KEY POINTS:
Only its mother could love its looks, but beneath the skin this Mercedes Bluezero is a very clever piece of kit. For the same basic architecture covers three quite different methods of propulsion.
Mercedes says different lifestyles demand different powertrains. It believes the internal combustion engine - with or without hybrid functions - will rule long-distance driving for the near future, with fuel cell cars. Meanwhile rural folk suit plug-in hybrids while city slickers need zero emissions, supplied by electric and fuel cell cars.
Bluezero's modular drivetrain construction means it can use any combination of these methods, including a petrol engine to generate power for electric motors.
And its sandwich floor construction, like that of today's A and B-class platforms, is suited to packing in the new technology without compromising real-world usability. The concept features five seats and a 500-litre boot.
The Bluezero fuel cell variant goes into limited production this year, with an electric version in 2010.
There are no plans to bring Bluezero to NZ at this stage.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
