Technological advancement has always been a driving force behind progress. Both the first high-speed petrol engine and the Patent Motor Car, designed by Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz in 1885 and 1886, were revolutionary developments, not just for automotive progress but also for broader social growth.
Personal mobility soared at a phenomenal rate as a result of their actions. That trend has persisted to this day, as new technology and ideas emerge, expanding the scope of the automobile world.
The Concept EQ was the first glimpse at an entire generation of electric vehicles in 2016. It was also the precursor of Mercedes' new EQ technology and product brand. Progress, on the other hand, never stops.
Mercedes surpassed itself at the Pebble Beach weekend in 2018 with the EQ Silver Arrow concept after wowing spectators with the neo-art-deco Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 cabriolet concept in 2017. The idea is a glimpse into Mercedes design's future, as per design chief Gorden Wagener.
Let’s take a magnified look at the Mercedes Vision EQ Silver Arrow
The Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen: The Car That Inspired The Vision EQ Silver Arrow
The Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen was an experimental streamliner based on the W125 open-wheel formula car. But, instead of the Grand Prix car's 8-cylinder engine, the Rekordwagen had a twin supercharged V12 capable of producing 725 horsepower.
Rudolf Caracciola drove a specially adapted Mercedes-Benz W125 Grand Prix racer throughout German Autobahn near Frankfurt on January 28, 1938. He logged an average high speed of 268.8 mph for more than a kilometer.
Even today, the feat is impressive, but it is wild for 1938. Unfortunately, the death of a competitor, Auto Union racing driver Bernd Rosemeyer, on the same day cast a cloud on this success.
The W125 had a few unique engineering features. Instead of using ambient air, the engine used an ice-cooling system. Engineers used 11 pounds of ice and 12.6 liters of water to cool the enormous engine. It also contributed to the lowest attainable drag coefficient.
Designers and engineers also altered the external design to feature rounder curves and sharper tapers to reduce axle lift and keep crosswinds at bay at high speeds. The covered wheel arches only contribute to the car's futuristic appearance.
After an 80-year reign, Koenigsegg's Agera RS, with its 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 producing 1,341 hp, was finally enough to dethrone the mighty Mercedes. In November 2017, Koenigsegg set the record on a closed 12-mile stretch of Highway 160 just outside Pahrump, Nevada.
The Mercedes-Benz W125 utilized in the land-speed record run is now proudly displayed in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.
Blast From The Past: The Futuristic Design Of The Vision EQ Silver Arrow
The design style of the Vision EQ Silver Arrow is a brand-specific expression of the Sensual Purity design concept, with its clear, seamless appearance.
A blue monobrow of LED lighting frames the aggressively designed headlamps at the front, with additional blue lighting elements adorning the car's side skirts. At the back, a single-band taillight lies beneath a split wing.
Rose gold adorns the sides and half-covered wheels. On the other hand, blue appears to be a widely acknowledged color for signifying an electric vehicle. It was also prominently featured on BMW's i3 and i8 models.
Besides the aggressive use of LED lighting to glam up this Silver Arrow, Mercedes also delves into its future tech bag for the display in front of the driver, which is believed to be a curved panoramic screen with back projection.
This panel, according to Mercedes, will project a 3D image of the road ahead, with the option to participate in a "virtual race" in which a racetrack is superimposed on the road. Mercedes goes above and beyond by also including a touchscreen in the steering wheel.
Beautiful tan leather upholsters the seat and steering wheel of the 2018 Silver Arrow, while the interior of the cockpit is a mix of polished aluminum and gray suede, and the floor is pinstriped walnut. Mercedes describes this aesthetic as "progressive luxury."
Does The Vision EQ Silver Arrow Possess The Same Performance As Its Inspiration?
The EQ, unlike the V12-powered W125, is entirely electric. There are two motors, one on each axle. They're powered by a floor-mounted 80 kWh battery with a claimed 750 horsepower and a range of more than 249 miles per charge.
Drivers can adjust the permanent all-wheel-drive system from the cockpit to transfer torque to the front or rear wheels as desired, with three drive modes to choose from: Comfort, Sport, and Sport+.
The driver may even configure the car to sound like the present Mercedes Silver Arrow F1 car or a Mercedes-AMG V8. This shows that even Mercedes recognizes that electric vehicles will never sound as good as those powered by internal combustion engines.