mercedes benz vision tokyo press release

Daimler Communications, 70546 Stuttgart, Germany

Mercedes-Benz – A Daimler Brand

Mobile club lounge for young, urban trendsetters

Mercedes-Benz Vision Tokyo: Connected Lounge

Stuttgart/Tokyo. The Vision Tokyo is the latest trailblazing spatial experience to

come from Mercedes-Benz: its monolithic structure, futuristic design idiom and

unique lounge ambience in the interior define it as luxurious, young and

progressive – thus making it a fitting tribute to the sophisticated megacity and

trendsetting metropolis that is Tokyo. Spatially efficient, versatile and

intelligently connected, the Vision Tokyo – which is also capable of driving

autonomously – is an urban transformer that reflects the growing youthfulness of

the Mercedes-Benz brand. At the same time, this innovative five-seater continues

a tradition of visionary design-study showcars that has included the Vision Ener-

G-Force (Los Angeles, November 2012), AMG Vision Gran Turismo

(Sunnyvale, 2013) and G-Code (Beijing, November 2014).

Japan's capital city Tokyo represents home to some nine million people, in an

area that is just 622 square kilometres in size – smaller than Paris but with more

than four times as many people. This megacity represents a fascinating

combination of tradition and contemporary high tech and is constantly defining

new trends – making it the ideal location for the premiere of the Mercedes-Benz

Vision Tokyo. It will be on display to an international audience for the first time

at the Tokyo Motor Show (30 October to 7 November 2015).

Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Daimler AG: "The Mercedes-Benz Vision

Tokyo embodies the concept of an automotive lounge for a future generation of

megacities. The purity and sensuality of the Vision Tokyo's styling defines a new

interpretation of modern luxury from Mercedes-Benz." The conceptual message

of the vehicle reflects the increasingly youthful appeal of the Mercedes-Benz

brand and perceptions of it as a stylistically influential design brand. The Vision

Tokyo is the brainchild of the designers working within Mercedes-Benz's global

network of Advanced Design Studios.

Press Information

28 October 2015



Hot on the heels of the F 015 Luxury in Motion autonomously driving luxury

saloon comes the Vision Tokyo, with which Mercedes-Benz aims to show how

the car of the future can be turned into a hip living space – a chill-out zone in the

midst of megacity traffic mayhem.

The Vision Tokyo is a homage to the urban Generation Z, the cohort of people

born since 1995 who have grown up with the new media. The role of the vehicle

has changed for this global generation: it is no longer simply a means of getting

around, but a digital, automobile companion. The Vision Tokyo takes things

another step further: innovative algorithms allow it to evolve constantly; Deep

Machine Learning and an intelligent Predictive Engine mean that, with each

journey, it becomes more and more familiar with its occupants, their likes and

preferences. All of which makes the Vision Tokyo the perfect partner for

Generation Z.

The spaciousness of the Vision Tokyo marks a new conceptual approach for

Mercedes-Benz Cars. These proportions are emphasised by the monochrome

Alubeam paintwork and by side windows screen-printed in the colour of the

vehicle. These give the vehicle's occupants privacy, while at the same time

allowing sufficient light to penetrate into the interior and an unimpeded view out.

Surfaces and lines illuminated in blue – among them the 26-inch wheels and the

side skirts – provide unexpected colour highlights and are indicative of the

concept car's emission-free electric drive system. A pointer to the potential for

autonomous operation and the comprehensive system of vehicle environment

sensors that this requires, including a 360-degree camera, is provided by the fin

on the vehicle roof.

Instead of a conventional windscreen, the Vision Tokyo features a continuous

stretch of glass panelling – similar to the glazed cockpit of a powerboat. As was

the case with the AMG Vision Gran Turismo, the front headlamps are set well to

either side and at an angle. The area across the front of the vehicle can be used to

display a series of different lighting functions. If music is playing inside the

vehicle the display will, for example, visualise a sound pattern, rather like a

sound analyser. The rear window is set into a surrounding ring of red LED cubes,

which gives it visual depth. Once again, the LED field can be put to good use –

as an indicator display or as part of the analyser function.

The dimensions of the Vision Tokyo (length/width/height: 4803/2100/1600 mm)

are comparable with those of a mid-series vehicle. Up to five passengers access



the interior via the upward-swinging door on the left-hand side – ideal for the

right-hand-drive traffic in Japan's megacity. The conventional seating

arrangement in rows is thus redundant, while there is also no "front" or "back"

here: passengers take their seats instead on a large, oval-shaped couch. This

unique lounge-style arrangement allows everyone on board to enjoy the benefits

of autonomous driving. For even though the members of "Generation Z" are

frequent users of social media, they nevertheless prefer personal contact

whenever possible. And it is for this face-to-face communication that the seat

layout has been optimised. As a contemporary-style club lounge, the Vision

Tokyo brings people together. With the car in autonomous driving mode they are

able to chill and chat, without having to worry about steering a way through the

dense traffic.

Behind the passengers are large wraparound LED screens. The perforated seats

are back-lit, giving rise to a high-tech ambience that presents an intentional

contrast to the soft surface finish of the pale leather. Apps, maps and displays

emanating from the entertainment system are presented as three-dimensional

holograms within the interior space.

Should there be a requirement for the Vision Tokyo to be controlled manually

rather than it driving autonomously, a seat facing in the direction of travel can be

released from the centre of the couch at the front, rather like the "jump seat" in an

aircraft cockpit. The steering wheel, too, is then moved from its standby position

into driving position.

The bodyshell of the Vision Tokyo has been designed to allow the crash-

protected integration of a fuel cell-powered electric drive system. This is based

on the trailblazing F-CELL PLUG-IN HYBRID of the F 015 Luxury in Motion

and combines the on-board generation of electricity with a particularly powerful

and compact high-voltage battery that can be charged contactlessly via induction.

The use of pressure tanks made from CFRP is envisaged for the storage of

hydrogen in the concept car. The electric hybrid system has a total range of 980

kilometres, of which some 190 kilometres are courtesy of battery-powered

driving and around 790 kilometres on the electricity produced in the fuel cell.

The Vision Tokyo continues a tradition of visionary design-study showcars that

has included the Vision Ener-G-Force (Los Angeles, November 2012), AMG

Vision Gran Turismo (Sunnyvale, 2013) and G-Code (Beijing, November 2014).

Thanks to the global nature of the Mercedes-Benz Design function, these concept

vehicles take cues from local trends in design, culture and mobility and make



these the focal point of the respective mobility concept. At the same time these

showcars are already looking well beyond the next generation of vehicles.

Global Advanced Design – the Mercedes-Benz Design Studios

When it comes to its Advanced Design activities, Mercedes-Benz relies on a

global network: designers and modellers in five Advanced Design Studios in

Carlsbad (USA), Sunnyvale (USA), Como (Italy), Beijing (China) and

Sindelfingen (Germany) mull over ideas for the vehicles of tomorrow – and

beyond.

Contact:

Koert Groeneveld, Global Product Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars,

tel.: +49 (0)711 17-92311, [email protected]

Further information about Mercedes-Benz is available online:

www.media.daimler.com and www.mercedes-benz.com

mercedes benz vision tokyo press release

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