Mercedes-Benz Bionic (boxfish)

[mfor4x4]

I was watching Discovery Channel tonight and they were showing this car on it. It gets 4.3L/100kms, which is hard to believe with the shape it has even though they say its has a drag coefficient of 0.06 in the wind tunnel. Very cool stuff, have a look.

Mercedes-Benz Bionic Concept Vehicle - worldcarfans

[jamesqf]

That one's been around for a while - the boxfish-inspired design.

I think the proper term is "biomimetic", though, not bionic, which I think refers more to replacing biological parts, as in the "bionic man" (or was it woman?).

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

Actually, it has a Cg of 0.19, which is still very impressive for a four passenger vehicle. I hope they produce this as a plug-in hybrid.

[theunchosen]

bionic means living in some fashion from the Greek and latin. Biomimetic(s) seems more appropriate as bionic has sense come to me mean more human-robot(android/cyborg)

Awesome MPG. . .ugly though lol.

Very promising idea but. . .ugly lol. Sorry I don't much like the body style. I would have to ask for something different with maybe a little higher drag.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

Like the Aptera 2e, very little of the body shape is a styling decision -- it is dictated by the aerodynamics. The styling decisions are limited to the "2D" surface graphics of the windows, lights, etc. Even the color of the Bionic/Boxfish Mercedes is driven by the color of the boxfish itself -- we should be happy that they did not try to imitate the spots!

[NeilBlanchard]

Some pictures:

[NeilBlanchard]

Here's the one known still shot of the first clay model that had a stunning low Cd of just 0.095.



Here are some screen captures from this video:



...showing the same model for about 1.5 seconds!

This first one may not have completely morphed from the boxfish model:










This last one, there appears to be some physical transitioning/morphing into the Bionic, so it is not completely accurate:



Wow, I wish the video was available at better resolution than 320P, but these images are a LOT more to go on than that one photo alone... Great find on this video!

[Patrick]

Here are some more pics: The Bionic Car project - Image 4 of 12
Mercedes-Benz Bionic Concept Vehicle - Photos

[NeilBlanchard]

The video reveals a lot of additional details; especially about the front, but also has better side profile and better angles of the back, as well.

I like it a lot, too. Save for the ultra-low ground clearance at the front tire especially, this design is ready to go... very practical, and the lowest Cd I have ever heard of.

The fish itself has a Cd of 0.04.

The computer model of the fish has a Cd of 0.06.

This 1/4 scale clay model has a Cd of 0.095.

Staggeringly good stuff...

The nose and the front fenders are a revelation. The dropped hood line mimics the boxfish's nose (which is the strangest looking thing, and it has to be there for a reason!) -- provides a very low stagnant point, and that is something I didn't emphasis on my CarBŒN. Most of the air that meets the nose gets deflected upward at first, and some then gets shifted to the sides -- but the main thing is that as much of the air as possible is excluded from the underside. The hard chined front fenders are striking, and the sharp fins on the bottom edges on the back are intriguing.

The sides are more curved, the roof arch is very strong, with that little "flip" at the back. There is a lot to digest here...

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

The video reveals a lot of additional details; especially about the front, but also has better side profile and better angles of the back, as well.

I like it a lot, too. Save for the ultra-low ground clearance at the front tire especially, this design is ready to go... very practical, and the lowest Cd I have ever heard of.

The fish itself has a Cd of 0.04.

The computer model of the fish has a Cd of 0.06.

This 1/4 scale clay model has a Cd of 0.095.

Staggeringly good stuff...

The nose and the front fenders are a revelation. The dropped hood line mimics the boxfish's nose (which is the strangest looking thing, and it has to be there for a reason!) -- provides a very low stagnant point, and that is something I didn't emphasis on my CarBŒN. Most of the air that meets the nose gets deflected upward at first, and some then gets shifted to the sides -- but the main thing is that as much of the air as possible is excluded from the underside. The hard chined front fenders are striking, and the sharp fins on the bottom edges on the back are intriguing.

The sides are more curved, the roof arch is very strong, with that little "flip" at the back. There is a lot to digest here...

Neil,the HONDA Dream-2 solar racer was rated at Cd 0.10 and that a car the size of a Chevy Caprice Classic.
For the model at Cd 0.095,with no ventilation system,cut lines,cooling system,wipers,door handles,antenna,etc.,it seems very reasonable.