“Where do we take it from here?” This pivotal question, posed by Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-Benz Group and Mercedes-Benz AG, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, marked the inception of a groundbreaking alliance. Mercedes-Benz embarked on a global partnership with the creators of the Avatar cinematic universe, signaling a commitment to carbon-neutral vehicle production and underscoring the urgent need for a sustainable tomorrow. This collaboration gave rise to the Mercedes-Benz VISION AVTR – an acronym for “Advanced Vehicle Transformation” – a concept car that challenges the boundaries of automotive innovation and reimagines the relationship between humanity, technology, and nature.
Inspired deeply by the world of Avatar, the VISION AVTR is more than just a vehicle; it’s a visionary concept that explores unprecedented interactions between humans, machines, and the natural world. Echoing the harmonious existence of the Na’vi with their environment, the VISION AVTR is meticulously crafted for sustainable operation, achieving zero emissions and fostering a reconnection with our planet. It operates entirely independent of fossil fuels, utilizing cutting-edge graphene-based organic cell technology, devoid of rare and environmentally hazardous elements. This powerful system enables an impressive range of 435 miles, complemented by conductive charging technology that allows for a full recharge in a mere 15 minutes. Furthermore, the organic battery components are designed to be compostable and recyclable, emphasizing the crucial role of a future circular economy in automotive manufacturing.
Mercedes-Benz designers have breathed life into the machine, creating intuitive interactions that were once considered the realm of science fiction. The VISION AVTR immerses you in a symbiotic experience, seamlessly merging the driver with the surrounding natural environment. A curved display module within the vehicle presents real-time 3D visualizations of natural wonders, such as China’s Huangshan mountain range, the towering Hyperion Tree of California, and Australia’s vibrant Pink Lake Hillier. These visualizations extend beyond the visible spectrum, illustrating natural forces like bioenergy, magnetic fields, and ultraviolet light, enriching the driving experience with a deeper connection to the natural world.
The VISION AVTR makes a bold statement about progressive luxury, captivating the senses with its revolutionary design. The interior’s dynamic contours and ambient light strips draw inspiration from natural forms, creating a serene and futuristic cabin. Eliminating traditional buttons and switches, the vehicle projects its functions onto the driver’s body or hand, fostering an intuitive and seamless integration of human and machine. The center console, a symbolic nod to the Tree of Souls from Avatar, extends upwards to form a transparent roof structure, playing with light, color, and holographic effects to enhance the cabin’s ambiance. Adding to the interplay of elements, sections of the interior incorporate color-changing fabrics, reacting dynamically with natural light to create an ever-shifting environment within the vehicle.
The exterior of the VISION AVTR is a sculptural masterpiece, embodying a tangible dialogue between luxury and sustainability. The elongated “One Bow” design creates a fluid loop structure, directly inspired by the Na’vi aesthetic, while fiber optic elements pulse throughout the vehicle like neural pathways, visually representing the flow of energy to the wheels. Each wheel is engineered for independent drive, allowing for rotations of up to 30 degrees, enabling a unique sideways, crab-like movement for enhanced maneuverability. Perhaps most strikingly, the 33 multi-directional movable surface elements, known as “bionic flaps,” create an otherworldly aesthetic and facilitate communication between the vehicle, its occupants, and the external environment.
The world was introduced to the awe-inspiring Mercedes-Benz VISION AVTR concept car on January 6, 2020, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. This vehicle is not just a concept; it is a vision of a future where automotive innovation and environmental consciousness converge, creating vehicles that are not only advanced and luxurious but also deeply integrated with and respectful of the natural world.
