Mercedes-Benz unveiled the F700 Concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show. While it packs the beautiful design, the real head-turner is the powertrain inside the car. The automaker's innovative DIESOTTO drive system packs a 1.8L 4-cylinder that achieves V6-horsepower levels at a staggering 44.3MPG and a CO2 level of only 127g/km."Our goal is to make the gasoline-powered car just as economical in consumption as the diesel," said Dr. Thomas Weber, head of the Group Research & Mercedes Car Group Development Department.
The F700 is also equipped with active PRE-SCAN suspension, a system that scans the roadway in front of the vehicle and automatically adjust the firmness to create a "flying carpet" sensation. Automotive News is reporting that the F700 might be the precursor to the next-generation S-Class, scheduled for debut in 2012. The rear could be toned down, but Mercedes-Benz is on the right track if the F700 is the way to go.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
Continue reading to view a hi-res image gallery and the official press release.
PRESS RELEASE: MERCEDES-BENZ F700 CONCEPT
With its Mercedes-Benz F700 research car, Mercedes-Benz redefines the idea of effortless, superior refinement: this concept for a future luxurious touring sedan shows how outstanding riding quality can be combined with high levels of environmental friendliness, and good performance with exceptionally low fuel consumption. Thus, the 5.17 meter long Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept with its innovative and very spacious interior design enables an entirely new and exceedingly comfortable mode of travel. The Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept is the world’s first car that can anticipatively recognize the condition of the road and level out the uneven spots with its active PRE-SCAN suspension, further improving suspension comfort substantially. The forward-pointing DIESOTTO drive system introduced in the Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept, a four-cylinder with a displacement of only 1.8 liters, combines the strong points of the low-emission gasoline engine with the consumption benefits of the diesel drive. Its CO2 emissions of a mere 127 grams per kilometer correspond to consumption of only 5.3 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (44.3 mpg), extremely low for a vehicle of this class.
This is made possible by a forward-looking drive concept, the heart of which is the “DIESOTTO” technology - an advancement of the internal combustion engine thought up by Mercedes-Benz. With its novel controlled auto ignition (CAI), direct fuel injection and turbocharging, it combines the high power of the spark-ignition engine with the exemplary torque and great fuel economy of a diesel. The drive system in the Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept, as four-cylinder featuring two-stage charging, attains the performance level of a current S-Class car with a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 gasoline engine or the 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel.
“Our goal is to make the gasoline-powered car just as economical in consumption as the diesel. The new DIESOTTO concept is a major step in that direction, combining the best properties of the spark-ignition engine and the diesel engine,” says Dr. Thomas Weber, Board member of DaimlerChrysler AG responsible for Group Research & Mercedes Car Group Development.
The Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept also sets standards in regard to road roar, tire vibration and suspension comfort. With two laser scanners the active PRE-SCAN suspension scans the roadway in front of the car. The hydraulically controlled active suspension proactively compensates for detected hindrances, enabling entirely new comfort characteristics -a “flying carpet” feeling.
Equally innovative is the operating concept “SERVO-HMI”. The display is not only particularly gentle on the eyes; the number of controls also has been appreciably reduced and the menu structure has been made strikingly simple and self-explanatory. The driver can “discuss” more complex inputs, such as a destination for navigation purposes, in dialogue with an avatar, a virtual operating assistant.
The exterior design of the Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept shows that with this concept an extraordinary amount of space has been created for the passengers. The very silhouette, characterized by the long wheelbase, is a clear indication of this. The design harmoniously joins together inspirations provided by nature with technical innovation. All the futuristic styling devices notwithstanding, the Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept is perfectly compliant with the brand identity of Mercedes-Benz.
The interior concept interprets comfortable travel and well-being in a completely new way. With its REVERSE seat the Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept breaks up the firmly established seat arrangement of conventional sedans and offers individual seating positions facing, or with one’s back to, the direction of travel, always affording maximum spaciousness and supreme comfort.
The Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept provides inspiring ideas for the technological future of Mercedes-Benz once again - like each of the research cars which preceded it.
