#LAAS
Mercedes-Benz lobbed the first crazy-bomb of the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show with this, the Mercedes-Benz BIOME.
Designed at the Carlsbad, California Advanced Design studio, the BIOME set out to explore different ideas for the future of sustainable, green transportation. "The BIOME grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery. Out on the road it emits pure oxygen, and at the end of its lifespan it can simply be composted or used as building material." said Hubert Lee, head of the studio.
The four-passenger (they sit in a diamond) BIOME is shorter than a C-Class, wider than a GL and lower than an SLK. It's wrapped in a biofiber cloth body, which helps the weight stay low. How low? 875.5 pounds.
Power gets even more absurd. Lee says the BIOME could be powered by a liquid chemical bond called BioNectar4534 created by specially modified trees with receptors that collect the excess solar energy and turn it into a new age environment-friendly fuel, the by-product of which is oxygen.
The 875-pound BIOME won't be revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show, however. Instead, its big release will be November 18 at the prize ceremony for the Los Angeles Design Challenge.
vt8919 says:
11:16 AM, 11/16/10
I think it's a really awesome design, but you'd think the photographers would try and find angles that wouldn't so obviously show off the little wheels underneath that allow it to roll.
ralphhightower says:
11:21 AM, 11/16/10
OMG! It looks like it's straight out of TRON. Looking forward to TRON-II!
ralphhightower says:
11:23 AM, 11/16/10
Wait a minute! This is a bit early for an April Fool's press release. April 1st is 136 days away.
lostboyz says:
11:47 AM, 11/16/10
looks like the lexus from minority report
csubowtie says:
11:55 AM, 11/16/10
I love it when design studios come out with concept cars that use imaginary "future" technology, and then provide specs. It's made out of a fiber that doesn't exist yet, but they know how much it will weigh?! I have a car coming out in 6 months that will blow this thing away. It has 2000 hp, runs on evil, and it's emissions are pure water, air, and happiness. It has looks that will make supermodels chase you down the street. Oh and if you leave it in the sun, it will automatically bake you a cupcake in the center console.
v8muscle says:
12:22 PM, 11/16/10
@csubowtie: ...
will that "car" fly or what ?? i mean where's the wheels, waiting for new info,
actually i like the design very much looking really GREEEATT
exnevadan says:
12:23 PM, 11/16/10
cool, but no Cruze (you can tell by the limited interest)
jederino says:
12:37 PM, 11/16/10
Pfff... I totally knew this technology was locked away on a tall shelf at some oil company.
v8vader says:
12:39 PM, 11/16/10
+1 csubowtie
tmanz says:
12:45 PM, 11/16/10
just goes to show you if you put it in a press release people will print it.
trollson says:
01:12 PM, 11/16/10
BioNectar4534 = crack cocaine
trollson says:
01:13 PM, 11/16/10
cool, but no Cruze (you can tell by the limited interest)
Wheels are too small, no onstar, no 10GB music player. Pass.
xorbe says:
02:07 PM, 11/16/10
"However, our secret inside sources whisper that any future production version may have to use actual tires ..."
eidolways says:
02:37 PM, 11/16/10
Science fiction is fun stuff. That is, so long as they don't win actual kudos for it.
If a politician or CEO *anywhere* uses this concept to proclaim, sincerely, Mercedes' "green vision of the future", I will have to cry.
ergsum says:
03:03 PM, 11/16/10
@csubowtie,"...it will automatically bake you a cupcake in the center console." Cool, its got Sweettooth. I wonder if my Apple iPie will have a problem linking up?
thejohnp says:
04:38 PM, 11/16/10
This does look more like a cross promotion for Tron Legacy than future MB design.
Although is it me, but it doesn't seem those "wheels" are touching the ground in some of those pics.
p00pman says:
08:11 PM, 11/16/10
its cool except for the buldging side windows, who thought that was a good idea?
"let's have it look like the windows are a made of a balloon trying to escape but being held tightly inplace by the body work"
uncanny_man says:
06:09 AM, 11/17/10
lol at the pseudoscience
drauz says:
08:09 AM, 11/17/10
geez, you kids are so critical - it's a concept!
I'm just impressed designers still do psychedelics.
patrickw says:
08:36 AM, 11/17/10
I was wondering how to turn those front wheels, but vt8919 cleared that up for me. I like the diamond-shaped seating layout. Wish our roads in the US were practical for such a vehicle.