German Car Zone

We have to thank the guys over at Autoblog for pointing us to this story.

The entries for the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show's Design Challenge have officially been released, three of which belong to Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America. The theme designers were faced with in the newest Design Challenge was "An LA Adventure," and was meant to be "a reflection of the myriad of activities inherrent to Southern California." The designers then chose what their adventure would be, and designed a vehicle to "enjoy their chosen activity."

Of the three vehicles designed by Mercedes, two dealt with the "adventure" of search and rescue. One, the Mercedes Mojave Runner, is a "gas-electric hybrid designed to thrive in extreme heat, rough terrain or unpredictable weather." The second, the smart Rescue Vehicle, is designed for "the adventures and tasks that a lifeguard endures on a daily basis, such as first aid, beach patrol, safety and water rescues."

The third vehicle, the Maybach California Gourment Tourer, differs greatly from the two previous vehicles. Instead of focusing on search and rescue, the Maybach is "the ultimate machine to enjoy a culinary adventure." It's chauffeured by software using GPS guidance, and comes "fully equipped with every onboard feature imaginable to store and prepare food and wine."

To learn more about all three Mercedes-Benz entries in the LA Auto Show's Design Challenge, check out photos and the full descriptions below. If you're interested, you can also check out the other designer's entires at the Design Challenge website by clicking here.










Mojave Runner Concept
Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America
Designer: John Gill

Adventure Saving lives in the harsh conditions of the desert.

Mercedes-Benz has a rich history of technological innovation and public service. I chose to design a rescue vehicle for the harsh environment of the Mojave desert. The combination of extreme heat, rough terrain, and unpredictable weather can be challenging for any type of vehicle. The Mojave Runner is designed to thrive under these elements. Off-road racing and medical assistance come together in a uniquely designed vehicle. Night vision, sandstorm radar, and G.P.S. are some of the high-tech sensors that greatly enhance the searching capability. This vehicle is also equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell generator. The generator provides electrical power for tools and rescue equipment along with a secondary water source. The Mojave Runner engine is a mid-mounted 8-cylinder hybrid. A small electrical motor provides extra torque when needed. The strong, lightweight exoskeleton frame is a combination of carbon-fiber and aluminum. The pressurized aluminum frame tubing stores air for pneumatic power tools. Off-road and on-road performance is optimized by intelligent adaptive tires. The tires automatically changes tread depth for best performance. All of these elements (technology, design, an adventure) form a vehicle only Mercedes-Benz can build.










California Gourmet Tourer
Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America
Designer: Andre Frey

As the name implies, the Maybach California Gourmet Tourer is the ultimate machine to enjoy a culinary adventure. It is the highest form of hedonism, luxury and comfort-. Fully automated, this vehicle is safely chauffeured by software using GPS guidance. Its passengers can fully enjoy their company without worrying about driving. The Maybach California Gourmet Tourer enables you, to enjoy L.A.’s finest cuisine while passing through the spectacular landscape of Southern California.

The vehicle offers panorama style windows to enjoy the scenery. The Maybach California Gourmet Tourer comes fully equipped with every onboard feature imaginable to store and prepare food and wine. It features refrigeration, espresso machine, microwave, wine rack, food preparation area, recycler, foldout tables and other accessories to make any picnic an unforgettable adventure.










Smart Rescue Vehicle for Lifeguard Duty Adventure
Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America
Designer: Hubert Lee

The adventure is being a lifeguard for the summer at Huntington Beach, CA. The Rescue vehicle is designed for the adventures and tasks that a lifeguard endures on a daily basis. The tasks are first aid, beach patrol, safety and water rescue.

The vehicle has a capacity of 5 occupants. The driver sits high in a jet-ski styled seating position. The vehicle has a mid-engine layout. The 800cc turbo Smart engine sits between the front and rear seats that also powers the jet pump in amphibious mode. The foam rubber seats can be taken out for more utility and rescues.

by.emercedesbenz.com

saw them on the LA auto show official web site ... www.laautoshow.com ,,, cool stuff
have u seen this

I like the front elements of that "Hovercar" The hard angular lights, the in-your-face grille and the spoiler.