irishcar.com

8 January 2002: Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its Vision GST design study at the Detroit motor show, which it describes as a saloon, estate, MPV and sport utility vehicle (SUV) in one. The looks are dominated by a roof line which links the A and C-pillars in a gentle curve. There are 22-inch wheels and a wedge-shaped side profile.

At roof level, a large area of special electrochromic glass extends from the front windscreen to the rear, and the occupants can alter the tint at the touch of a button according to the intensity of the sun.

Butterfly doors open in opposite directions, each at an angle of 90 degrees.

The interior uses materials such as wood, leather and aluminium and there's an unusual lighting concept with a new type of illuminated strip in the roof liner, in the door panels and on the centre tunnel. There are electrically adjustable individual seats for the driver, front passenger and the rear passengers, with an integral belt system.

A third row of seats for two further passengers is also available in the rear, which means that the Vision GST can comfortably seat a total of six.

The instrument panel features a centre console which appears to hover in mid-air. It consists of two aluminium panels and tinted glass – and houses a colour screen, CD player, car audio system and a large proportion of the control functions.

The monitor belongs to the navigation system; it is controlled by a new type of software, which projects direction arrows, road maps and graphic elements onto the display with a three-dimensional effect.

An entertainment system with a DVD player and video games is available for the rear passengers.

Beneath the bonnet of the Vision GST is a 360 hp 5.5-litre V8 engine from Mercedes-AMG. Other technical highlights of the vehicle study include the electronically controlled 4-ETS four-wheel drive system used in the M-Class, the AIRMATIC air suspension system (used in the S-Class) and the new high-pressure brake system, Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) – as seen in the new SL-Class.

The large brake discs are made from carbon-fibre-reinforced ceramics. Occupant protection is enhanced by the new safety system, PRE-SAFE, which detects the threat of a collision in advance and activates the belt tensioners before impact.