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Sad end to groundbreaking exhibition concepts: enthusiast found one of them falling apart in a junkyard
12/24/2023 | Petr Prokopec
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Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Their purpose is to wow audiences at large, not necessarily just car shows. But what happens to them when the spotlight goes out? The idea of any of them being pampered in a museum somewhere is obviously strange.
In September 2020, Mercedes-Benz presented the current S-Class. Not surprisingly, their debut was preceded by a gradual release of information and occasional photos. However, since the cockpit of the car was supposed to represent a major step forward for the brand, the brand decided to familiarize potential customers and fans with its revolutionary concept a little more intensively. This resulted in a concept called MBUX Seat Exhibit Pod, a kind of egg without wheels that people could climb in, sit and fully explore the electronic possibilities of the interior.
The brand equipped the S-Class with a new generation MBUX multimedia system. It features a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 12.8-inch central screen that provides haptic feedback when touched. The system can also be controlled by voice from the rear seats. A change driver can automatically activate custom settings by scanning a fingerprint.
Mercedes had to spend a lot of money on this concept because even though it wasn’t drivable, most of the electronic systems were fully functional. Additionally, the automaker used the same leather as the production S-Class for the upholstery and all metallic decor. Essentially, she materialized the interior before the car’s premiere without showing anyone even the slightest bit of the exterior, which was understandably a secret at the time.
At the same time, one would expect that a similar concept with such costs and significant effort would end up in a corporate museum or at least a brand depository. However, the car company later simply threw it at a scrapyard in Atlanta, USA, where it was photographed by one of the surprised enthusiasts, as you can see in the images from Reddit below. Nobody knows when the prototype of the eSka interior arrived at this location. But the state has been in such disgraceful conditions for a long time. The relatively good condition is all the more surprising.
However, if you have already thought about traveling to the USA, we have some pretty sad news for you: the concept is not for sale. We don’t know if the owner of the junkyard liked it or if such a thing is forbidden by Mercedes. In any case, it’s a remarkable example of how things sometimes evolve with similar concepts – they serve their purpose and unfortunately no one cares anymore.
This is what the MBUX Seat Exhibit Concept Pod looked like three years ago, its current, slightly less noticeable state can be seen below. Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Found this strange thing at the local junkyard
byu/Alodarsc2 innamethatcar
Sources: namethatcar@Reddit, Mercedes-Benz
Petr Prokopec
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