The classics never really go away and that seems to hold true as the designers at Mercedes-Benz seem to have leapt back through time and bring the 1901 Mercedes 35 PS into the modern era moulding it into the Vision Mercedes Simplex.
The concept car symbolises the transition of a new era of design and technology while paying homage to the historical legacy and the birth of the brand.
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Much of this can be traced back to the spring of 1901 when the history of mobility changed when the Mercedes 35 PS shifted automobiles away from a high motorised carriage to a flat vehicle design with a light high-performance engine installed low down in the frame, the makings of the first modern car.
Apart from the obvious omission of the old gas engine, the Vision Mercedes Simplex stands out thanks to an attention “3D Display” that replaces the grille. A blend of old and new, it displays the vintage Mercedes while displaying the car’s status at a glance.
The omission of a windscreen- as on the historic model- reinforces the uncompromisingly sporty character and allows a seamless transition from the front-end flap to the instrument panel.
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Inside the cockpit, you can expect to find all essential information displayed on a context-sensitive projection, that allows the driver to focus on driving rather than wading through information.
Mercedes’ perfect handcraftsmanship is also evident in the leather bag that rounds the tail end of the vehicle body.
While it is unlikely that we will see a production model of the Vision Mercedes Simplex ever hitting the open roads, it is nevertheless an interesting vehicle that lets the automaker recall its roots and bringing it forward into the 21st century.
