Mercedes-Benz Bionic

There have been a few cars over the years which have been partially inspired by fish. The Corvette Stingray is one example which springs to mind. But usually these cars are based on fast, powerful and streamlined fish. Not the bloated shape of boxfish.

But that was the exact influence for the shape of the Mercedes-Benz Bionic - the yellow boxfish to be exact.

The Mercedes design team chose the shape of the boxfish due to its square shape (like a car), and its aquadynamic abilities.

The Mercedes Bionic concept could hardly be described as a beautiful or graceful looking vehicle. It is what it is, a car that looks a bit like a fat fish.

However the figures don't lie, and the Mercedes Bionic had a very low drag coefficient of just 0.19. If you don't know your drag numbers, that's very, very good. That means it's more fuel efficient, and can hit a higher top speed thanks to its slippery shape.

When styling the Mercedes-Benz Bionic, the design team didn't stop at just making the basic shape in the mold of the pufferfish. They also took the time to tailor some of the minor elements of the car to more closely mirror that of its aquatic influence. For example, the streaked taillights give the impression of a fish's tail, while the slightly raised central roof contour mimics the dorsal fin.

Powering the Mercedes Bionic concept is a direct-injection diesel engine which produces 140 horsepower. Because of the aerodynamic shape of the vehicle, the car gets around 70 mpg, can hit 60mph in just 8 seconds, and go on to a top speed of 118mph.

The end result is a truly unique car, and one which explores an influence not many have tried before.