Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-Benz Group, posed a pivotal question at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas: “Where do we take it from here?” The answer arrived in the form of an extraordinary global collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and the creators of the Avatar films. This partnership signifies a crucial step towards carbon-neutral vehicle production and underscores the urgent need for a sustainable future in the automotive industry.
This groundbreaking alliance gave birth to the Mercedes-benz Vision Avtr – standing for “Advanced Vehicle Transformation”. More than just a concept car, the VISION AVTR is a bold reimagining of the symbiotic relationship between humans, machines, and nature, offering a visionary glimpse into the automotive landscape of tomorrow. Drawing profound inspiration from the harmonious world of Pandora in Avatar, the VISION AVTR is engineered for zero-emission sustainability, aiming to reconnect drivers with the natural world. Its holistic design operates entirely independent of fossil fuels, utilizing cutting-edge graphene-based organic cell technology, devoid of rare and environmentally harmful elements. This innovative power source allows the vehicle to achieve an impressive range of 435 miles, while its conductive charging capability enables a full recharge in a mere 15 minutes. Notably, the organic battery components are fully compostable and recyclable, championing the principles of a circular economy.
Mercedes-Benz designers have strived to create an unprecedented level of intuitive interaction, blurring the lines between machine and living organism. The VISION AVTR experience is designed to immerse the driver in a symbiosis with both the vehicle and the surrounding natural environment, seamlessly merging human and machine. A curved display module presents real-time 3D visualizations of natural wonders, showcasing locations such as the Huangshan mountain range in China, the towering Hyperion Tree in California, and Australia’s vibrant Pink Lake Hillier. These graphics are designed to illustrate natural forces often invisible to the naked eye, such as bioenergy, magnetic fields, and ultraviolet light, enriching the driving experience with a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
The VISION AVTR’s revolutionary design boldly declares a new era of progressive luxury. The dynamic contours of the interior and ambient light strips are directly inspired by natural forms. Eschewing traditional buttons and switches, the vehicle projects control functions directly onto the driver’s body or hand, creating an intuitive and seamless interface. The center console, a symbolic representation of the Tree of Souls from Avatar, extends upwards to form a transparent roof structure, playing with light, color, and holographic effects to create a unique cabin atmosphere. Further enhancing the integration of natural elements, sections of the interior incorporate color-changing fabrics that interact dynamically with ambient light, creating a living, breathing environment within the vehicle.
The exterior design of the VISION AVTR is truly sculptural, embodying a tangible dialogue between luxury and sustainability. The stretched “One Bow” aesthetic creates a seamless loop structure, further echoing the Na’vi inspiration, while fiber optic elements pulse throughout the vehicle’s form, visually representing energy flow into the tires. Each wheel is engineered for independent drive, allowing for rotations of up to 30 degrees and enabling a unique crab-like sideways movement, enhancing maneuverability and showcasing futuristic agility. Perhaps most strikingly, the 33 multi-directional moveable surface elements, or “bionic flaps,” create an otherworldly aesthetic and facilitate a unique form of communication between the vehicle, its occupants, and the external environment.
The world premiere of the awe-inspiring Mercedes-Benz VISION AVTR concept car took place on January 6, 2020, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, marking a significant moment in automotive innovation and sustainable design.
