- The Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven is a futuristic concept with a design inspired by the classic C111 prototypes.
- The One-Eleven packs an axial-flux electric motor that Mercedes says is lighter and more compact than equally powerful radial-flux motors used in today’s EVs.
- The cabin features an unusual LED pixel dashboard, an unorthodox rectangular steering wheel, and flashy silver seats.
The Mercedes-Benz C111 prototypes of the ’60s and ’70s served as test beds for emerging powertrain technologies, fitted with an array of turbo-diesel and Wankel rotary engines. Now, as the automotive industry shifts away from combustion engines towards electric power, Mercedes has unveiled the Vision One-Eleven concept, which like its forebear, acts as a predictor for the how the brand will adapt to changing automotive landscape.
The Vision One-Eleven’s sleek supercar looks are clearly inspired by the original C111 prototype, painted a vibrant shade of orange and fitted with dramatic gullwing doors. The concept’s silhouette features one line running in a shallow curve from front to rear, echoing the cab-forward aerodynamic designs of Mercedes’s current EV offerings like the EQS and EQE. At its peak the roof measures just 46 inches tall, and the design is grounded by chunky black side skirts, a front splitter, and a cavernous rear diffuser with blue backlighting. Mercedes says this makes the One-Eleven look like it is “fused with the road surface,” and it also references the C111’s black accents.
Instead of a grille, the One-Eleven’s front end features an oval panel with pixelated LEDs that mimic the C111’s fog lights and can also display messages to pedestrians and other drivers. A similar panel is found on the rear end and a similar pixelated pattern appears on the opaque windows, a feature we’ve seen on other Mercedes concepts like the Vision AMG. The intricate design of the massive wheels is meant to emulate the windings inside of electric motors.
Surprisingly Spacious Interior
Although the One-Eleven’s exterior screams high-performance supercar, the cabin can transform into a lounge, a common theme among future-gazing electric concepts. The interior is spacious considering the low-slung body, with loads of room for the seats to recline rearward since there is no engine taking up space behind the driver. A “race” mode sees the seat backs raise to an upright position.
The distinctive orange hue appears inside the One-Eleven as well, with the brightly colored leather—which Mercedes says was tanned using coffee bean husks—contrasting with the white dashboard material, made from recycled polyester. That dashboard is simplistic, with a full-width LED pixel display meant to recall old-school news tickers that displays important information like speed. It also shows QR codes that link to digital art pieces that will then appear on the touchscreen; don’t ask us why.
The shiny silver seats look reminiscent of retro astronaut suits and are complemented by polished aluminum on the dials and switches as well as the accelerator and brake pedals. The leather-wrapped steering wheel, in an unusual rectangle shape, features a small touchscreen sprouting off the steering column and angled toward the driver. Mercedes also mentioned an augmented-reality headset that turns the entire interior into the user interface, with 3D controls, icons, and maps for navigation. The AR system will also make the A-pillars and hood of the One-Eleven appear transparent, improving outward visibility.
Motor and Battery Details
Powering the One-Eleven concept is an axial-flux motor that Mercedes vaguely describes as “exceptionally powerful” and is built by a British battery company called YASA that the automaker completely purchased in 2021. Mercedes says this technology is being developed for its next generation of EVs, explaining that axial-flux motors weigh one-third as much as an equally powerful radial-flux unit, the motors currently used by most EVs. It also takes up one-third the amount of space.
The battery is composed of “liquid-cooled cylindrical cells with a novel cell chemistry” that Mercedes says drew on learnings from Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrain, which is responsible for the power units in the company’s Formula 1 racers. While the Vision One-Eleven certainly isn’t bound for production, the snazzy design should inspire future Mercedes cars, and we expect the axial-flux motors to find their way into the brand’s EVs within the next several years.
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Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
