Mercedes-Benz G-Code: a prototype designed for Asian cities

Daimler yesterday opened a new R&D centre in Beijing aimed at developing products specially designed for Asia and, more specifically, for China. The country will become the German manufacturer’s most important market within two years at the latest, as Hubertus Troska, Daimler’s head in China, predicted in remarks made during the event.

The centre has its own advanced design studio and, although it reports directly to the central studio in Sindelfingen, Germany, Daimler says its projects will focus on capturing the specific trends and tastes of the Asian market. The first fruit of this studio is the G-Code, a Sports Utility Coupé (SUC) prototype that combines the aesthetic language of Mercedes-Benz coupés with certain features designed for the mobility of the future in the gigantic cities of Asia.

The first quality that makes the G-Code a vehicle suited to that purpose is its compact dimensions. This prototype measures 4.1 metres long, 1.9 metres wide and 1.5 metres high. These measurements, combined with the large 21-inch wheels, give the vehicle a robust and dynamic appearance without resorting to the add-ons typical of larger cars.

Its design also stands out for the curious pattern of coloured lights that illuminates the front grille, inspired by the illuminated panel of the Enterprise starship from Star Trek. Rather than channelling air to cool the engine (that task falls to the air intakes on the flanks and at the lower end of the bumper), the grille shows the operating mode of the hybrid system.

When the G-Code is parked and its motors are off, the grille features a faint pulsing light in blue. In electric mode, the tiny dots surrounding the star light up in blue and move towards it, creating a tunnel-like effect. In normal hybrid mode the movement is identical, but the dots turn purple. In high-performance hybrid mode, that tone becomes reddish and the dots move towards the edges of the grille.

The G-Code’s second quality is its hybrid system, made up of a front turbocharged combustion engine running on hydrogen that transmits power to the front wheels, and a rear electric motor that drives the rear axle through a multi-plate dual clutch. In automatic mode, a control system decides which motors are activated, and how many, depending on driving demands, terrain and other factors.

In addition to the usual forms of energy recovery, such as regenerative braking or grid connection, there is a silver “multivoltaic” paint that provides additional energy by acting as a solar panel and storing electrostatic energy from the wind, as well as from the movement of the hydraulic fluid produced by the rebound of the dampers and suspension springs.

The third quality that makes the G-Code ideal for urban mobility is its extensive technological equipment. The bodywork hides cameras at the upper ends of the A-pillars and at the rear that provide a 360-degree field of view. This is displayed in 3D on the vehicle’s computer, together with data gathered by the radars, the infrared laser scanner, the GPS and the connection with other vehicles and road infrastructure.

The G-Code not only offers an interpretation of upcoming automotive trends in Asia, but also serves to test various innovations that Daimler says will be carried over to production models. The company does not say whether this prototype will leave the Beijing centre, but it seems quite a coincidence that the Canton Fair opens its doors in sixteen days.

Source | Daimler