Flamboyant look for prospect Merc

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a flamboyant new design as part of its Vision Iconic series. 

The design intends to showcase the reimagining of the traditional grille that appeared on models from the 1920s and 1930s.

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The grille features a wide chromed frame and smoked-glass lattice structure, with a modern twist of integrated contour lighting to illuminate the grille and front-mounted star. 

This new design philosophy was brought to life by the all-electric GLC last month, which was revealed at the recent Munich motor show and will hit Australian showrooms later next year. 

The vintage-modern crossover continues inside the car, with metallic-style steering wheel and lounge-like seating, contrasting further futuristic illumination throughout the cabin. 

The design does not feature an obvious gear selector or litany of dials and instruments. Mercedes' bold new interior emphasises the carmaker’s focus on the evolving role for design inside the car, with automated driving getting closer to use.

According to Mercedes, the Iconic Vision comes with a Level 2 automatic driving system that has point-to-point urban capabilities. This is a two steps below its Level 4 highly automated driving system that would allow the driver to take their hands off the wheel entirely. 

The sleek exterior of the concept car also speculates on the potential of solar power in the future. Mercedes-Benz is researching the application of solar modules to the bodywork of electric vehicles, similar to a wafer thin paste. 

It claims this would harness additional range from the sun, and in ideal conditions offer an extra 12,000km of range per year. 

The solar coating also contains no rare earth metals or silicon and is easily recyclable, according to Mercedes-Benz.

As part of this technological overhaul, Mercedes has also speculated on the use of more advanced computing to increase energy efficiency exponentially.