Vision One-Eleven trademark hints at new Mercedes-Benz concept

A new alternative-energy supercar concept could be on the way from Mercedes-Benz; one that breathes new life in the long-lost ‘111’ nomenclature last seen on a series of experimental prototypes dating back to the 1960s and 1970s.

carsales has uncovered a patent application within the IP Australia database from the Mercedes-Benz Group for the ‘Vision One-Eleven’ nameplate that’s been submitted exclusively under the concept cars sub-class of Class 12 (automobiles and parts thereof).

Mercedes has long used the Vision prefix for the names of its concept vehicles, which in turn preview near-future production models, and recent examples include the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS, Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX and Mercedes-AMG Vision AMG.

The second part of these concepts’ names usually allude to their intention, ie: an electric S-Class or a bespoke electric AMG hypercar.

With this in mind, we anticipate the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven concept to be an alternatively-powered speed machine, just like the original Mercedes-Benz C111s, the first one of which was completed in 1969.

This series of experimental mid-ship super- and sports cars comprised 16 vehicles in total and served as the test-bed for myriad powertrain and design technologies including three and four-rotor Wankel rotary engines, high performance five-cylinder diesels and even a twin-turbo V8.

All of the vehicles were phenomenally fast for the time; the rotary topped 300km/h and was later bested by a five-cylinder turbo-diesel that topped 322km/h.

The succeeding force-fed diesel V8, meanwhile, lapped the Nardo Ring at an average speed of 404km/h.

Mercedes-Benz has obviously just released the long-awaited Mercedes-AMG One plug-in hybrid hypercar, which features adapted Formula 1 technology to create the ultimate speed machine (for the time being).

This new ‘Vision One-Eleven’ concept car could not only be reviving the classic ‘111’ model designation, but also reimagining it in a clever play-on words/numbers where the ‘One’ element of its name refers to its identity (and originals’) as a supercar.

The ‘Eleven’ could ultimately stand for just about anything at this early stage, but put it all together and it translates to ‘Vision 1-11’ – concept 111…

Hyundai has made it very common knowledge that its N go-fast department is working on a battery-electric hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid powertrain – as previewed by the Hyundai N Vision 74 concept – in which the fuel-cell acts as a generator for the battery-electric drive system.

Yes, Mercedes has ruled out hydrogen for its future production cars – but not trucks – however, there’s nothing to suggest a similar powertrain (or another concoction of sustainable technologies such as solid-state batteries) isn’t in the pipeline at Stuttgart.

Even if the technology isn’t fully ready yet, Mercedes could still debut the concept of whatever alternative powertrain(s) it may be working on – that’s what show cars are for, after all, especially if they wear the triple-one designation…