Mercedes-Benz’s Future Car

The creators of the Mercedes-Benz F700 research car want to demonstrate how outstanding riding quality can be combined with environmental friendliness, and demonstrates that decent performance and exceptionally low fuel consumption are no longer mutually exclusive. The 5.17m-long F700 is the first car that can anticipate and recognize the condition of the road and level out the uneven spots with an active Pre-Scan suspension.

This makes the auto unique in the world. This is the only car which has “eyes”. They are two laser sensors in the front headlamp units used by Pre-Scan. They deliver the precise image of the road ahead. Based on this information the control unit works out a strategy which the high-pressure hydraulics translate into precise fluid flows and pressures for each single wheel. The F700 also has a DiesOtto drive system that takes the form of a four- cylinder engine with a displacement of only 1.8 liters, which combines the strong points of a low-emission petrol engine with the consumption of a diesel. Its CO2 emissions of 127g/km and fuel consumption of 5L/100km are extremely low for a vehicle of this class. DiesOtto technology is an advancement of the engine with a controlled auto ignition (CAI), direct fuel injection and turbocharging, which combines the high power of the spark-ignition engine with the torque and economy of a diesel. The drive system in the F700 is a four-cylinder with two-stage charging that achieves the performance of an S-Class model with a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol engine or 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel. The information and operating display called Servo-HMI uses an electronic avatar, a virtual assistant, to help with computer and general operating functions. The avatar in the F700 concept model takes the shape of a young woman, but depending on country and culture, other assistants also can be realised. In the menu item navigation, for example, the avatar asks for a destination. The driver states the address, or a name from the system address book. The avatar confirms it and the route is decided. Combining the voice-recognition, dialogue systems and individual menu items has advantages: since the virtual assistant polls the required information, the driver does not need to remember specific commands. The interior concept interprets comfortable travel and well-being by borrowing from some airlines’ business-class innovations and using a reverse seat set-up for the F700. It offers individual seating positions facing, or with ones back to, the direction of travel, as well as spaciousness and comfort. Overall, the F700 is designed to meet the demand for luxury-class automobiles. But the focus for the car, whose shape and technology is likely to surface in a new S-class sedan before the decade is out, is on conserving resources and the environment. Hence its low consumption, CO2 emissions, and pollution levels and Benz predicts that in future there will be demand such benefits in large luxury sedans.

[Source: stuff.co.nz]

Tags: automotive, auto