Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic: Solar Paint That Generates 7,450 Miles of Range Annually - Yanko Design

"On the Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic, the paint is a powertrain component. Beneath that mirror black surface lies solar paint, a wafer thin photovoltaic skin that turns every curve and contour into an active energy source, capable of adding thousands of miles of range each year under ideal conditions. The result is a car that charges itself while it poses, while it cruises, even while it sleeps in a garage flooded with sunlight, generating a mind-boggling 7,450 miles of range annually based on ideal conditions."

"That technology wraps a body shaped like a vintage dreamscape. Mercedes pulled proportions from its 1930s icons, with a near vertical grille, extended hood, and fastback silhouette that hides the electric skateboard underneath. The grille glows with animated pixels, the hood star lights up, and the entire form is finished in reflective black that emphasizes sculptural surfaces over character lines."

"Inside, the cabin becomes a velvet lined theater with brass accents, floating glass displays, and neuromorphic computing that makes autonomous driving 90 percent more efficient. Solar energy meets Art Deco in a manifesto for sustainable luxury. Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener created the concept as his creative conclusion before leaving the company, ensuring his "Sensual Purity" philosophy persists beyond his tenure. The strategy acknowledges that luxury customers buy emotional experiences rather than mere transportation. Technology serves that experience instead of overwhelming it."

A wafer-thin photovoltaic skin integrated into a mirror-black finish converts the vehicle's entire surface into an energy-harvesting powertrain component capable of generating thousands of miles of range annually under ideal conditions. The solar skin can add up to 7,450 miles of range per year and harvest energy while parked, driving, or stored in sunlight. Exterior design references 1930s Mercedes proportions with a near-vertical grille, extended hood, and fastback silhouette that conceals an electric skateboard chassis. Interior design pairs velvet-lined theater aesthetics, brass accents, floating glass displays, and neuromorphic computing that increases autonomous driving efficiency by 90 percent. The concept positions technology to serve emotional luxury experiences rather than overwhelm them.

Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News