Mercedes-Benz design study: Concept Ocean Drive design study - the most comfortable and elegant modern-day convertible
At the North American Auto Show Detroit, Mercedes-Benz is adding to its reputation as a pioneer and design trendsetter among premium carmakers with the presentation of its Concept Ocean Drive four-door convertible. This study is a one-off creation by Mercedes-Benz which revives the tradition of large luxury convertibles. Not having to work to a design brief or production specifications left the designers free to get on with the job of developing the world's most comfortable and elegant convertible.
The Concept Ocean Drive is an aweinspiring jewel on wheels. As a four-door convertible, it belongs in a luxury genre that has almost disappeared from our roads. Like the luxury convertibles of years gone by, this showpiece from Stuttgart features the maximum in elegance, lifestyle sophistication and exclusiveness. To put it another way, it represents automobile culture at its most attractive and desirable.
The one-off special has an all-new body with an almost classic flavour and with clearly defined lines and vibrant two-tone paintwork which are exceptionally charismatic. Although on one level the Concept Ocean Drive displays the restraint of an elite and aristocratic automobile, it is also an open invitation to go on a "top-less" cruise along the world's finest ocean promenades. Luxurious, exotic materials have been crafted with consummate skill to create a showpiece of unparalleled perfection.


Top-level engineering
The design study is based on the twelve-cylinder Mercedes-Benz S 600, on ac-count of this model's long wheelbase. The technical highlights include:

the innovative soft-top mechanism resulting in smooth operation and fast closing times;
the innovative AIRSCARF neck-level heating system, which is featured on all four seats, allowing occupants to enjoy top-down motoring even in the colder months of the year.Needless to say, the on-board equipment also includes top-level Mercedes-Benz innovations, some of which are unique worldwide - including Brake Assist PLUS, the innovative PRE-SAFE® brake system (in combination with radar-based DIS-TRONIC PLUS) and the PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection system.


http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/8871/mercedesbenzoceandrivecis9.th.jpg (http://img394.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mercedesbenzoceandrivecis9. jpg)
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/8273/mercedesbenzoceandriveceh6.th.jpg (http://img394.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mercedesbenzoceandriveceh6. jpg)
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/1337/mercedesbenzoceandrivecmj2.th.jpg (http://img394.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mercedesbenzoceandrivecmj2. jpg)
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/1599/mercedesbenzoceandrivecwu0.th.jpg (http://img394.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mercedesbenzoceandrivecwu0. jpg)



What do you think?

Yes! it's the S Class convertible! I love it. It looks better than the current S Class with the different design, other rims, and fully sick color. The name owns too.

4 door convertibles aren't new but it sounds like a good plan...

well, i dont think they were in productions....

but wow, it looks good for a concept, the shape, is well, similar to the S class, though the rims are fugly, hope they make the real S-class convertible

Bring it on. Just what Mercedes, and the world, needs. A lovely design style is the first step. Then get the engines. If it comes with S-Class engines then it will be a winner, and it does look like the S convertible, which can never be a good thing.

The colour suits this car well aswell, and I'm really in for the name. 'Ocean Drive' sounds very soothing, very sleek and very modern.

whoa....look like a maybach and s-class mix.looks way coooooler then both tho.is this sumwhere on the lines of a RR EX1 concept?

Yeah, they know Rolls Royce is comin up with a similar car, so they gotta beat 'em to it because they are Mercedes. They just create a whole new class of cars when they feel they are done pwning everywhere else!

It's based off of the almighty S-class, so it pwns by default.....

When I saw the title, I imagined something like this: http://www.foxnews.com/images/115503/1_21_020304_cubans_car.jpg

I think it's disappointing, styling wise - it seems like a bit of a missed opportunity. I prefer the look of the standard S-Class.

my boss has a 1998 sclass 5.0 v8 and its veeery nice, that is one o the most hideous cars i have seen in a long time, headlights are dreadful and the rims shout SNOOP DOGG at me which is not a good image for that car, ill take the s4 convertible any day

Ooo, Merc is really trying...it's this whole must compete with every car going attitude 8-)

Yeah, they know Rolls Royce is comin up with a similar car, so they gotta beat 'em to it because they are Mercedes. They just create a whole new class of cars when they feel they are done pwning everywhere else!

They do , they arn't afraid to take risks b/c they are mercedes!

i think this is a good idea, i read it was going to have a hardtop roof though instead of a cloth, i guess we will just have to wait and see. but ya, people will buy this believe it or not, 50 cent cut the roof off his rolls royce phantom b/c he wanted a convertible so there are actually (rich) people out there who desire a 4 door convertible.

It's based off of the almighty S-class, so it pwns by default.....

When I saw the title, I imagined something like this: http://www.foxnews.com/images/115503/1_21_020304_cubans_car.jpgI imagined somethign like this, so I gotta admit that I'm disappointed, but it's still cool.
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/1577/miamicarly2.jpg

looks interesting !! :cool:

I imagined somethign like this, so I gotta admit that I'm disappointed, but it's still cool.
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/1577/miamicarly2.jpg

I am not sure where you found that pic, but that really is on OCEAN DRIVE in the South Beach art deco area of Miami Florida. That area has retained the old architecture, and still looks like that today. That road turns into Collins Ave and runs right up the beach (part of it is a topless beach)

I have friends who live near there, and I used to vacation there. I have a lot of pics, but few I could show

EDIT... I forgot to post that the owner of that hotel ownes that old car, and drives it to work every day. He has that space reserved for that car, and I have looked it over many times

The concept doesn't look too good for my taste. It's mostly the headlights and rims.

The concept doesn't look too good for my taste. It's mostly the headlights and rims.The final production version will probably look like this.
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/9321/100320061509236111fu7.jpg

I prefer this Ocean Dive Concept though. The S Class already looks slightly dated... Well, maybe not, but's really boring in comparison to this concept.

One of the new mercedes niches i think is actually useful. The Car is prefect for cruising along looking about at the scenery along with all of the creature comforts the S-Class comes with. Sometimes, 2 doors just arn't enough.

If this is Mercedes' new design strategy: go Mercedes!
Look at that boxy front: retro in the right way. Reminds me a bit of the old S-class (2 generations ago), but at once it's new and overwhelming with the big grille.

The S convertible, interesting.

More pictures..
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6311/mercedesbenzoceandrivecwe3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5417/mercedesbenzoceandrivecfp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2934/mercedesbenzoceandrivecwd9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9359/mercedesbenzoceandrivecak8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/224/mercedesbenzoceandrivecxh3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Wow...that looks excellent! I really like the look of a four-door convertible, it seems to suit the bloated styling better than te sedan and coupe. It's neat how you can have the comfort of a big, 4 door Mercedes while being able to have a droptop for those nice summer days.

The final production version will probably look like this.
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/9321/100320061509236111fu7.jpg

I prefer this Ocean Dive Concept though. The S Class already looks slightly dated... Well, maybe not, but's really boring in comparison to this concept.

That picture looks fake. Look at the driver and the surrounding car. Looks a little off.

^that picture is most likely a chop. but the model if they decide to come out with it will most likely look like that, instead of the ocean concept.

If this is Mercedes' new design strategy: go Mercedes!
Look at that boxy front: retro in the right way. Reminds me a bit of the old S-class (2 generations ago), but at once it's new and overwhelming with the big grille.

ya i see the resemblance !! and i like it ! :cool:

That picture looks fake. Look at the driver and the surrounding car. Looks a little off.N wright is right. It's just a photochop. But I think the final version will look more like chop than the concept car. The Ocean Drive concpet is too awesome looking to go into production.

nice car,but poor chopping skills.the s class convertible looks hawt!!but u need to have class and status to drive one.

dont ask me why but when i first saw i thought of bentley. not half bad but i dont like the front very much

Its actually pretty cool-looking IMO....

What if your watching tv when the top is down and something gets thrown and cracks the screen? Won't that be funny for the poeple that saw it happen and not the owners.

What if your watching tv when the top is down and something gets thrown and cracks the screen? Won't that be funny for the poeple that saw it happen and not the owners.It's probably plasma. They're made of plastic or something, so you're gonna be very [un]lucky to crack it by throwing something at it.

What if a bird goes #2 on it?

#2? Crapping on it? I love to have fly craps on my screen, but maybe bird crap would be a bit too much.

I guess you can get it without those screens. They make it look weird when the roof is down.

And other poeple can just get a free show when driving right next to you. So many dis-advantages and advantages of owning such a car.

I don't like the headlights, I preffer those of the current S class, the side of the cars is indeed really nice, clean and classy, those rims have too much spokes to me, 36 to be exact, I think half of it would have been enough. I don't understand why rims in luxury cars cover so much view, I think it actually looks bad, as a cheap, steel rim with a cap on it.
The idea of a 4 door convertible is quite nice, I'd like to see it with the top up and 4 doors open, would it be too flexible, I don't know but engineers and designer probably thought about this and came up with a solution. It's a nice concept and probably has some innovations that will make possible that in the future we have more 4 door convertibles.

^Lol, you've been counting the spokes?

I think the wheels suit the car. It makes it look exclusive, expensive and huge as hell.

^Lol, you've been counting the spokes?

I think the wheels suit the car. It makes it look exclusive, expensive and huge as hell.

Yes, I counted the spokes LOL, anyway, the wheels do suit the car, mostly because nice luxury cars have big shiny wheels (doesn't have to be chrome) that cover most of the brakes and all that hides behind the rim, and I think it suits it because we are accustomed to watch that kind of wheels in that kind of cars, which is something I don't like at all, but if it fits them, it's okay, it's not meant to be a sport car or anything like that but a luxury car so it gotta have some nice "luxurious" (because they do look that way) rims