”
- Defining characteristics: Gullwing doors … again
- Ridiculous features: Mood-based car functionality
- Chances of being mass-produced: Not a chance
Mercedes-Benz is known for its wacky concept designs. Even so, the F125! concept is out there.
This large, hydrogen-powered sedan sports technology that Mercedes hopes to implement on its cars by 2025.
Thinking that far into the future, the luxury carmaker also has taken the liberty to envision a bold design. The F125!’s smooth lines along the hood and grille make it seem as if the car’s body was stamped from just one giant piece of aluminum. The integrated grille is a nice touch that we wouldn’t mind seeing on today’s Mercedes models.
The hydrogen system is a combination of a power-dense lithium-sulfur battery pack and a hydrogen tank that is fully integrated into the car’s body structure. Overall, the plug-in will be able to operate solely on electric power for 31 miles; stored hydrogen brings the total range up to 621 miles. The four independently housed electric motors provide all-wheel-drive capabilities and acceleration figures of zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
The cabin is accessed through gigantic gullwing doors. On the inside, a mood-based computer system will figure out and automatically play music or display information, when needed.
Hydrogen propulsion seems to have lost the public’s interest in favor of the more immediately available benefits of battery-electric technology. Maybe Mercedes will have it figured out in 14 years, but making it affordable might be a problem — even for Mercedes’ shoppers.
