Mercedes' "Vision Tokyo" is Designed Appeal to Millennials When They Hit 40 [Auto Styling News]

Mercedes Benz is hoping that by the mid-2020s, Millennials in their 40s will have paid off enough student loan debt to be able to afford their new self-driven, tech-heavy "Vision Tokyo" minivan. But the concept and its technology seems to raise the question, "Why," rather than answer any existing problems or needs of drivers.

The concept, based on the earlier design study F015 Luxury In Motion concept, was unveiled recently at the Tokyo Motor Show, and it certainly looks like it would appeal to Millenials - as well as their GenX older siblings.

Mercedes describes the vehicle as a "lounge" vehicle and, "a chill-out zone in the midst of megacity traffic mayhem." And its exterior design advertises these facts in every possible way.

From the Bass-shaped mouth to its massive 26-inch tires, it's rakish windshield and curvaceous hindquarters, the Vision Tokyo isn't subtle. With healthy doses of neon accent lights (perhaps not so healthy) from the grille to the tires to the tail, this car WOULD be noticed on any street in any city. Perhaps it's too much for the suburbs but make no mistake -  this is a party wagon. 

The grille on the concept acts like a light show, with LEDs designed to pulsate to the vibrations of the music being played inside, though why exterior viewers who can't hear the music will respond to the pulsating neon lights would need to see this is a bit of a mystery. And pulsating LEDs pulling up behind your car at night would probably appear more like a police traffic stop than anything else.

How this would be street-legal, or even well-advised, remains to be seen. (And no, these will not ever, ever, ever make it to the production model.)

The tech, of course, is why this exists. This is designed to be a zero-emissions, plug-in hydrogen-fuel cell vehicle, with holographic multi-media technology inside its generous interior which is meant to entertain while it drives itself around town. One wonders if  the technology will understand that most users will simply want to be driven in circles, while the party continues inside.

Mercedes estimates that it will have 600 miles of total range, 120 of which would be battery-derived. So, it will allow for a lot of cruising on  those megacity streets. 

So we're left with an awesome shape, and a lot of bells and whistles. When we take away all the non-street-legal and ill-advised neon and LEDs, and add a proper gas or diesel engine, this concept may very well see the streets around the year 2025.

More: https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mercedes-benz/innovation/autonomous-driving/