Mercedes unveils electric prototype that uses body paint as a solar panel

Mercedes-Benz is an iconic and prestigious brand that, over the years, has become synonymous with quality and elegance, but it has never renounced its avant-garde approach and the use of new technologies associated with electric, connected, and intelligent vehicles. The latest step in the brand's evolution is the striking Vision Iconic prototype, a model capable of uniting luxury, exclusivity, innovation, and sustainability in a concept that promises to advance the automotive world.

This isn't the first time a brand has worked on the idea of building a solar car, that is, a self-propelled electric vehicle that harnesses sunlight to generate electricity and power the car's engine. However, what is truly innovative is the idea Mercedes-Benz has worked on in this model. It consists of a flexible exterior photovoltaic layer that would act as the bodywork and can generate enough energy to extend the vehicle's range by approximately 12,000 kilometers per year, according to the brand. Mercedes also assures that this paint or photovoltaic layer does not use rare earth elements or silicon and can be easily recycled, thereby reducing the vehicle's ecological footprint and contributing to a sustainable mobility model.

But the Mercedes-Benz innovations presented in this prototype don't end there, as the German brand has improved its use of artificial intelligence with a processor that mimics the cognitive processes of the human mind, which they call "neuromorphic computing." This promises to save up to 90% of the energy used in the computational processes necessary for autonomous driving and improve intelligent response even in adverse situations. This prototype promises an autonomous driving level of 4 out of 5, which would allow the vehicle to drive in fully autonomous mode on highways and motorways and in certain traffic conditions, freeing the driver from having to pay attention to the wheel and allowing them to rest, read, or watch a TV series, among other activities.

A stately aesthetic

But beyond the powerful technological innovations presented, this Vision Iconic maintains the classic essence of traditional Mercedes-Benz models, thanks to a three-box body whose elongated hood recalls the physiognomy of some of the brand's most iconic models. Its powerful and elegant image is halfway between the legendary Mercedes 300 SL and a contemporary coupe like the current CLA or GLC, featuring a large, oversized front grille illuminated by LED headlights, dominated by the classic three-pointed star. The result is especially captivating, well-crafted, and sophisticated, marrying the classic cars of the 1930s and 1940s with the technological innovations of the present.

The car's interiors also maintain a delightful balance between the traditional aesthetics of the most important models in the history of the Stuttgart brand and the new digital technological requirements, while maintaining elegance and exclusivity. For example, the dashboard is replaced by a transparent glass layer called Zeppelin (as its shape recalls the balloons of the 1930s) that integrates various instrumentation and control functions, and the seat and floor upholstery recalls those used by 18th-century furniture, chairs, and sofas, in a clear nod to more modern elements.

This prototype won't see production, but it's still another clue to Mercedes-Benz's roadmap and technical and technological capabilities, as well as another outline of its style and design guide for the future. Equally relevant is the focus on the location chosen for the model's international launch: Shanghai, the heart of the Asian giant's industry, a statement of power in the context of a trade war between European and Chinese manufacturers in the race for electric cars.