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Mercedes-Benz builds the world’s
most desirable coupés – a claim
which the Stuttgart-based car
maker is underlining at the 2008
Paris Motor Show with its
ConceptFASCINATION design study.
This unique vehicle, whose
innovative and unconventional
proportions interpret the
emotional appeal of a coupé in a
new way, represent an exciting
and intelligent combination of
sporty and elegant design with
stylish practicality. Wood,
aluminium and smoked glass give
a particularly exclusive look
and feel to the luggage
compartment which incorporates a
refrigerated compartment and a
humidor as well as offering a
large load space. These
attributes embody the two
objectives of ConceptFASCINATION
– to provide a high level of
practical usability and to
create a coupé which appeals to
the heart with fast, thrilling
lines. In developing this design
study, Mercedes-Benz has given
fresh impetus to the
long-established (although now
rarely seen) “shooting brake”, a
vehicle category with its own
distinctive charisma. Freed from
the constraints of a
specifications book, the
designers have created an
automotive sculpture with great
aesthetic appeal which once
again demonstrates
Mercedes-Benz’s high level of
design expertise.
ConceptFASCINATION is a
unique jewel of compelling
automotive design which is
distinguished by its
irresistibly dynamic lines yet
still offers the benefits of a
large luggage compartment. A
particularly notable feature of
the design is that the practical
load space develops organically
from the exciting and elegant
lines of this lifestyle coupé,
giving it its special charisma.
Inside, the tone is set by fine,
exceptional materials
hand-crafted to the highest
standard. Absolute perfection
and attention to detail make
this design study an
incomparable gem which conveys a
sense of sporty forward movement
and at the same time elegance,
savoir-vivre and exclusivity of
the highest level.
Dr
Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the
Board of Management of Daimler
AG, commented: “This design
study continues the long
tradition of exciting coupés
from Mercedes-Benz in impressive
style. With its emotionally
appealing lines,
ConceptFASCINATION offers a
completely new interpretation of
the coupé. Its aesthetic,
dynamic looks and meticulously
crafted detail ensure that this
study meets the highest design
standards."
Not content with just
indulging the senses, the
ConceptFASCINATION design study
impresses with its technical
underpinnings, too. These are
drawn from the future E-Class
Coupé and include the new
four-cylinder diesel engine
which features BlueTEC and
AdBlue technology and develops
204 hp from a displacement of
2.2 litres.
The ConceptFASCINATION study
was not created merely to arouse
interest in a new and unusual
design concept. It is much more
a matter of giving designers the
opportunity to play around with
unconventional topics, to look
at things in a new way and to
explore new ideas. Design
studies also serve to stimulate
a closer dialogue with customers
and to gauge the public reaction
to new ideas for cars. They help
Mercedes-Benz designers to get a
feel for future styling trends
and to develop new design
idioms. |
