Peek Inside Mercedes’ New Luxe Helicopter

It seems like only yesterday when we first told you about the ultra-luxurious helicopter designed by Mercedes-Benz and Eurocopter. That's why we were stunned to find out the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style made its world debut yesterday in Geneva at the 2011 European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE).
"Only one year after Eurocopter presented the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style concept at EBACE 2010, we now are unveiling the first aircraft and can already announce the initial sale to a European corporate operator," said Eurocopter senior VP Olivier Lambert.
Photos: Mercedes-Benz

From Benz To Benz

The goal of the EC145 Mercedes Benz Style is to provide a seamless transition between a luxury vehicle and an equally luxurious personal air transport.
Lucky occupants will find that their new copter differs very little from the interior of the S-class that whisked them to their helipad, with the same wood, leather and ambient lighting as any four-wheeled vehicle to wear the three-pointed star.

Loading Luggage

The flexible floorplan means that seats can be removed in order to load more luggage. It's perfect for making a quick getaway after withdrawing the entire contents of your Swiss bank account.

Exterior

The copter is based on the successful nine passenger, twin-engine EC145, a joint venture between Kawasaki and Eurocopter which first flew in 1999.

Luxury Travel

It doesn't matter if you're a banker or "independently wealthy" -- if you want luxury, you'll get it with the EC145 Mercedes Benz Style. It got the full Benz interior treatment from the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy, and according to the company is "tailor-made for luxury-class business and private travel."

Interior

The actual aircraft looks just like the concept drawings Mercedes presented last spring, down to the wood floor in the cockpit, entertainment system in the rear seats and refrigerator for snacks and drinks.

Leather Seats

The Mercedes-Benz Style variant of the EC145 can seat between four and eight, depending on configuration. Seats are mounted on rails so that they can be easily removed or rearranged based on passenger needs.

Luxe Luggage

The Mercedes-Benz copter can fit specially designed Mercedes-Benz branded luggage. We wonder if those bags will also fit in the baggage hold of a Mercedes-Benz bus.

A Comfy Cockpit

The high style doesn't end in the passenger cabin. Even the pilots get a cockpit with leather seats and wood floors.

Wood and Leather

Like any E-Class or S-Class, the Benz-branded Eurocopter features French-stitched leather seats and more wood trim than a '70s rec room. Lest you forget which design studio was responsible for your airborne accommodations, the Mercedes-Benz logo is sewn into the headrests.

Ambient Lighting

Like the S-Class and E-Class, the Mercedes-Benz copter features user-adjustable ambient lighting.

Rear Seats

Should you get tired of the view, an infotainment system in the rear seats makes quick work of a jaunt across Lake Geneva

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/05/a-look-inside-mercedes-benzs-new-luxe-helicopter/?pid=1022&viewall=true