Automakers frequently create concept cars to showcase new technologies or hint at future designs. Typically, these prototypes are preserved internally after their promotional use. However, the fate of Mercedes' "S-Classic Digital 'My MBUX'" concept, debuted in August 2020, diverged from this norm. Not quite a conventional car, this peculiar pod was designed to demonstrate the technology integrated into models like the EQS. Recently, it was found abandoned in a scrapyard, an ordinary end for an extraordinary piece.
Images of the pod, resembling more the character EVE from Wall-E than a traditional vehicle, were shared on the r/justrolledintotheshop subreddit. The startling sight of the futuristic pod amidst scrap metal piqued significant interest. Noah Mansico, the photographer, captured these images near Atlanta, where Mercedes-Benz's North American headquarters is located. Typically, automakers don't sell or donate their functional concepts due to legal reasons, leading to such unexpected endings.
"My MBUX" concept
While the concept has been stripped of its Mercedes branding and features like the steering wheel, its distinctiveness made identification by internet detectives straightforward. It boasted sculptural seats, an expansive touchscreen, and elements similar to those in Mercedes' high-end models, such as the S-Class and EQS. At its launch, the concept was notable for its hundreds of LEDs, temperature-controlled massage seats, and an advanced air filtration system with a perfume dispenser. Sadly, these innovative features are likely non-functional in the discarded pod.
The disposal of such a novel creation is regrettable, yet it's important to remember that the essence of this concept – its interior and technology – is mirrored in many functional Mercedes models. The sight of this dormant EVE, lacking its WALL-E rescuer, might be melancholic, but the technological vision it represented endures. As time progresses, curiosity about this relic will likely grow, unless it meets its end in the compactor.
Source: Motor1
