LA Show 2010: Mercedes BIOME Concept is a Stunner

For this year's Los Angeles Design Challenge, Mercedes-Benz readied the BIOME, a super lightweight and eco-friendly (more than you could ever image...) sports car. It was created by a design team from the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad, California. If you read the press release though, you'll probably think that Mercedes is talking about a cucumber and not a car. Don't believe us? Check out this expert:

"[The team] Taking their inspiration from nature, they designed a vehicle which is fully integrated into the ecosystem, from the moment of its creation right through to the end of its service life. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery. Out on the road the car emits pure oxygen, and at the end of its lifespan it can be simply composted or used as building material."

But wait, it gets even better:

"The vehicle is created from two seeds: The interior of theBIOME grows from the DNA in the Mercedes star on the front of the vehicle, while the exterior grows from the star on the rear. To accommodate specific customer requirements, the Mercedes star is genetically engineered in each case, and the vehicle "grows" when the genetic code is combined with the seed capsule. The wheels are grown from four separate seeds."

And now you know why Proposition 19 failed to pass in California...

But humor aside, we must admit, the BIOME is one cool-looking concept study. Kudos to the designers.

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Slavche Tanevski Creates a Mercedes-Benz Electric Taxi For 2025

Outside of London's ubiquitous TX4, the purpose-built taxi is almost dead. Checker is long gone and Ford Crown Victorias now grace New York's congested streets. It's more to do with economics than anything else: why build something new and unique when you can modify an existing vehicle?

In a similar vein to Volkswagen's Milano Taxi, independent designer Slavche Tanevski has produced this design study for the Mercedes-Benz Nimbus, a city cab for the year 2025. Tenvski claims that he created the Nimbus as a tribute to the world's first motorised taxi, the 1897 Daimler Victoria. You can see a few of the Victoria's styling cues reflected in the flowing, almost liquid-like curves of the former.

Brought to life during Tanevski's internship at Mercedes' Exterior Design Studio, the Nimbus features an electric motor mounted at each wheel hub powered by lithium ion batteries beneath the floor. This compact arrangement helps it comfortably accommodate three adults and their luggage or up to five adults without luggage.

All and all, I think it's a solid effort. Don't take my word for it though, have a look at the gallery and let us know what you think in the comments below.

By Tristan Hankins

Designer: Slavche Tanevski , Via: Yankodesign

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Mercedes F800 Style: Mega Gallery of baby CLS with 101 Photos

Mercedes has released a larger-than-life gallery with 101 high resolution photos of the F800 Style, a concept sports saloon we first laid eyes on at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. The compact-sized F800 was created to preview the German manufacturer's new design language, as seen later on the new CLS, which made its world debut in Paris last month.

Other than that, the F800 is a stylish test bed for two alternative drive systems - a Plug-in Hybrid System and a Fuel Cell system (details below), while also showcasing several other technologies such as next generation LED headlights, an improved PRE-SAFE 360 system, pivot-and-slide doors and new materials in the cabin.

By Csaba Daradics

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