Golfers around the world apparently needed a luxury set of wheels to carry them from one hole to another
The fully-functional, funky design study may soon become the ride of choice for wealthy golfers all over the world.
A collaboration between Mercedes-Benz designers, Daimler's Think & Act Tank Business Innovation, and golf cart manufacturer Garia, the Mercedes-Benz Style Edition Garia Golf Car is said to reinvent “the world of the golf cart.” No, it won’t play golf for you, but instead it will make your short trips around the golf course more stylish.
The high-end golf cart looks rather different from its mainstream siblings. There’s a large, curved windscreen that is continued with a carbon fiber roof with a different color than the rest of the body and a shape similar to a baseball cap. Mercedes says the design of the roof makes the vehicle look lower and sportier, but we don’t really see that — it’s still a tall, awkward-looking golf cart seasoned with design cues that remind of the Smart Fortwo.
Still, Mercedes insists the Garia Golf Car has a sporty look, thanks to a carbon fiber diffuser and a small rear spoiler which also acts as a holder for two golf bags oriented rearwards.
The interior features an inviting lounge chair under which there’s a refrigerator while bottle holders on the instrument panel support and on the passenger side contribute to practicality. For infotainment needs, the golf cart offers a high-resolution 10.1-inch touchpad that can display vehicle information as well as the layout of the golf course and the cart’s current position.
By now you’ve probably realized this is an electric vehicle, with power coming from a 3 kW (4 hp) electric motor that can also make up to 11 kW (15 hp) for short periods of time. Top speed is a deeply unremarkable 30 km/h (19 mph) while driving range is up to 80 km (50 miles). The lithium-ion battery takes six hours to charge completely.
Depending on the reactions of the market and potential customers, Mercedes-Benz says the Garia Golf Car may enter production. A strong case for it is the fact that it could qualify for on-road use in the United States — since it’s fitted with direction indicators, headlamps, and rear lights. You can learn more about the posh golf cart from the following video.