Mercedes Celebrates Unimog’s 60th Birthday with Impressive Design Study

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the presentation of the Unimog, the Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks (MBS) unit, which is responsible for the Unimog, Econic and Zetros range of models, created a special design concept that attempts to link the past and present together with the future.

Using the current Unimog U 5000’s chassis as a base, the German brand’s designers came up with a futuristic-looking yet distinctly retro-feeling styling for the body of their off-road workhouse. The concept vehicle features an open top design as a nod to the first Mercedes-Benz Unimog model that rolled off the assembly line on June 3, 1951.

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VIDEO: David Coulthard Takes All-Electric Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell for a Spin

If anything else, we have to hand it to Mercedes-Benz for its rigorous promotional efforts to hype its new SLS AMG Gullwing supercar and all its derivatives, including the all-electric E-Cell prototype - and we mean that in a positive way.

Among the many guests at the SLS AMG E-Cell presentation in Norway was retired Formula One driver, David Coulthard, who was given the chance to test drive the electric-powered Gullwing model. The Scottish pilot tried out the SLS AMG E-Cell on an airstrip as well as on the road. View the video [in high-definition] after the break.

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VIDEO: Shhh... It's the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-CELL in Action

Here are two new videos of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell, both shot in Norway, where the German firm presented the prototype model to the press. In the first clip you can see the all-electric 'Gullwing' E-Cell along with the new S63 AMG, which packs a new, twin-turbo, 5.5-liter V8, running up and down an airstrip at Kristiansund, while the second video shows the SLS AMG E-Cell on the 'Atlantic Road' on the west coast of Norway.

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell Prototype: The All-Electric Gullwing [With Video]

Approximately a year ago, Mercedes-Benz officially revealed plans to develop a fully-electric version of its SLS AMG supercar. Now, the German automaker has unveiled a prototype model of the car named "SLS AMG E-Cell".

On the E-Cell prototype, Stuttgart's engineers replaced the standard SLS AMG's 571HP 6.3-liter V8 petrol engine with four electric motors placed near the wheels effectively making it a four-wheel drive model. Mercedes notes that this solution substantially reduces the unsprung masses compared to wheel-hub motors.

The electric motors produce a combined output of 392kW or the equivalent of 526HP and a maximum torque of 880 Nm / 649 lb-ft, the latter available right from the start. One transmission per axle transmits the power.

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Saudi Arabia King Greenlights Gazal 1 for Production

Remember the Saudi Arabian SUV concept called the 'Gazal 1' from this year's edition of the Geneva Motor Show in March? Well, it's officially going into production. The announcement was made by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah himself during a special ceremony earlier this week.

The original Gazal 1 concept study was created by the students of Saud University in Riyadh with some help from Magna Steyr and Studiotorino. Despite the deign similarities with Toyota's FJ Cruiser, the Gazal 1 is actually based on the underpinnings of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and is powered by a V8 engine.

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If Carmakers Made Speedboats, What Would They Look Like?

The answer to the question we posed in the title comes to us in the form of five different conceptual studies, all made by Russian designer Vladimir G. The drawings show proposals for various kind of boats inspired in design by Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati and Bugatti models as well from Mercedes-Benz's SLS AMG Gullwing supercar. Hit the jump to see the complete gallery.

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Xenatec Shows Off its "Dream Cars": Bentley SUV, BMW 6-Series Sedan and More

Now that their limited production Maybach 57S Coupe (see here) has made the rounds, here are some of the other proposals from Xenatec. Since the company's specialty is chassis modification (and the necessary body work thereafter), they've got some ideas for a lengthened (and shortened) "dream cars".

Have a look at the gallery below and see what tickles your fancy. The SUV limos are a bit much, but the rag-top conversions don't look too bad (especially the CLS and 300).

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Mercedes-Benz Hexawheel Concept Study

The Mercedes Hexawheel concept asks an interesting question: what if Mercedes (or Smart) tackled mini-off-roading?

Thought up by Siyamak Rouhi Dehkordi, a 35-year-old Mechanical Engineer from Iran, it features an insect-inspired all-wheel-drive platform integrating hydraulic pistons into the frame to help control the car's two halves.

A diesel engine would put power through a "flexible hydraulic power transmission system" to all six wheels.

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