This Merc will be the envy of everyone at the 19th hole
It's an age-old problem for golfing enthusiasts -- finding a swanky car that will impress when you turn up to the clubhouse that's also got enough boot space to hold your beloved clubs.
Well Mercedes-Benz might have the answer to your prayers with the Style Edition Garia vehicle.
The only problem is, it's only got a 50-mile range and a top speed of 30km/h.
Forget about rocking up at the course in the latest high-performance AMG GT or supremely luxurious S-Class -- the Mercedes that will be the envy of everyone else decked in Pringle gear is this super luxurious golf buggy.
Called the Style Edition Garia Golf Car, the German carmaker has created two of the super-luxurious carts and said it will make more if there's a big demand from 18-hole fanatics.
And don't dismiss it as a motor that's only good for driving between bunkers -- Mercedes-Benz said it has all the necessary requirement to make it road legal (in the US anyway), including lights and indicators. It's just about as stylish as golfing gets, with five-spoke alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and carbon fibre diffuser that wouldn't look out of place on Lewis Hamilton's F1 car.
The roof is carbon fibre too, reducing weight to help the vehicle nip down the nearest fairway -- Mercedes reckons it "resembles a sporty baseball cap". Righto.
It even features double wishbone suspension -- ideal for those moments you get stuck in the rough. It's got gadgetry inside too, with an iPad-style touchscreen system on the rain-resistant dash. Drivers will be able to see how much range they have remaining, their current speed and which driving mode they're in.
On arrival to the next tee, the screen flips to show the layout of the golf course and shows the electronic scorecard, just in case you want to check how many shots behind you are. And to ensure golfers with deep pockets are hydrated at all times, Mercedes has even fitted a fridge under the bench and cup holder on the dash.
Mercedes' official announcement said the buggy was the fruition of in-house designers and a think-tank tasked with penning a golfing vehicle of the future.
"As a 'real sports car', the Mercedes-Benz Style Edition Garia Golf Car authentically transfers the unmistakable Mercedes-Benz automobile design idiom of sensual purity to a premium-class golf cart," it said.
"In 2013, Mercedes-Benz called upon golf and automobile fans from around the world to submit their ideas for a Mercedes-Benz golf cart of the future.
"While golf has developed into a premium sport with a modern face, golf carts have remained almost unchanged. The numerous submissions showed the need for a golf cart in keeping with modern times. This in turn meant that the golf cart needed to go through a long overdue evolutionary stage spanning several decades.
"It was to be tailored to the needs of golfers, accompanying current developments in the golf scene with a modern and sophisticated interpretation of luxury, lifestyle and practicality, and feature a bold, intelligent avant-garde design as a clear sign of change."
Okay, we're not sure what any of that means either, but we know it won't be cheap if Mercedes does decide to make it. And with enough positive feedback from potential buyers, the car manufacturer said that could be a reality.
- Daily Mail