The sketching phase was the most creative stage of the process and also one of the most crucial. “Our job was to develop and pinpoint the vehicle’s character,” Nawka explains. “It was a long development process, with a lot of shared creative sessions” It is true that the creation phase marks the beginning of the design process – but it does not end until the vehicle is finished. “We follow our design to the end,” Nawka explains. “After all, we are the ones who are also responsible for how the vehicle looks in the end.” And it is supposed to not just look good but also be technologically perfect.

Between design and engineering, between the idea and the actuality: Here the creative department's ideas are transformed into digital 3D models. “I always give one hundred percent. I try to bring the design requests into line with the technical and legal requirements.” And that is often no easy task. When digitizing the sketches the original design idea may have to be adapted in favour of the feasibility. The search for a solution that comes as close as possible to the ideal makes teamwork with the design department absolutely indispensable. However, the REPORTER offered somewhat more freedom. “While it is a realistic and serious concept, the design was the main focus. We were encouraged to be daring.” That had a lot of appeal, but it also meant that the project did not run along by itself.

Berner and his team had just six weeks. From just a single 1:4 scale model to the final 1:1 model, every stroke had to be perfect. Proceda is the perfect partner for the REPORTER, producing the latest models using state-of-the-art technology and a high-performance team with know-how, passion and experience. At Proceda everything is done in-house, from the production of laminates to painting and finishing. “It might sometimes be a bit more labor-intensive or more costly,” Berner says, “but it’s worth it. This way, at least I know that every step in the work meets our quality standards.” And the REPORTER's standards were exceptionally high indeed.

The digital architects behind the REPORTER can be found in the Full Vehicle Design and Calculation (Digital Prototyping) department. They look at the design model and, thanks to the results of the simulation, they can pinpoint those areas where the vehicle still needs improvement or has potential for further development very early on. The department's job was to find the ideal packaging: to digitally combine the various structural elements and components of the REPORTER into a complete, functional vehicle, and to put that vehicle to the test. Flow analysis, multi-body and rigidity simulations – the list of the tests a vehicle is required to undergo is a long one. “Our department was the place where a lot of things came together, both technically and in our internal communications. That made it especially important for us to coordinate with others,” Weidner says. After all, the REPORTER is intended to feature as much of MBtech as possible. “It worked very well,” Weidner says with certainty. “We created a concept study that reflects all of our departments.”

The REPORTER enables us to demonstrate that we have the development expertise for all of the important technologies. In the body-in-white department, the team worked closely together, sometimes in tandem and sometimes in parallel, with the Full Vehicle Design department. The approach was dubbed “simultaneous engineering.” “We keep in close contact with each other in terms of both hierarchy and physical proximity. The fact that we have a shared database lets us access the most current data from individual departments,” Hüttinger says. The job assigned to him and his team: “To design a lightweight, modular structure, and really show what we can do.” The result: a concept that showcases the full breadth of the available production methods – from aluminum casting to unibody construction and carbon technology.

The DualX E-Drive was developed as an intelligent and innovative drive solution It is plug-in full-hybrid solution and combines a 25 kilowatt electric motor with a 1.2 liter natural gas combustion engine which delivers 75 kilowatts and serves as both a range and performance extender. This combination enables a calculated top speed of 130 km/h and a total operating range of approximately 300 kilometers – Using the electric engine alone the vehicle has a range of 55 kilometers, calculated in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle (NEFZ). The decisive factors also included the optimal combination and integration of the components along with intelligent energy management. This is where the concept demonstrates its advances in comparison to existing approaches: The e-drive unit is at least the equal of the combustion engine – Both serve to provide propulsion. The completely new feature is that the two engine act autonomously: The e-motor drives the rear axle and the four-cylinder combustion drives the front wheels – Either alternating or simultaneously. This means that an intelligent all-wheel drive system is available when required. The drivers can choose between three different modes – depending on their individual driving behavior and the desired operating strategy: "eco" for emission-free electric operation in the inner-city, "4range" for low fuel consumption and long range using the combustion engine and "4dynamic" in order to utilize the power of both engines for maximum acceleration and driving pleasure.

On the principle that there is always room for more, the REPORTER team added something else literally on top of the design – the solar module. “Our goal was not to stop at an innovative design and drive concept, but rather to think another step ahead,” says project manager, David Sobéus. They wanted something completely new; an environmentally friendly extra. The idea was to use free space on the roof to generate additional energy. Each module consists of a large number of tiny spherical solar cells pressed into place between two layers of plastic. The solar top yields a several hundred watts – enough to run the air conditioning system, interior lighting, or radio. That reduces fuel consumption or consumption of energy, which in turn increases the range. And to really put the finishing touch on the whole story, the solar top can also be used portably. With a handy zipper, it can be removed, packed into a special case, and tucked away in the cargo compartment or used elsewhere. During the process of developing this feature, like many others, the REPORTER team was once again thinking ahead – developing add-ons and even more. As the saying goes, there is always room for more.

One of the jobs of the Consulting segment is to obtain an idea of future customer requirements and market trends early on. And in this segment, it is almost a given that product and market analyses often form the basis for a project. That was certainly the case with the REPORTER, which, like other projects, was preceded by a study: the Trend Monitor 2010, which focused on the light commercial vehicle market – and thus supplied important input for the REPORTER. During the Trend Monitor 2010 project, the consulting team was tasked with pinpointing the driving factors behind the light commercial vehicle segment so that the engineers could take the needs of the market and consumers into account when designing the REPORTER. The results, of course, were considered in the process of designing and creating the REPORTER. Ultimately, keeping an eye on the future is never a mistake.