Mercedes bringing three Concept BlueZero cars to Detroit
Click above for a gallery of the Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZero
Mercedes-Benz is bringing three "Concept BlueZero" vehicles to the Detroit Auto Show next month and each highlights the automaker's plan for low- or no-emissions motoring in the future.
The first concept is the BlueZero E-Cell, an all-electric compact five-door equipped with lithium ion batteries that can provide a theoretical range of 100 km (62 miles) on a two-hour charge.
The two other concepts include the BlueZero F-Cell, a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, and the BlueZero E-Plus, which utilizes the Smart ForTwo's turbocharged three-cylinder engine to charge a lithium ion battery pack creating an extended range electric vehicle (EREV, ala the Chevrolet Volt), that can travel for 600 km (373 miles).
The design language shown on the E-Cell (above) is good indication of what the next generation of Mercedes A- and B-class vehicles will look like when they arrive in 2011. Thanks for the tip, Paul.
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZero Tease
[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via icars.sg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
meshies 3:34PM (12/11/2008)
Prius/Volt killer.
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Torrent 3:58PM (12/11/2008)
...
happy_penguin 5:07PM (12/11/2008)
a) Let's see them build it.
b) Let's see what the final production model will look like.
easyrider425 3:50PM (12/11/2008)
Wow, BMW much? I bet Chris Bangle has a smirk on his face.
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Andrew 3:48PM (12/11/2008)
Nice, I would buy one of those.
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Auari 3:50PM (12/11/2008)
I really hope Mercedes-Benz will match the Volt price tag.
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AZZO45b 11:06PM (12/11/2008)
They won't... they have NEVER even attempted to match US cars
moyoi 10:03AM (12/12/2008)
I rolled my eyes so hard, I need an eye patch, thanks jerk!
Yago Bal 3:54PM (12/11/2008)
So the rumors that the next A-class would be a VW Polo/Golf-like car seem to be (hopefully) wrong.
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huis 3:55PM (12/11/2008)
What a weird mix of looks. It looks like a new Fiesta with an extra side sculpt from the Opel Insignia, and then the front got taken from the new Maxima.
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Monkaroo 3:58PM (12/11/2008)
It kinda looks like the Mazda 2
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Kitko 6:38PM (12/11/2008)
It DOES look like Mazda2
The side lines on the doors and front wings are copied almost perfectly...
http://www.autoblog.com/media/2007/02/mazda2_2007_geneva__jpg72.jpg
Quattroporte 4:00PM (12/11/2008)
Again, autoblog, when I click "Hi res" in the gallery, a somewhat confusing description for the image shows up.
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Vestibulum suscipit hendrerit arcu. Nulla dictum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Praesent pellentesque elit eget tortor. Curabitur id ante in libero pharetra."
Is this some subliminal hypnotic message of yours?
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happy_penguin 5:09PM (12/11/2008)
LOL
That's lorem ipsum. It's just a nonsense language used as a place holder for graphic design.
verytuscan 4:05PM (12/11/2008)
I like the 6.2L V8 CAMARO much better.
A lot horses but no performance.
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SPF 4:07PM (12/11/2008)
Fugly
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rocketdan9 4:14PM (12/11/2008)
the side profile is a rip off of the hyundai i30 in europe
two hours to charge is ridicousl long if you have to take a long trip.
Companies need to work on a charge while you drive gizmo (Easier said than done i guess)
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montoym 6:05PM (12/11/2008)
Hence why full electric cars will remain niche vehicles for the foreseeable future.
Also why many are moving towards a Volt-type powertrain that uses another "more typical" engine to charge the batteries on the go. Recall that the Volt is using an IC engine in the first iteration, but was also designed to utilize fuel cells and other alternative power sources to charge the batteries down the road.
Until there is an electric car than can comfortably attain a 400ish mile range and allow for a 5min recharge(similar to the range and time to refuel a gas car), I don't expect full electric cars to make much of a dent in the marketplace.
Instead, they'll continue to be bought by pwopwl as a 3rd, 4th, or XXth vehicle that is used occasionally and only for short trips. In the meantime, something like the Volt makes far more sense.
montoym 6:16PM (12/11/2008)
Lol
pwopwl = people.
My excuse is that the "w" and "e" are right next to each other. Even so though, I still misspelled it.
Serge K. 4:31PM (12/11/2008)
Is it green?
"Yes, it is!"
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