Press Release

Mercedes-Benz Predicts Future Models

10/03/96

New Mercedes-Benz Concept Car Predicts Future Models
Futuristic F200 Design Study Features Revolutionary Safety
Technology

PARIS, Oct. 1 -- Mercedes-Benz today debuted an all-new
concept car with future-oriented technology and styling that may be
incorporated into high-end Mercedes models of the future.  Unveiled at
the Paris Auto Show, the F200 design study features a revolutionary
control system to drive and steer the car, an inflatable airbag
"curtain" for increased side- impact protection, and video technology
to enhance driving safety.

"Side-Sticks" or Joysticks Instead of Pedals and Steering Wheel

Instead of the usual steering wheel, accelerator and brake pedals, the
Mercedes-Benz F200 design study uses "side sticks" or
joysticks. Located in the interior door panels and center console, the
side-sticks demonstrate the potential for electronic "drive-by-wire"
controls which could provide greater safety and convenience for
drivers (and passengers) of the future. To steer the car, the driver
moves the side-sticks to the left or right, while the sticks are moved
forward for acceleration and rearward for braking.

Tests in the Daimler-Benz driving simulator have proven that drivers
using the side-stick system can react more quickly to braking and
steering emergencies, steer the car more precisely, and ride more
comfortably.  Moreover, replacing conventional controls with "side
sticks" gives the Mercedes-Benz F200 design study a major advantage in
a serious frontal collision since there's no steering column or pedals
to be pushed toward the driver.

Designing the side-sticks so they can be operated from either front
seat not only eliminates the need for left- and right-hand-drive
versions (to accommodate various international markets), but also
opens up the possibility for switching drivers safely mid-journey. A
special switch and occupant sensors in the front seats determines who
is driving the car and activates the control stick on that side only,
while the center-console stick is always operational.

Video screens on either side of the dashboard can provide an array of
driver information -- such as speed and fuel level -- to whichever
side the driver is sitting. The other display (where the passenger is
located) reveals a personal computer, TV, video games, telephone and
navigation system.

Controls for the lights, swing-up doors, windows, transmission, stereo
and climate control are grouped in front of the center display within
easy reach of both driver and passenger. Removable earphones (without
cables) are integrated into the seat head restraints.

New Thinking in Vehicle and Personal Security

The two-door Mercedes F200 design study is equipped with hydraulically
operated doors which, at the touch of a button, open up and forward
with a scissors-like movement. This unusual design makes it easier to
get in and out of the vehicle, requires less space for parking, and
allows the door openings to be some six inches wider than usual.

This basic concept extends to the trunk lid, which has sweeping lines
adopted from the legendary 300SL sports car of the 1950s. Pressing a
switch under the license plate opens the trunk, and a four-joint hinge
allows it to move forward and up -- parallel to the rear window --
providing a larger, more accessible opening for easier loading of
cargo.

The Mercedes F200 also showcases new advances in personal security,
such as a special magnetic card that Mercedes engineers developed to
unlock the doors. The driver simply carries the credit-card size card
in a pocket, while the on-board access system senses the card by radio
signal and automatically unlocks or locks the car as the person
approaches or leaves the car.

Safer, Fuel-Saving Video Mirrors

Among the many design features which contribute to both safety and
fuel- saving low wind drag are in-dash video displays instead of
conventional outside rear-view mirrors. Without mirrors, the
aerodynamic drag coefficient of an F200 prototype has been measured
(not just calculated) at 0.28 Cd in the Mercedes-Benz wind tunnel.

Four cameras for the "electronic mirrors" are hidden at the rear
corners of the roof, and a fifth camera in the rear bumper is
automatically switched on when the car is shifted into reverse.

This system provides a clear view of the sides and rear of the car, a
view which can't be blocked by passengers' heads or cargo inside the
car. When backing up, the area right behind the car appears in the
center dash display, with images from the other cameras "faded in" to
provide a complete view around the car.

A Glass Roof for All Seasons

With a shape reminiscent of the "pagoda roof" from the SL sports car
of the 1960s and 1970s, the F200's glass roof makes for a light,
appealing environment inside the car. To ensure comfort even in the
hot sun, the roof makes use of electro-chromic technology which
darkens the glass at the touch of a button to suit a wide variety of
light conditions. Used in recent years to reduce headlight glare in
rear-view mirrors, conductive polymers between the two layers of roof
glass change transparency as electrical voltage is varied.

The New ABCs of Active Suspension

The electronic "drive-by-wire" side-stick driving system is linked by
software to a new active suspension system that provides a combination
of smooth ride with crisp handling not previously possible in one
vehicle.

Even without conventional stabilizer bars, the Active Body Control (or
ABC system) allows the F200 to take comers without body roll. The
system features built-in load leveling and can be programmed for a
range of comfort and handling characteristics. With the help of
sensors for yaw as well as vertical, lateral and longitudinal
movement, the ABC system uses fast-acting hydraulic cylinders in
conjunction with conventional springs and shock absorbers.

The Inflatable Airbag Curtain Protects Your Head

A new feature for side-impact protection is shown for the first time
in the Mercedes-Benz F200 design study.  When deployed, a so-called
window bag extends across the entire side of the car like a
curtain. Hidden along the roof pillar trim, the new window bag works
in conjunction with door-mounted side airbags to substantially reduce
the risk of head injuries in lateral crashes and roll-overs. The
airbag curtain consists of several vertical air chambers with a total
volume of over 20 liters and is fully inflated about 20 milliseconds
after an impact.  Still in development, the production system will be
called "cosy bag" for "complete system of window and side bag."

A New Look That Sheds New Light

The new coupe design study has distinctively low, stretched lines
which express dynamic strength and appeal.  This impression is
underscored by futuristic design elements such as the sweeping wheel
wells, unusual side skirts and beefy rear quarter panels, while
liberal use of high-quality stainless steel is reminiscent of the
chrome trim era.

In addition, the F200 headlights literally point the way in both form
and function. When the car is cornering, the headlights turn
automatically (based on the turning angle of the front wheels) to
light up the curves ahead.  Consisting of six separate reflectors and
bulbs, the headlights also adjust automatically to road speeds and
driving situations. The rear lights include turn signals which use a
high-visibility, long-life curved neon tube.

The F200 -- A Joint Project From Three Continents

F200 design study is a joint project of the Mercedes-Benz Research
Institute, engineers from the Pre-Development Sector and Advanced
Design experts from the United States, Japan and Germany. To build a
ready-to-drive prototype, Mercedes-Benz commissioned the Turin-based
Stola company, which worked closely with designers and engineers in
Germany. Previous cooperative projects included the much-acclaimed
F100 research car presented in 1991, the sporty C112 experimental car
from later that year and the innovative Vario Research Car of 1995.