Yahoo Autos The Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow Is a 750-HP Electric Single-Seater Throwback
Mercedes seems to love showing off cool concepts during Monterey car week. Last year, it introduced the stunning Maybach Vision 6 Cabriolet, and the year before that, it brought the equally beautiful Vision 6 Coupe. Now, it's back with another concept for this year's festivities-the EQ Silver Arrow.
The EQ Silver Arrow is a departure from some of Mercedes's more recent luxury oriented concepts-it's a single seater, inspired by the record-breaking 738-horsepower W125 race car. Like the W125, it uses a streamlined, jetliner-inspired body with deep curves and a liquid silver paint. It has wheel arches similar to the AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept, as well as an open cockpit that features a windscreen with a head-up display, and a touch screen on the steering wheel. In the seating area you'll also find brown leather, brushed aluminum trim, and walnut floor panels. The 168-spoke wheels (yes, 168 spokes, each) are made from lightweight aluminum, painted in rose gold, and wrapped in Pirelli slicks. Out back, you'll find a pair of retractable spoilers that deploy and act as air brakes when hauling down from high speeds.
But, unlike the V12-powered W125, the EQ is totally electric. It has two motors-one at each axle. They're powered by a floor-mounted 80 kWh battery capable of producing a claimed 750 horsepower, with an estimated range of over 249 miles per charge. The permanent all-wheel drive ca be altered from the cockpit to distribute torque to the front or rear as needed using three drive modes: Comfort, Sport, and Sport+. The driver can also program the car to sound like the current Mercedes Silver Arrow F1 car or a Mercedes-AMG V8, which is a sign even Mercedes realizes electric cars will never sound as good as something with an internal combustion engine.
The most interesting part of the EQ Silver Arrow isn't the drivetrain, though-it's the "virtual race" feature. Here's how Mercedes explains it:
With the help of artificial intelligence it is possible to engage in a virtual race
against historic or present Silver Arrow racing cars. For this a virtual racetrack
is superimposed onto the real roadway on the panoramic screen and the driver
sees their opponent either ahead of them or behind them as a "ghost". The
Virtual Race Coach assistance function helps you become a better driver by
giving instructions during the race.
Sounds like something you'd see in a video game, but for reality. We'd love to try it out sometime.
The Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow concept will be on display during Monterey car week starting Friday. We'd recommend checking it out-judging by these pictures, it's a looker.
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