BIOME Design Concept (Germany, 2010)

The Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad, California, submitted with the BIOME a revolutionary vision to the 2010 LA Auto Show Design Challenge: They designed a vehicle fully integrated into the ecosystem, from the moment of its creation right through to the end of its service life.

The Mercedes-Benz BIOME growns from seeds, its emissions are 100% oxygen and at the end of its life cycle the car can be composted or reused as building material. The ultralight vehicle (394 kg) is made from a material called BioFibre which is lighter than any metal or plastic while at the same time more robust. The BioFibre material grows from proprietary DNA in the Mercedes-Benz nursery. It collects energy from the sun and stores it in a liquid chemical bond called BioNectar4534.

The car grows out of two seeds: The interior of theBIOME grows from the DNA in the Mercedes star on the front of the vehicle. The exterior grows from the star on the rear. Genetic engineering of the stars allows to accommodate specific customer requirements, and the vehicle "grows" when the genetic code is combined with the seed capsule. The wheels are grown from four separate seeds.

Hubert Lee, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad:

"As the inventor of the motor car, we wanted to illustrate the vision of the perfect vehicle of the future, which is created and functions in complete symbiosis with nature. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME is a natural technology hybrid, and forms part of our earth's ecosystem. It grows and thrives like the leaves on a tree."

In 2010 the Design Challenge was awarded at the Los Angeles Auto Show for the 7th time. Clearly, the challenge 2010 was referring to the need for society to minimize consumption of the earth's resources and produce and consume more sustainably.

The major automotive design studios were invited to develop an efficient, light-weight, four passenger vehicle (not to exceed 1,000 lbs./454 kg kerb weight), that is both comfortable and safe, while delivering satisfactory driving performance without sacrificing the styling consumers demand. For the first time studios from Germany and Japan took part in the competition which gives studios a chance to explore new ideas in automotive design.