Behold Mercedes-Benz's vision of what a modern - or rather scratch that, a futuristic Golf Cart should look like. This conceptual model was crafted at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center in Carlsbad, California, with designers using input from golfers from all over the world.
The all-electric model, which to be honest, looks like something that Smart would have come up with, has two seats and removable lightweight doors. It ditches the conventional steering wheel for a joystick mounted on the center console that can be operated by either passenger, while it also includes all vital features for regular road use such as indicators, headlamps and taillights – just in case someone wants to drive it home.
"It has the latest in modern technology," says Margarete Wies, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center. "Using touch screen monitors, virtually all aspects of the cart can be controlled without extra buttons. Simplicity is the key. Intuition and pure form can maybe best describe the cart."
Speaking of tech features, some of the other highlights include the head-up display integrated into the windscreen that can also be used to show the course layout, the current status of the game or weather information when the vehicle is stationary, an AIRSCARF neck-level heating system for the seats (borrowed from Merc's roadsters) and the so-called "fore button" to quickly warn other players of a misplaced shot.
In addition, aside from manual charging, the Golf Car's batteries can be kept continuously charged by a solar module integrated into the roof.
While a concept, Mercedes did not completely strike out the idea of a production model: "Although the Mercedes-Benz Vision Golf Cart is only a design study so far, there are no doubt many players who would like to see the cart become reality, bringing its fresh ideas and thus more fun, more innovation and more comfort to moving around on the golf course," said the carmaker in a statement.
