Futuristic new roofless unimog to celebrate 60th aniversary

Toby2

Observer
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/motoring/5108935/Mercs-pimped-out-monster-truck

Mercedes-Benz has pimped the monster truck.

The German brand has unveiled a futuristic new roofless Unimog concept truck to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first production Unimog model.

The stunning truck borrows design cues from the brand's passenger vehicle range, including the upright grille, large three-pointed star emblem and squared-off bonnet and guards. The cut-away open cabin design harks back to the first Unimog model built in 1951 (the green paint is another cue borrowed from the first models, however the hue is notably fresher).

Riding on the existing Unimog U5000 platform, the exposed underpinnings of the truck are highlighted by its red coil springs and brightly detailed aluminium chassis rails. The five spoke aluminium finished wheels add even more wow-factor.

The concept's name - Concept Design 60 Years Unimog - isn't quite as creative as its execution, but the brand says that despite the trucks outlandish looks, it retains all of its over-land credibility.

"On no account did we work in an atmosphere where our ideas were divorced from reality," says Unimog chief of design Bertrand Janssen.

"Here we have a vehicle which is puristic, but still clearly true to concept - with the claim that some of its details will turn up in coming product ranges in future."
 

Overland Hadley

on a journey
mercedes-unimog.jpg
 

Overland Hadley

on a journey
from AutoWeek

Mercedes-Benz is paying tribute to 60 years of Unimog trucks with a mean, green off-roader concept that the company claims stands for future versatility in vehicle design.

In a nod to the first Mercedes Unimog--built in 1951 and reinstated with the 2010 product range--the team of Mercedes and Daimler designers gave the 2011 design concept an open cab. They injected the U 5000's off-road capabilities into the equation as well, drawing on the truck's historic design strengths.

Mercedes says the Unimog concept expresses the future shape of its commercial vehicle design.

If the Unimog name doesn't ring a bell, it's because the trucks are rarely sighted in the United States. But Unimogs show up as military vehicles and truck rallies around the world. Unimog designates a range of four-wheel-drive medium- and heavy-duty work trucks in the Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks unit.

Daimler designer Bertrand Janssen says he's confident that details from the Unimog concept will turn up in future Mercedes products. The signature coil springs, portal axles and frame concept stayed intact with a modern flair.

The coil springs are painted red, while the hulk of the hood screams green, a hue Mercedes says was chosen to match the poison dart frog--a creature with expert mobility in water and on land.

The "60 Years Unimog" design concept was revealed on June 3 at the Mercedes plant in Worth, Germany.

Read the full press release below:

PRESS RELEASE: "60 Years Mercedes-Benz Unimog": A spectacular design concept for the jubilee

-- To celebrate their jubilee "60 Years Unimog", Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks (MBS) is presenting a design concept based on the U 5000 with its outstanding off-road mobility

-- A formal unveiling and presentation will take place at the ceremony on 3 June in the CustomerCentre at the Mercedes-Benz Plant in Wörth

-- The design concept has been created as joint cooperation between the MBS development team, the Daimler commercial vehicle designers in Sindelfingen and a model designing partner

-- Yaris Pürsün, Director of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks: "Future meets history - the design concept is a further milestone in the Unimog legend"

-- As an analogy to the very first Mercedes-Benz Unimog of the product range 2010 which was built in 1951, the design concept from 2011 also has an open cab



Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110607/CARNEWS/110609889#ixzz1OdLEzWh6
 

mountainpete

Spamicus Eliminatus
"On no account did we work in an atmosphere where our ideas were divorced from reality," says Unimog chief of design Bertrand Janssen.

Love that the mog is getting time with the design team. It means it has a future. But this feels like reality is a widow.
 

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