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Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force concept is a G-Class for the future

Looking to create an entrant for this year's LA Design Challenge, Mercedes-Benz came up with the Ener-G-Force to fit the theme of Highway Patrol Vehicle 2025. The Ener-G-Force was one of six entrants for the 2012 LA Design Challenge, and the winning design will be announced on November 29 as a part of the LA Auto Show.

Mercedes-Benz says that the styling of the Ener-G-Force builds on many cues from the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and like the original G-Wagen introduced in 1979 as a civilian version of a military vehicle.

From a design standpoint, the Ener-G-Force infuses many elements seen on the G-Class but with a much more modern interpretation giving it a new, yet recognizable appearance. These cues include the sunk-in headlights, turn signals/running lights mounted atop the front fenders, the long, flat roofline and the low, rectangular taillights, but the Ener-G-Force ditches the G-Class' boxy lines in favor of a more rounded shape.

One of the interesting elements of the concept is the roof rack. While it looks like a cargo rack that could be used for a safari, it is actually a way for the vehicle to collect water to store in tanks to then be transferred to a converter that creates hydrogen to power the fuel cells. The batteries for this system are built into the rocker panels, and the hypothetical range for this conceptual system is 500 miles of zero-emission driving.

For off-roading purposes, the system uses four independent motors at each wheel and a roof-mounted scanner that adjusts the suspension to best fit the road conditions and terrain.

[DicKy]

Saw it on ACI, also Merc plans a whole range of other offrader to take it against RR.
After the MFA platform(though i dislike them) Merc looks like going to take the premium offroader segment down.
The Star ain't going down without a fight.

[neel385]

Not only does it look smashing and perfectly fits into the "patrol car" mold, but, somehow, it seems extremely contemporary and build-able the way it is designed. Of course the fuel cells with a 500 miles range is still a bit a far as far as I know!

[1100D]

Looks like a natural evolution of the G-wagen.

[rohit choudhary]

MERCEDES BENZ ENER-G-FORCE (IMAGES) - Back from the future – clean concept for beyond tomorrow: as an environmentally friendly suv, the ener-g-force, which mercedes-benz is presenting in los angeles as a design study, meets these requirements and would be fully capable of supporting police and emergency services in every corner of the world. Gorden Wagener, Director of Design at Mercedes-Benz Cars: "The Ener-G-Force is the vision of an off-roader that, while reflecting tomorrow's adventures, also invokes the genes of the Mercedes-Benz off-road icon, the G-Class. Modern and cool, it could also be a clue about a new beginning for the off-road design idiom of Mercedes-Benz".

Originally Posted by neel385

Of course the fuel cells with a 500 miles range is still a bit a far as far as I know!

Design competitions like the La design challenge have entries which are way way far fetched as compared to the G-force as this competition is taken up by the advanced design studios of Mercedes, General Motors, Subaru, Bmw Design Works and Honda(other's included Smart, Maybach, Nissan, Volkswagen.The brief's given for the challenge are ones that make you come up with out and out crazy concepts. Take the biome concept from Mercedes and all of last years entrants and you will find the g force is rather contemporary.
Personally i have a mixed opinion about the G force looks more of a hummer rather than the g wagon,Yes it looks like a fresh start for something like the g wagon but it is a loss of the mercedes design dna formed over a century.
I have also put up the other entries from gm, honda, bmw and subaru