Mercedes presents unique design study to mark Unimog anniversary

Jun 15, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Stuttgart - In marking the 60th anniversary of the Unimog 4-wheel drive medium truck, Mercedes presented a design concept combining the past and the future of the Unimog in an 'avant-gardist' way, the manufacturer announced.

'We have taken the Unimog-DNA with its unique concept features 100 per cent into consideration when creating this design concept,' said Bertrand Janssen from the Daimler department for commercial vehicle design.

Based on the Unimog U 5000 chassis, the designers took their cue from the poison dart frog that is extremely mobile both on land and water.

The coil springs are painted red with the bonnet and mudguards in green. The headlights are like stage lights, which focus the beam of light. The clearly visible, sweeping lines of the frame have been finished with high-grade trims cut from aluminium blocks.

Mercedes spokesmen emphasized that the design concept '60 Years Unimog' was not a prototype for serial production but emphasized versatility in design and construction with the concept having in common with the first Unimog of 1951 the open convertible feeling.