We all know those vehicles that have iconic design details that become synonymous with the brand – like the circular taillights on a Ferrari, the split grill on a BMW, or the C-bar on a Bugatti. But what if the logo became a major design feature? That’s the question that the Mercedes Redsun concept artist Wayne Jung asks – amongst others.
His design is an extreme mix between a Project One and a full-size Scalextric car – and very un-Mercedes-like. Ironically, there are no actual Mercedes logos anywhere to be found on the car. Instead, this concept identifies itself using LED lighting in the shape of the three-pointed star. The design called for the body to be mounted on top of three star-shaped ribs, connected so that they form the skeleton.
The name Redsun comes from the fact that it is, in fact, powered by the sun and its red body is actually red-tinted solar paneling. There are even solar trackers on the side which expand like fins while the car’s parked, to maximize the energy it harnesses – and to double as a tanning bed if needed.
All of the electric motors are built directly into the wheel hubs, complete with two different electric poles at the end. Unsurprisingly, traditional wheels aren’t employed, instead, a kind of wheel that hasn’t been invented yet.
Of course, for a vehicle that is primarily powered by the hottest heat source in our known universe (it charges electrically too), cooling plays a large role too. The air vents help direct air around the solar paneling, while batteries are mounted near the roof, allowing a constant cool air supply to prevent them from melting.
From the use of solar energy, to the functional branding like the light-up Apple logos on MacBooks – the Redsun is what concepts are all about. It also takes mobile billboards next level.
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