2007 Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive

Think the concept of the convertible sedan is gone forever? Think again. The Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive concept, making its first public appearance at Detroit's 2007 NAIAS, suggests that there may indeed be a future for big, glamorous convertible sedans. Snoop, it might be time to call Dieter again.

The glamorous Ocean Drive essentially is a convertible version of today's S600 sedan. Officially a one-off creation, the Ocean Drive shares most of its mechanical bits, including its 510-hp, 612 lb-ft twin-turbo V-12, but not one exterior panel, with the production hardtop. The al fresco four-seater dons a fresh interpretation of the Mercedes-Benz sedan face, featuring an enlarged shield-shaped grille and glitzy combination headlamps that reach up into the hood. (Side note: are we looking at the 2010 facelift here?). Pleasing proportions were maintained—quite a feat with a convertible this long—thanks to mammoth, turbine-spoke wheels, ultra-slim door handles, and subtle character lines that gently converge toward its tapered, Maybach-esque tail. Also like the big 'Bach, the Ocean Drive concept features a tone-on-tone paint scheme—in this case, two shimmery shades of gold. And nothing says "money" like gold.

The concept's folding fabric top itself is nicely styled, if relatively unremarkable, as it stows conventionally under a rigid panel behind the rear chairs. Customers of such a vehicle in this day and age might expect a folding hardtop, though that would be virtually impossible to engineer on a car this large. Besides, no one's complaining about the Bentley Continental GTC or the upcoming Rolls Royce Phantom-based convertible, both of which are ragtops.

Inside, traditional S-class luxury abounds. Each of the four individual seats feature Mercedes' nifty Airscarf neck vents, intended to make top-down motoring possible even on nippy days. Additional swaths of Birdseye Maple can be found throughout the cabin, as well as atop the rigid soft top cover panel, a la the Bentley GTC.

Can it be done?

In an age where bling is the new black, the idea of an ultra-luxury convertible sedan is certainly compelling—if not original. Certainly, many Americans will liken the Ocean Drive to the famous suicide-door Lincoln Continental convertibles from the sixties; though it's worth noting Mercedes has built many four-door convertibles of its own during its 124-year history.

Would it sell? Unquestionably. The music industry alone would gobble up every one Mercedes could build. Not to mention professional athletes. Then there are the "old money" folks that grew up on convertible sedans from Lincoln, Duesenberg, Packard, etc. Need we go on?

Questions remain, however, about the production feasibility of the Ocean Drive (which we hope will adopt a less cheesy name at some point). Particularly challenging for the B-pillar-less chariot is side-impact protection and, of course, structural integrity. That said, Mercedes-Benz has more experience building safe, pillar-less coupes than any other automaker, so if anyone could pull this sort of car off, that would be Mercedes-Benz. Stay tuned.

Концерн DaimlerChrysler распространил первую официальную информацию о новом концептуальном четырехдверном кабриолете Mercedes. Автомобиль, получивший название Ocean Drive, будет представлен на автосалоне в Детройте в начале января 2007 года.

Большой четырехдверный кабриолет построен на платформе удлиненного Mercedes S-Class. Под капотом автомобиля будет установлен флагманский бензиновый двигатель V12 объемом 6,0 литра.

Mercedes Ocean Drive оснащается матерчатой складывающейся крышей и боковыми стеклами, лишенными оконных рамок. В компании уверяют, что, несмотря на отсутствие стойки между стеклами боковых дверей, салон машины остается полностью герметичным. Роль привычных фар головного света на Mercedes Ocean Drive выполняют светодиоды.

Для четырехдверного кабриолета инженеры компании разработали специальную систему климат-контроля AIRSCARF, которая распределяет воздушные потоки таким образом, чтобы пассажирам было тепло и комфортно даже при езде с поднятым верхом в холодную погоду.

О планах серийного производства Mercedes Ocean Drive пока ничего не сообщается.