Mercedes’ concept car is ‘Avatar’-inspired. Yes, we’re talking about the 2009 movie.

Mercedes-Benz is stuck on Pandora, the fictional world from the 2009 Avatar movie directed by James Cameron. So much so that the German carmaker’s newest concept car is called “Vision AVTR.” It’s supposed to demonstrate how Mercedes is embracing sustainability goals.

The Avatar car appeared on stage at CES Monday night after Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius laid out all the ways Mercedes wants to make its cars less resource-heavy. (Mercedes set a 2030 goal to cut back waste and resources for each car produced, like using 30 percent less water to make a car. ) While the Avatar vehicle will never be made, ideas within it — like a biometric scan that measures your heartbeat or a floating digital touch screen in the palm of your hand — are supposed to inspire future Mercedes cars, especially as the company adds all-electric options.

The AVTR part of the concept car’s name stands for not only just “Avatar,” but also “Advanced Vehicle Transformation.” Cool, cool. Källenius said that the features in the concept car, like heartbeat detection, make it “so man and machine literally merge into a fully intuitive experience.”

Cameron himself spoke about the ideas behind the car and how the Avatar world continues with a sequel due out next year. Some sneak peeks from the upcoming movie were flashed on stage. 

For Cameron, the car represents our connections to nature and how we’re at a tipping point. Basically, we’re forgetting to take care of the Earth, he explained. So we should build more sustainable vehicles! “I look at this vehicle here and I see the future,” he said.

Not to diminish the lofty ideals built into the show car, but doesn’t it look like some sort of amphibian or frog? Especially with the scale-like flaps on the backside. 

And, yes, I had to google the plot of Avatar because it’s been more than a decade.