CES 2020

New Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR concept car inspired by Avatar

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Jan 8, 2020, 7:10 am

Mercedes has created a new concept car that is otherworldly.

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

A new concept car from Mercedes-Benz is inspired by the possibility of future modes of transportation as much as it's been influenced by the movie Avatar.

The Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR, revealed at CES, is a result of a partnership with the creative minds behind the movie "Avatar" and the luxury automaker. It was inspired by the world of Pandora, an inhabitable moon with a lush ecosystem where "Avatar" takes place.

Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR 

Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz


The entire Vision AVTR structure is designed to be inside-out and emotional. It has a stretched "One Bow" design and organic language. Its exterior is covered in 33 "bionic flaps" that are reminiscent of reptile scales. Mercedes says that the flaps can communicate with the driver through subtle movements.

Instead of traditional controls for various functions in the cockpit and a steering wheel, the concept car has a multifunctional control element in the center console that operates by placing a hand over the control unit. A driver is recognized by their heartbeat and breathing.

By lifting their hand, the user sees a menu selection projected onto their palm. The user can then choose between functionalities. A curved display module separates the passengers from the outside world.

The car's cabin is filled with DINAMICA leather, a vegan microfiber that is sustainable throughout its entire manufacturing process. The floor is covered in Karuun, a rattan wood that grows quickly and is harvested by hand in Indonesia.

Mercedes is showing off a battery made of graphene-based organic cell chemistry in the machine. The battery is free of rare earth metals and is instead made of compostable material, which makes it completely recyclable.

The car has front and rear axles that can operate in the same or opposite direction making the vehicle able to move sideways approximately 30 degrees in the style of a crab movement.

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BMW announces 2023 iX M60 performance EV

The iX M60 will hit dealers' lots in June 2022.

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BMW's electric vehicle catalog is growing rapidly as the automaker rolls out new electrified cars and SUVs. The latest is the iX M60, a red-hot five-seat SUV with sleek styling and a spectacular list of standard features. BMW announced the new SUV this week, along with pricing and release date details.

The iX M60 is BMW's first performance-oriented electric SUV, though BMW calls it a sports activity vehicle, or SAV. Its powertrain has been massaged to produce up to 610 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque. Maximum power delivery is limited to times when the vehicle's launch control is activated, but even the "normal" numbers are impressive: In regular driving situations, the iX puts down 532 horsepower and 749 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration to 60 mph takes 3.6 seconds and the iX M60 can go on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph.

2023 BMW iX M60 Though extremely sporty, BMW doesn't shy away from using loads of luxurious finishes and materials. BMW

The iX brings more than performance, as its charging capabilities are quite strong. Using AC power, the vehicle can charge from 0-100 percent in 10.25 hours on its fastest setting. Using its fastest DC power setting, the iX can charge from 10 to 80% in just 35 minutes.

Two electric motors power the SUV, which provide standard all-wheel drive. Dual-axle air suspension is standard, along with electronically-controlled shock absorbers. BMW says that the air suspension is controlled individually at each wheel, so the vehicle can adjust ride height in several ways to maintain stability and remain level in corners.

2023 BMW iX M60 The vehicle can run from 0-60 mph in under four seconds and features standard AWD.BMW

When it goes on sale in June, 2022, the 2023 BMW iX M60 will have a starting price of $106,095, which includes a $995 destination charge. That's a flagship price tag, but the SUV's got the performance and a flagship-level list of standard features. That six-figure dollar amount buys 21-inch wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, wireless phone charging, AC fast charging, a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights, a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System, four-zone automatic climate controls, and more.

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The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX features impressive range

The EQXX Concept features a crazy driving range.

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Mercedes-Benz is putting its century-plus of automotive experience into building electric cars, and the results are impressive. The EQS is an electric flagship with great range, and the automaker has unveiled several concepts to show its future plans. The Vision EQXX concept debuted today as an ultra-efficient luxury EV with astonishing range numbers.

Mercedes-Benz EQXX Concept Mercedes focused on efficiency over power with the car. Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes' focus with the EQXX is efficiency over power, as it says the car is its most efficient it has ever made. The EQXX uses less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometers (around 62 miles), which equates to 620 miles on a single charge. The battery was designed with tech and knowledge from Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team, especially when it comes to size and weight. The EQXX's battery pack is 50 percent smaller by volume and 30 percent lighter than the pack in the EQS, which already featured astonishing efficiency.

The car's impressive range comes at the expense of horsepower, which in this case means just 201 ponies from the EQXX's electric drivetrain. Mercedes says that the system is capable of delivering up to 95 percent energy efficiency - an impressive figure for power delivery to the wheels. Extremely efficient gas powertrains only achieve around 30 percent efficiency and a human long-distance runner can hit around 50 percent.

Mercedes-Benz EQXX Concept The EQXX is impressively slippery, which improves its range.

The EQXX is a slippery car, too, and with a drag coefficient of just 0.17, the car cuts through the air with ease. The typical EV uses up to two-thirds of its battery capacity just to push through the air, so the EQXX's aerodynamics is a big part of its efficiency. The other big part is Mercedes' thermal management system, which uses shutters and cooling plates to maintain an ideal battery and electric drive unit temperature. The plates allow the EQXX to gain about 12 miles of range in its most aerodynamic mode.

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