Have you ever thought to yourself, "I love my car, but I wish it was more like a cool living room where my hip, young, urban friends and I could kick it?"
If so, Mercedes-Benz has the concept for you.
Mercedes-Benz unveiled its Vision Tokyo concept, a self-driving lounge the company is calling an "homage" to Generation Z, at the Tokyo Motor Show Wednesday. This concept bears a striking similarity to the F 015 Luxury In Motion concept it debuted at CES January of this year.
As the name implies, the Vision Tokyo is designed for congested megacities like Tokyo. In its press release, Mercedes imagines the car to be "a chill-out zone in the midst of megacity traffic mayhem," with an interior that resembles a limo from 2050, rather than a conventional car.
Up to five passengers, while wearing skin-tight, Mercedes-branded body suits, sit on a U-shaped couch around a floor-to-roof hologram that displays different apps. Mercedes oriented the seating this way because it has found that members of Generation Z value personal contact even though they are heavy social media users. The seats themselves are rather futuristic looking, thanks to LED backlights shining through the perforated leather.
Mercedes also touts the fact that the Vision Tokyo uses machine learning to better know its passengers over time.
Privacy is ensured by by "Alubeam" windows, which let light into the cabin while shielding the occupants from the outside world. Even though the Vision Tokyo is self-driving, it offers a captains chair and a conventional steering wheel for when human driving is required.
The Vision Tokyo is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, which generates electricity alongside a battery, combining for 609 miles of range.
With new entry-level cars like the CLA and GLA, Mercedes-Benz has been chasing a younger audience, but its targeting of Generation Z -- those born after 1995, most of whom can't yet drive -- takes this to a new level. Mercedes is imagining the Vision Tokyo not as a tool for getting around, but rather a "digital, automobile companion."
And it makes sense; these youths are more interested in staying connected and 'sharing' than driving. That said, they still have places to go. This is where vehicles like the Vision Tokyo come into play.
While self-driving cars are many years away, Mercedes is already imagining the role of a luxury car maker in that world. So, future yuppies, are you excited for your Mercedes "chill-out zone?"