Go the last mile with the Mercedes-Benz eScooter

Mercedes-Benz has fully immersed itself in developing sustainable concepts for aspects of mobility and this time they have tried to find a solution for the first and last mile of a journey. The automotive behemoth has teamed up with Swiss micro mobility specialists Micro Mobility Systems AG to create the Mercedes-Benz eScooter.

Now the press release goes into a lot of detail about how users can enjoy it on the last mile and how it corresponds to the modern lifestyle but the real meat of it comes down to the specs.

The eScooter has a 7.8 Ah battery mated to an electric motor with a peak of 500 W allowing the rider to reach the limited 20km/h for up to 25km. The frame is black with Mercedes-Benz and Micro co-branding on the steering column. It has a wide kick plate with non slip coating and is fitted with 20 cm rubber wheels, said to make it easier to ride over cobblestones. Getting the 13.5kg scooter to stop is done by the rear drum brake and a footbrake to further add friction.

It is a folding design with a retractable steering column whilst on the handlebars, there is a centrally mounted display that shows the speed, battery level and riding mode at a glance as well as having front and rear lights with side reflectors for use at night.

With apps now able to control car features, the same can be done with the eScooter – the Micro app can provide information such as speed, distance, travel time, battery charge status, riding modes, lights as well as navigation with the app providing the shortest possible route to get to your destination.

The eScooter charges in around 3-3.5 hours using a standard domestic socket, and reaches 70% charge in just over two hours. Mercedes plans to offer a Bluetooth connection and a boot docking station allowing drivers to charge as they drive.

As scooters are allowed on public roads in Germany, the eScooter has a number plate bracket and meets all the necessary requirements, such as identification plate and ABE [German general operating license], so the only thing the owner needs to obtain is statutory liability insurance, which makes it feel a lot more like a personal vehicle than a toy.

There is no word on pricing and launch date as of yet or even if it will be available in the UK, but it is interesting to see large automotive manufacturers thinking about the final miles from a parking space.

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Virgil Abloh X Mercedes-Benz: Project Gelandewagen

This is what happens when Mercedes and Off-White founder and Creative Director, Virgil Abloh team up. This project used the G-Wagen as a basis of disrupting future perceptions of luxury and created the least likely version of a G… a race car.

Taking the iconic shape of the G-Wagen and lowering and widening it, said to give it a sportier effect, has lost its charm. The indicators that were said to have caused designers headaches to keep have now been removed as have the door mirrors and bumper bar. Fitted with what looks like Monoblock rims on exaggerated tyres is said to “exude the G’s inimitable charisma.” Furthermore, the paint is partially sanded by hand to create a sense of timeless simplicity. Craftsmanship takes centre stage, so welds are celebrated rather than hidden away.

Inside, things gets a lot more interesting. As with some of the Off-White collabs we have seen with Nike, elements have been stripped back to their purest substance. Safety is key here so the safety frame takes centre stage. The dashboard has been replaced with something a lot simpler – with analogue dials and simple toggle switches. That simplicity is then heavily contrasted by the steering wheel and seats which look like they have been borrowed from a GT racing car.

The hardest thing to understand about this collaboration is the point to it all? Will this push the Instagram generation to get involved with car design? Virgil Abloh says: “My ultimate goal in this project with Mercedes-Benz is inspiring young artists, engineers, designers to question the status quo, in addition to experimenting with my own design abilities,” said Abloh. “For me it’s all about providing opportunities for those coming after me and giving this next generation a foundation for success, both here with Mercedes-Benz and through my own Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund.“

A replica of the Project Gelandewagen will be auctioned off by Sotheby’s Contemporary Curated, with all proceeds going to charity. Advanced bidding is set to start on September 14th.

Mercedes C63 AMG

The Mercedes C63 AMG is very special to me. The car is probably one of the most understated and only a true petrol head knows what lurks beyond the subtle exterior.

The car looks like any Mercedes C-class of recent, except for a few tiny things. The 6.3 AMG badges on the flared wheel arches and the quad exhaust give off hints of the power that the mighty engine holds. Not only that, but this specific car was relea­sed in conjunction with AMG’s 40th anniversary.

The engines are hand built at the AMG factory, and they are so proud of this that each engineer has his personal plaque stuck on each engine built.

The 6.3-litre V8 AMG engine coupled with a quad exhaust turns even the most serious of grown men into little children, giggling at the rumble of this mean machine. The car pumps out 451 bhp, which is plentiful.

When the car is brought to life, the exhaust sounds like you have angered the devil deep in the bowels of hell. When I took off with the car I wasn’t sure what sort of power I had beneath my right foot.

After I floored the accelerator, the car’s tail wagged a bit and I was propelled to excessive speed in a matter of seconds. It was alarmingly quick and serious attention is needed to avoid colliding into the car ahead.

To counter such speeds, the car needs an adequate braking system and I was extremely satisfied with the braking capabilities of the massive vented brakes. This car will shave miles off the speedo very swiftly and this gave me a ‘false’ sense of security.

In traffic, the car is as docile as a standard C-class; it has four doors and has a big enough boot for the shopping. The model I tested had the optional sat-nav, which pops out of the dashboard when you start up.

This car is typical Mercedes, with a well-built interior, covered in carbon fibre and leather. The seat is heavily bolstered and wraps around the driver tightly.

The car is fitted with a special ESP button, which is basically traction control. It has three settings, ON, ESP-Sport or OFF.

ESP-sport allows you to be naughty and light up the rear wheels but if you get it wrong the car will correct the driving line itself and keep you on the road.

There are a number of things that might keep you from buying this car: fuel consumption and price of tyres because you will go through a lot of them.

Mercedes C63 AMG teaser

recently I was given the opportunity to test drive the monster Mercedes. The 6.3l AMG C-class. unfortunately until the review is published in the newspaper I can’t post it here. but I can post some of the photos.

Now this car isn’t one to be messed with. it may look pretty normal but, I’m telling you when you start it up, it’s the meanest sounding machine. it isn’t a pure sound like a Ferrari. it is more of a naughty and dirty growl. The car rumbles, it doesn’t sing. Putting your foot down, the car wiggles like a wild animal charging its hind legs ready to pounce. Then it just GOES!! I haven’t driven many fast cars but this was quick. I think the fact that it’s a super car in an executive suit gives the false impression that it can’t be that fast.

As soon as the article is published I will post it here for all of you to read.

but for now……. drool over these:

 

 

Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG roadster (Photo credit: sarahlarson)

Image via Wikipedia

Just watched the second episode of Top Gear UK, as usual can never be disappointed. Beautiful cars, crazy stories and always a laugh. But something dawned on me. Jeremy Clarkson drove the Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster and he came to the conclusion that it was amazing because it was different. But I have to disagree.

Why would you buy a convertible SLS? the sole reason that I see for buying an SLS is for the gull-wing doors that pay homage to the original 300 SL gull-wing. A convertible SLS loses those magnificent pieces of art and are replaced with normal doors. If you want a loud V8 wearing a Merc badge why not save some money and get a SL 63. Same conventional doors and roof.

Normally, i love a convertible over any hard top version, there is something about chopping the roof that makes it look sexy. Altering the pillars and the lines of the car shows true beauty. When weather is perfect, all roofs drop down so passengers can enjoy the warmth of the sun.

I don’t want to come across as saying that the SLS is better than the Roadster version because unluckily enough for me I haven’t driven both. As Jeremy said, nowadays you will come across as being a bit of a show off stepping out of your car having gull-wing doors. Same idea goes for scissor doors on a Lamborghini.

But then again for an extra 40Kg and £176,895 you probably have enough money to buy the roadster for sunny days and the gull-wing for the rainy days.