What's the news?
Mercedes-Benz is apparently predicting a brutal future if its Ener-G-Force design study is anything to go by: the concept previews its vision of a police car in 2025. Described as a highway patrol vehicle the Ener-G-Force doesn't look particularly suitable for any highway we've ever encountered, its bulk, off-road tyres and massive ride height making it look more Baja than B-road.
Exterior
It's massive; think Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon mixed with Hummer H2 with a smattering of Merc-influenced design cues and you'll have some idea of how it looks. Bold, rather brutal and nowhere near as friendly as its promised green-leaning drivetrain, the Ener-G-Force is "the vision of an off-roader that, while reflecting tomorrow's adventures, also invokes the genes of the Mercedes-Benz off-road icon, the G model. Modern and cool, it could also be a clue about a new beginning for the off-road design idiom of Mercedes-Benz".
Interior
No pictures or details of what it's like inside at the time of writing, but if it's a genuine law enforcement design study we'd expect some provision for shotguns and radio equipment alongside Merc eccentricities like a column stalk that does everything and a foot-operated parking brake.
Mechanicals
As it's a 2025 machine Mercedes-Benz has given it a drivetrain to match. In-wheel hub motors are powered by a hydro-tech converter, where natural and renewable resources are converted into hydrogen for the fuel cells. Emitting nothing but water the Ener-G-Force's side skirts can be used either to house energy storage units or 'hot swappable' battery packs.
Anything else?
There's a 'Terra-Scan' 360-degree topography scanner that constantly monitors the road (and off-road) terrain and adjusts the drivetrain and suspension accordingly. Those side pods change colour to show their energy status and there's a pull-out toolbox in the rear to allow you access to essentials without opening the whole tailgate.