Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven: How a Future Supercar Becomes a Rolling Lab for Axial-Flux Motors and Lounge Interiors

A Different Kind of Electric Supercar

The Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven is not just a photogenic concept car for motor shows; it is a fully fledged experimental platform that encapsulates how Mercedes sees the future of high-performance electric cars. It draws direct inspiration from the legendary C111 experimental cars of the 1960s and 1970s, but replaces rotary and diesel engines with ultra-dense axial-flux electric motors and a battery concept derived from Formula 1 technology. On top of that, it combines a sculpted, retro-futuristic exterior with an interior that feels more like a luxury lounge than a traditional race cockpit.​

Exterior Design: A Tribute to the Past in a Future Language

• The Vision One-Eleven borrows its overall proportions from the C111:

  • A very low roofline and a flowing “one-bow” side profile that sweeps in a single curve from the nose to the tail.

  • A sleek body with broad rear haunches and a highly raked windscreen for a clean, aerodynamic silhouette.​

• Signature visual elements include:

  • A striking metallic copper/orange paint that immediately signals “experimental show car” rather than conventional production model.

  • Gullwing doors that directly echo the C111 and classic 300SL, but interpreted with a much more futuristic surface treatment.

  • Front and rear fascias built around 3D pixel-style LED modules, creating a digital light signature that looks like a display embedded into the car’s bodywork.​

By mixing classic cues (gullwing doors, wedge-like proportions) with digital LED “pixel panels,” the Vision One-Eleven is Mercedes’ idea of true retro-future design.

Powertrain: Axial-Flux Motors and a Formula 1-Inspired Battery

YASA Axial-Flux Electric Motor

• At the heart of the Vision One-Eleven’s powertrain are axial-flux electric motors developed by YASA, a company owned by Mercedes-Benz. These motors differ fundamentally from the radial-flux units used in most current EVs.​

• Key advantages of axial-flux architecture:

  • Much higher torque and power density per kilogram compared to traditional motors.

  • A far more compact package; an axial-flux motor can weigh roughly one third and occupy about one third of the volume of a similarly powerful radial motor.

  • Direct oil cooling of copper windings, enabling repeated hard acceleration runs without a significant drop in performance due to heat soak.​

In practice, this means the Vision One-Eleven points to a “post-radial” era of EV powertrains, with a strong focus on lightweight, highly compact motor assemblies that give designers more freedom.

Battery: Cylindrical Cells with Liquid Cooling and Racing Chemistry

• The concept uses a new battery approach based on:

  • High-performance cylindrical cells.

  • Advanced liquid cooling.

  • Cell chemistry inspired by the work of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth, the division responsible for Formula 1 hybrid power units.​

• The engineering goal is to:

  • Deliver very high power output and instant response.

  • Maintain consistent performance even under sustained heavy load, just as required in high-performance and track-capable vehicles.

Some media outlets suggest that the underlying platform could theoretically support outputs well beyond 1,000 hp, potentially even in the region of 1,900 hp with multiple axial-flux motors, although Mercedes focuses more on proving the technology than on publishing a headline horsepower number for this concept.​

Interior: The First True “Lounge” Inside a Sports Car

Lounge + Race: Two Opposite Modes in One Car

• Mercedes describes the Vision One-Eleven’s cabin as the first sports car interior with a full lounge concept.​

  • In Race mode:

    • The seats adopt a more upright, supportive position with a clear driver focus.

    • A small, driver-oriented screen presents key driving and performance data.

    • The overall feel is that of a stripped-back “pure driving machine,” minimalistic and purposeful.

  • In Lounge mode:

    • The seating surfaces visually merge with the floor, side recesses, and central console into a single sculptural object.

    • The seating position becomes more relaxed, and the cabin transforms into a space for lounging, reflecting a future in which autonomous driving takes over some of the workload.

The result is a radical shift from the traditional supercar cabin: less about being strapped into a cockpit, more about being able to relax in a mobile lounge when desired.

Materials and Sensory Experience

• The interior uses:

  • Sculpted seats finished in white-silver leather with diamond quilting, adding a strong luxury cue.

  • Elements made from carefully treated, sustainable materials, underlining Mercedes’ commitment to “sustainable luxury.”

• A slim, wide display stretches across the dashboard:

  • Shows large, 8-bit style pixels as a deliberate retro graphic design element, reminiscent of old arcade screens and early computers.

  • The actual detailed information is rendered sharply on a separate, high-resolution digital display near the steering wheel for precise readability.​

By combining plush materials, vintage-style pixel graphics, and modern AR/HMI tech, Mercedes creates a layered sensory experience: nostalgic yet futuristic at the same time.

Magic Leap Augmented Reality Experience

• One of the standout aspects of the Vision One-Eleven is integration of the Magic Leap 2 augmented reality headset.​

  • With AR glasses, occupants can see digital content superimposed onto the real world, such as:

    • Virtual driving lines and suggested paths.

    • Warnings about roadworks or hazards not yet visible around the next bend.

    • Points of interest and contextual information anchored in the external environment.

  • The entire interior effectively becomes an interface canvas, with information projected across a roughly 180-degree field of view in an “X-ray view” that filters out non-essential visual noise and highlights what truly matters to the driver.

This transforms the car from a simple vehicle into an interactive device, blending real and digital worlds in a way that traditional instrument clusters never could.

Vision One-Eleven vs. Historic C111

What Vision One-Eleven Means for the Future of Mercedes Sports Cars

A Clear Signal About Design Direction

• The One-Bow profile, reimagined gullwing doors, and pixel-based light signatures are unlikely to be copied verbatim onto production cars, but they send strong hints:

  • Future AMG and Mercedes sports EVs may adopt similarly flowing proportions and bold lighting concepts.

  • The mix of vintage cues with digital design language may become a visual trademark for the brand’s halo models.

A Test Platform for Axial-Flux Motors and Advanced Batteries

• Using YASA axial-flux motors in the Vision One-Eleven is not a styling exercise; it is:

  • A live test of how this motor architecture behaves in a high-performance automotive context.

  • A stepping stone toward seeing axial-flux technology in future production Mercedes and AMG models.​

• The liquid-cooled cylindrical-cell battery with F1-derived chemistry:

  • Could form the basis of next-generation, high-power battery packs in both road cars and racing applications.

In short, the Vision One-Eleven is much closer to a “moving laboratory” than a simple showpiece.

Who This Vision Is Really Aimed At

• For brand enthusiasts:

  • It reassures them that Mercedes is still investing in highly emotional, distinctive cars, even in an era dominated by EVs and SUVs.

• For technology investors and insiders:

  • It signals Mercedes’ serious intent to industrialize axial-flux motor tech and advanced cell chemistries.

• For competitors:

  • It sends a message that tomorrow’s sports car battle will not be fought on horsepower alone, but also on:

    • Power and torque density.

    • Packaging efficiency and weight.

    • The depth and quality of the human-machine interaction experience.