VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz creates ultimate golf cart

Mercedes-Benz is claiming to have "reinvented" the golf cart following a collaboration with cart manufacturer Garia.

The result is something called the Mercedes-Benz Style Edition Garia Golf Car that was created following accusations that golf carts weren't keeping up with modern times. To help inject creativity the German car-maker asked golf and car fans to submit ideas for a golf cart of the future.

No Smart ForTwos then were harmed in its creation, despite the uncanny similarity.

Benz says the Golf Car was penned to resemble a 'sporty baseball cap' and says the result is far more appealing and more car-like than any conventional golf cart.

Featuring large (for a cart) 14-inch alloy wheels, the design is also claimed to add extra practicality, quality and attention-to-detail missing in regular carts. The small rear spoiler, for example, is actually a golf bag holder - although there's no explanation for the purpose of a carbon-fibre rear diffuser.

Inside, the bench seat is claimed to look like a lounge chair. Underneath it is a small fridge. The dashboard includes a golf ball stowage tray and bottle holders.

Differing from other carts is a 10.1-inch infotainment system that displays the pure-electric cart's range, speed, current power consumption and whether or not the parking brake is on or off.

Drivers of the cart have two modes to choose from, 'sport' or 'eco' that softens off throttle responses to preserve the battery charge and give the user the maximum 80km range. More than some plug-in hybrids!

In the US, the Mercedes-Benz Golf Car is so well-equipped it could be registered road legal thanks to the presence of indicators, headlamps and rear lamps. Charging of the Lithium-ion cells, meanwhile, takes six hours using a typical domestic power outlet.

To this end, it might explain the all-round double wishbone suspension and front disc brakes.

Unfortunately driving it on public roads would be a terrifying experience, partly due to its limited 30km/h top speed.

Weighing in at a hefty 440kg, the little Benz cart can carry a surprisingly heavy 460kg payload of passengers and clubs.

For now Garia and Mercedes-Benz plans to build just two working concepts, but could push its creation into production if enough customers express interest. It's not known how expensive a production version of the Golf Car would cost.