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Newsweek

Electroluminescent Paint, Headlight Speakers May Be the Future of Cars

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Last year, Mercedes-Benz previewed a host of technological innovations, including artificial intelligence-enhanced augmented reality car shopping possibilities, bio-identical textiles, solar paint and on-motor brakes. Today, some of that technology is closer to reality. As part of the company's Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX debut, the real-life use cases for several featured innovations were revealed. Glow in the Dark Cars MBUX Fluid Light Paint coats the exterior of the Concept AMG GT XX. It uses electroluminescence technology to allow special color pigments to emit light in response to being touched by an alternating current. The response is a glow that emanates from the car, particularly noticeable at nighttime. To achieve the look, several electrically conductive and insulating layers are meshed. Aero wheel on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Aero wheel on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Mercedes-Benz The paint first appeared on the Mercedes-AMG GT3 race car at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. However, on the Concept, it has a larger purpose: to alert an owner as to the charging status of the car. Different portions of the vehicle illuminate then deactivate while the car is charging to give a visual countdown as to when the car is full of electrons and ready for the journey that awaits. Speakers in the Headlights Concept AMG GT XX features exterior speakers housed in the car's headlights, using the headlight housing as the speaker enclosure. This saves space and weight while allowing new sound variants including low frequency and more powerful bass reproduction. The speakers serve as signals for pedestrian protection, emitting a noise to allow them to hear the otherwise silently moving vehicle. 700 Programmable LEDs on Display The MBUX Fluid Light Panel at the rear of the car features over 700 programmable RGB LEDs. The illumination allows for active communication of a vehicle's status with the outside world. Hyundai and Audi have showed off similar technology and already employed it in vehicles globally. Leather Alternative Textiles Derived From Racing Tires U.S. bio-design startup Modern Meadow worked with Mercedes-Benz to create next-generation materials that mimic leather and silk in a effort to create a circular ecosystem that does not rely on animals. Instead, the material is made of recycled rubber, vegetable proteins and biopolymers. The Concept debuts that material, Labfiber Biotech Leather Alternative, in a vehicle for the first time. It mimics the collagens found in leather and can be finished in a number of surfaces including nubuck, full-grain leather or suede, as well as textures and colors. It is made using a chemical recycling process that combines the old tires with biomethane to create pyrolysis oil. That oil is then turned into plastic fibers, which are then added to vegetable proteins and bio-based polymers. Labfiber Biotech Silk Alternative door handle on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Labfiber Biotech Silk Alternative door handle on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Mercedes-Benz Unlike other artificial leathers, Labfiber can be re-tanned, which helps it achieve the same look and feel, including how it ages, as traditional leather. It is lighter than the natural version and is waterproof and breathable. The Concept features Leather Alternative that is made from tires from a Mercedes-AMG customer's GT3 car. After processing, the tires were used to create 43 square feet of Leather Alternative. AMG has also installed a synthetic silk in the Concept. Labfiber Biotech Silk Alternative starts with silk proteins produced by genetically modified bacteria that are refined to create a shiny, silky yarn with the same functional properties as animal-based silk. The new model has door handles made of the material. 3D-Printed Seats Mercedes-AMG has 3D printed the front seat pads in the Concept. They sit in carbon fiber racing shells that have built-in ventilation openings and integrated headrests. The nature of the seating pad allows for easy change in/out to allow for a more custom seat design and fit. Electronically Controlled, Moving Wheels Mercedes-AMG has built the GT XX with the world's first intelligent, electronically controlled aerodynamically enhanced wheels. Each 21-inch, five-spoke forged aluminum wheel is equipped with five movable elements that are intelligently adjusted to reduce drag, thus improving the car's efficiency. Close-up of a wheel on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Close-up of a wheel on the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX. Mercedes-Benz A control unit in each wheel regulates the changes to the wheel, detecting the stress on the car's braking system and whether or not cooling is needed.