[Aditya]

Mercedes-Benz has revealed a small crossover called the G-Code concept at the opening of a Product Engineering Centre in Beijing, China. The company is positioning it below the GLA in its line-up and will pit it against Audi's upcoming Q1.

The G-Code has what Mercedes-Benz calls a Sports Utility Coupe (SUC) body style. It is 4.10 metres long, 1.90 metres wide and 1.50 metres high and has counter-opening doors. The car has a bold, backlit grille with the signature three-pointed star, LED headlamps, retractable roof rails, 21-inch aluminium wheels with carbon fibre spokes and an LED light strip that runs across the rear.

The interior of the G-Code has a futuristic design with a 2+2 seater configuration and varying interior lighting. The seats are made up of a mixture of carbon fibre and leather and have heating and cooling and massage functions. The centre console has a docking station which networks the personal smartphone with the G-Code for switching it on and off and for communication purposes.

The G-Code is propelled by a hybrid system that uses a combustion engine and an electric motor. The combustion engine is turbocharged and runs on hydrogen. It drives the front wheels only. An electric motor drives the rear axle and transmits its power selectively to the two wheels via a dual multi-disc clutch.

The G-Code can be operated as a front-wheel drive, using only the combustion engine or as a rear-wheel drive using only the electric motor or as a variable all-wheel drive.

Mercedes has equipped the G-Code with what it calls "multi-voltaic silver" paint finish, which acts like a giant solar cell to produce electricity and gets charged electrostatically by the relative wind or by the natural wind when the vehicle is stationary.