Mercedes-Benz Bionic

Mercedes-Benz Bionic

Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Parent company	DaimlerChrysler AG
Production	Concept car (2005)
Engine(s)	1.9-liter four-cylinder direct-injection turbodiesel. 138 hp (103 kW)
Transmission(s)	AUTOTRONIC continuously variable automatic transmission
Wheelbase	101 in (2565 mm)
Length	167 in (4242 mm)
Width	71.5 in (1816 mm)
Height	62.8 in (1595 mm)
Curb weight	2,425 lb (1,100 kg)

The Mercedes-Benz Bionic was a concept car created by DaimlerChrysler AG under the Mercedes Group. It was first introduced at DaimlerChrysler Innovation Symposium in Washington. The bionic was modelled after a type of fish, the Ostracion cubicus (a boxfish), and also has 80% lower nitrogen oxide emissions with its SCR technology.

Engine and Performance

The Bionic is powered by a 103 kW direct-injection diesel engine that gives out around 70 MPG (~3.36 L/100 km). This engine also gives out around a total of 140 horsepower (100 kW) and a little over 221 ft·lbf (300 N·m) of torque at around 1600 rpm. The Bionic can go from 0-60 in about 8 seconds and has a top speed of a little over 190 km/h (118 mph) .

Design

The exterior design was modelled after the yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicus), a tropical fish that lives in coral reefs. Mercedes-Benz decided to model the Bionic after this fish due to the low coefficient of drag of its body shape and the rigidity of its exoskeleton; this influenced the car's unusual looks. Other parts of the design include the fact that the rear wheels are partially fitted with plastic and that it's considered as a lightweight vehicle. Mercedes-Benz reported a drag coefficient of 0.19; for comparison, the production vehicle with the lowest ever C_d value was the GM EV1, at 0.195, and this had a much smaller internal volume than the Bionic.