Mercedes-Benz introduces future car
By Alastair Doak
CONCEPT cars usually push the boundaries of automotive thinking, and the Mercedes-Benz F 200 concept certainly lived up to the reputation at the Paris Motor Show earlier this month.
How does no pedals or a steering wheel sound?
Mercedes-Benz openly admitted that it was stretching the envelope of present car design with the F 200 Imagination coupe.
According to Mercedes-Benz the F 200 "gives a preview of the technical milestones that lie ahead and shows some exciting perspectives for possible designs of top models from Mercedes which could be reality in the not-too-distant future".
Jurgen Hubbert, the executive in charge of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, said: "It is particularly important to us to engage at an early stage in intense dialog with our customers about their wishes and expectations in respect of the technology and design of future cars. The outcome of this dialog may provide the basis for specific product decisions with far-reaching consequences."
The F 200 certainly offered a lot to talk about, although industry speculation suggests Mercedes has already decided to use the front end design of the big coupe on its next generation S- Class model, which is due in 1998.
F 200s forward-opening doors are also a possibility for production in the short to medium term. Mercedes engineers claim the doors can be made larger than conventional designs as they require less space to open, which also means the driver needs less space to park.
The car's new window air bag system is also expected to appear on the next S-Class. The air bag extends from the front to the rear roof frame like an inflatable curtain and protects the front and rear-seat passengers.
Mercedes claims the window air bag increases lateral protection and compliments the side air bag system. Used together, the German luxury carmaker calls this the "cozy bag system".
Another interesting safety feature is variable light distribution which automatically adjusts to the driving conditions and improves night vision. The lights, using special reflectors, even follow the line of the car around a corner.
The coupe does without rear vision mirrors, using a video camera system instead. The view out the back is displayed on a screen mounted above the dashboard.
However, it is the lack of a steering wheel and pedals that is the biggest talking point with this concept car.
Borrowing some technology from the European Airbus airplane the Mercedes is a true 'drive-by-wire' experience.
Using "side sticks" instead of a steering wheel and pedals, you move the stick left to right to steer the car and forwards and backwards to accelerate and brake.
The side sticks are said to offer an number of advantages over conventional controls. These include a greater degree of safety during an accident as there is no steering wheel or pedals to be pushed into you; side sticks offer a more comfortable driving position; they can be used by the driver or passenger so there is no need to engineer left and right-hand drive models.
French carmaker Peugeot unveiled the Asphalte and the Touareg.
The tiny, two-seat Asphalte offers wind-in-the-hair motoring, although getting in and out of the car is for the agile because it comes without doors.
Peugeot claims the cockpit design is similar to a plane or single seat racing car, while the car's cone shape and narrow rear suspension are designed to make it look like it is "gliding a few centimeters above the road surface".
Based on the production 106 hatch, the Asphalte has a carbon fiber body, which keeps the weight down to a trim 580kg. It is powered by a 1600cc engine.
The engine is tilted forward at 71 degrees to allow a low sweeping hood and the 65kW engine is mated to a three-speed automatic transmission.
Braking is by nonassisted discs, while the steering uses electric power assistance.
Road speed and other useful information is delivered to the driver via a Formula One-style digital readout.
Starting Asphalte is also a little different because there is no ignition key. Instead the driver inserts a key card or token and the starter motor is fired using a push button.
Two retractable rollover hoops fold out automatically when the three-point seat belts are fastened. Two small, glass wind deflectors protect the occupants from air turbulence.
Peugeot claims it can accelerate from 0-100kmh in 9.5 seconds and has a top speed of 200kmh.
The Touareg combines four-wheel driving and electric power, which the French carmaker believes demonstrates "a new symbiosis between practicality, leisure and nature".
A two-seater, the 3.5-meter long and 1.93-meter wide Touareg has a one-piece carbon body and, like the Asphalte, it has no doors.
Power comes from a rear-mounted engine that develops 35.5kW. It is powered by nickel/metal hydride batteries. To ensure a decent range off-road the car also comes with a small generator to recharge the batteries on the move and 15 liters of fuel, which lifts the range to 300km.
Alfa Romeo displayed what arguably was the best looking concept, the retro Nuvola. Styled in-house by Alfa, the car features a load-bearing chassis, which means a wide variety of body styles could be bolted to the same mechanical structure.
The company hinted that the chassis could then be sold to smaller manufacturers or coach builders, that could put their own body on the Alfa-designed chassis such as a coupe, convertible, sedan, wagon or people mover.
In concept coupe form, the Nuvola is powered by a 2500cc twin- turbo V6, which is expected to appear in a BMW M5-chasing 4WD 166 sedan.
In the 1,500kg 4WD Nuvola the 220kW engine would, theoretically, accelerate it from standstill to 100kmh in just 4.7 seconds.
The suspension and gearbox take a leaf out of motor racing circles with double wishbones used front and rear while power is fed through a six-speed manual transmission.
Practical concept cars were also on show, with Fiat giving a strong indication of what its small people mover would look like.
The Brava-based six-seat Multipla is expected to go into production in Italy during 1998.
Citroen also went down the practical route showing concept versions of the company's new Berlingo van/people mover, which were designed and built by outside companies such as Bertone.