Mercedes-Benz is giving us a glimpse of its future with the F 015 Luxury in Motion concept.
Presented at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the F 015 Luxury in Motion concept is powered by an electric hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain, complete with a hydrogen tank reinforced by carbon. But as innovative as that is, Mercedes believes the F 015’s true potential lies with how it will change autonomous transportation as early as 2030.
The F 015 Luxury in Motion is Mercedes’ pitch in completely self-driving cars. Unlike others — say, Google’s car, for example — the F 015 can be driven manually as well. The styling is polarizing at best, but it’s what we expect from the future: the long wheelbase and short overhangs are complimented by LED lighting all over that illuminate in two different colours, depending on who (or what) is driving — white if the car is being driven manually, or blue if it’s in fully autonomous mode.
Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion concept.
Ein Automobil, das mit maximalem Platzangebot und Lounge-Charakter im Interieur das Thema Komfort und Luxus auf ein neues Niveau hebt
A vehicle which raises comfort and luxury to a new level by offering a maximum of space and a lounge character on the inside
Handout, Mercedes-Benz
The doors open in a suicide configuration, and because of Mercedes’ use of high-strength steel, aluminum and carbon fibre reinforced plastic throughout the body, the F 015 doesn’t need a B-pillar for structural support. This, in turn, maximizes accessibility into the cabin.
Complete with a handful of screens showing the planned route, music, images, phone contacts along with a handful of other features, the F 015 emphasizes interaction between the car and its passengers inside the cabin. The four seats can be configured so that everyone is facing each other, while the car’s various screens and functions can be controlled via touch sensors or proximity gestures.
Mercedes says the F 015’s autonomous capabilities stem from the use of stereo cameras, radars and ultrasonic sensors, as well as a GPS system and 3D navigation that are extremely accurate — to the point where they can detect the car’s position to the exact centimetre. The cameras are able to interpret what they see and stream those images into the cabin, thus enabling passengers to take control of the car if necessary.
