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The process of making batteries for electric vehicles as well as hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, is fairly complicated and resource heavy. In the Top Gear Supercar Fuel Economy Test that we posted a couple of days ago, Jeremy Clarkson shorty explains the process of making the batteries and also points out that more carbon and emissions are produced from making these batteries than they are actually able to save in the long run.

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It is widely known that the longer engine oil remains in use, the more it is susceptible to impurities. Its quality is impaired and it gradually loses its lubricative effect; this can even lead to engine damage. Timely oil changes are thus indispensable. However, this is offset by material costs with up to 40 liters of oil in a truck’s diesel engine, and loss of earnings due to downtime during maintenance. An oil change should therefore take place as early as necessary, but as late as possible.

This is certainly one of those technologies that will appear in an S-Class first, and slowly be implemented in all Mercedes vehicles. Looking forward to someday knowing when to ‘really’ change my oil, and not when Jiffy Lube tells me to.

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In fact the physical characteristics of the SilverFlow are even more exciting than its shape. It consists of billions of microscopically tiny metallic particles which are formed into variable but stable configurations by magnetic fields. This means that the driver can perfectly adapt the vehicle to its intended purpose. The one-seater highway configuration is extremely aerodynamic, while the city version is short and spacious. The pre-programmed vehicle variants can be selected at any time at the touch of a button, whereupon the assembler electronics reshape the car from one form to another within a few seconds – specialists refer to this as morphing. Any desired shape is conceivable in principle. As a particularly convenient feature when parking, the intelligent control system completely disassembles the vehicle structure and compacts the ferro-magnetic particles into a small, space-saving configuration. And thanks to these flexible metallic particles, dents and paint damage are also a thing of the past.

The disadvantage of the Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow is that so far, it only exists as a two-dimensional graphic design.

The SilverFlow study, which – if at all – will only be realisable decades into the future, clearly shows that while car designers certainly live in the present, their working environment is the future. Professor h.c. Peter Pfeiffer, Senior Vice President Mercedes-Benz Design: “The Los Angeles Design Challenge is certainly a creative challenge with this futuristic concept. The SilverFlow reflects our successful motor sports history, while boldly suggesting innovative solutions for the individual mobility of coming generations.”

Mercedes-Benz has established Advanced Design Studios in the USA, Japan, Italyand Sindelfingento look well into the future and engage in stylistic research for the cars of tomorrow. The task of the designers is above all to be receptive to current signals from other cultures and incorporate these into Mercedes-Benz design.

Check out the gallery and see what I saw.

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