Mercedes-Benz patents amphibious off-roader with inflatable wheel-arch floats

Mercedes-Benz has patented a system that enables its off-road vehicles to float and navigate on water using inflatable buoyancy modules housed in the wheel arches.

The patent, filed by inventor Jörg Knapp and assigned to Mercedes-Benz Group, describes a solution that remains at the concept stage with no corresponding mass-production project.

The system employs removable buoyancy modules made of foam or inflatable material, installed within each of the four wheel arches. A control unit can independently inflate or deflate each module to adjust buoyancy according to load and water flow, keeping the vehicle balanced on the surface without requiring an integrated buoyancy compartment around the body.

After deflation, the modules can be stored in the space normally reserved for a spare tire. Before entering water, an onboard air compressor inflates the modules.

The concept builds on Mercedes' existing off-road capabilities. The G-Class already boasts strong deep-wading ability but cannot achieve true amphibious operation. Under the patent's design, the vehicle would float and the four wheels would remain involved in propulsion and steering.

Even when no longer touching the ground, the tires can continue to rotate and change direction. Adaptive suspension can adjust wheel angles so the wheels act like rudders in the water. The electric drive motors that power the vehicle on land would also be used for in-water propulsion.

The control unit can independently adjust the forward or reverse torque of each wheel to counteract water currents, uneven drag, and diagonal shoreline approaches. Individual wheel torque control is also applied when exiting the water, allowing the SUV to maintain the driver's intended direction and minimize lateral drift as tires transition from floating to ground contact.

Notably, the patent does not indicate that Mercedes plans to mass-produce an amphibious SUV. The automaker's approach focuses on solving water crossing through software, buoyancy control, and individual wheel torque distribution rather than designing a dedicated hull-shaped body.