To achieve outstanding dynamic handling, the F 300 Life Jet was designed as a three-wheeler. It demonstrates its most distinctive feature when it quickly negotiates a bend in that the body and the two front wheels lean into the bend. To make this possible, Active Tilt Control (ATC) was developed: a complex electronic system computes the tilt angle depending on speed, acceleration, steering angle and yaw of the vehicle so that the body tilt always conforms to the actual driving situation.
The commands of the electronics are transmitted to a hydraulic cylinder on the front axle. Depending on steering angle, it presses one of the two spring struts outwards so that wheel and body go into the tilt angle figured out by the computer. The maximum angle of inclination is 30 degrees. Special tires which permit large camber and slip angles were specially developed in cooperation with a tire manufacturer. The rims of the F 300 Life Jet are made of magnesium and tip the scales at only about 75 percent of what a conventional aluminum motorcycle rim would weigh.
Lightweight chassis made of aluminum
The chassis of the two-seater is an aluminum construction weighing just 89 kilograms. The bodywork styling is oriented to jet design. It is as long as your standard car, but not as wide – a prerequisite for leaning into bends. The F 300 Life Jet has room for two persons seated one behind the other. The special features of the body include an upward-opening space-saving hinged door for the driver, a hinged door which swings to the rear for the passenger, and a fixed two-part roof made of aluminum and transparent plastic. In good weather the two halves of the roof can be removed in a jiffy and deposited in a stowage compartment aft of the rear wheel, converting the F 300 Life Jet into an open roadster.
The illumination engineering is in keeping with the unusual vehicle concept. The headlight has three reflector sections and two bulbs. The electronics of the headlight ensure the best possible roadway illumination also in bends: they are linked to the computer of the Active Tilt Control and turn the headlight to conform to the body tilt; when required they also cut in a special cornering light. This increases the range of the low-beam headlight by more than 80 percent. A light sensor controls the beam: the light comes on automatically at dusk or when the vehicle enters a tunnel. Neon lamps are used for the turn signals, stoplights and marker lights. The slender tubes are accommodated in the fenders.
Transmission with sequential gearshift
The engine – a 1.6 liter unit from the Mercedes-Benz A-Class – and the electro-hydraulically shifted transmission (shift-by-wire) are installed in a space-saving position between the interior and the rear wheel. Power is transmitted via toothed belt to the rear wheel. 75 kW (102 hp) are good for accelerating from standstill to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and attaining a top speed of 211 km/h.
Consumption is around 5.3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (44.3 mpg). The gears are changed by a light forward and backward motion of the shift lever on the right side of the cockpit after stepping on the clutch pedal. This technique is known as “sequential gearshift”. It enables particularly rapid shifting and underscores the dynamic character of the F 300 Life Jet.
The cockpit of the F 300 Life Jet is reminiscent of that of an airplane. Steering wheel, gauges, shift lever and seats have jet plane character and give the driver the impression that he or she has just taken a seat in the cockpit of an airplane. The segmented steering wheel is also an active element of the “control center”. Buttons for operating the car radio and phone are integrated in the side sections of its impact surface so that drivers do not have to take their hands off the steering wheel.
From the computer into the world of research
The F 300 Life Jet is the first research vehicle to have been designed completely on the computer and then brought to life. It thus served not only to test new vehicle equipment but also a design tool called CASCaDE (Computer Aided Simulation of Car, Driver and Environment), developed by Daimler-Benz. Very early on, the computer was able to supply information on the drivability of the F 300 Life Jet by means of simulation.
The company opts for out-of-the-ordinary approaches where these serve to advance the automobile and mobility – as demonstrated by the F 300 Life Jet. It may possibly establish a new type of vehicle combining everything that modern people want for perfect enjoyment on wheels: the fresh-air feeling of a convertible, the individuality of a roadster, the performance of a sports car, the comfort of a compact car, and the safety of a Mercedes-Benz.
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The inventor and his creation: Karl Benz (in front) at the wheel of his patent motor car model III, together with Friedrich von Fischer, equally a member of the Board of Management of Benz & Cie. |
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Benz Patent Motor Car – The world’s first automobile |
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Benz Patent Motor Car – The world’s first automobile |
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Benz Patent Motor Car – The world’s first automobile |
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Mercedes-Benz C 111/I with a three-rotor Wankel-engine, 1969. |
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Mercedes-Benz C 111/I with a three-rotor Wankel-engine, on the test track at Untertürkheim, 1969. |
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Mercedes-Benz C 111/I with a three-rotor Wankel-engine, 1969. |
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Test drive on the Hockenheim race track: Mercedes-Benz C 111/I with a three-rotor Wankel-engine, 1969. |
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Mercedes-Benz C 111/I with a three-rotor Wankel-engine, 1969. |
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Three generations of the C 111:
-on the right: C 111/II, 1970.
-in the middle: C 111/I, 1969.
-on the left (background): the first prototype version of the C 111/I. |
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Prototype C 111-1 and C 111-2 |
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C 111-II |
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Tomorrow’s car on the move: The Auto 2000 research car, shown here in operation in 1982. Among other things, it served the purpose of testing different propulsion technologies. |
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Auto 2000 – testing of different drive systems |
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Auto 2000 – testing of different drive systems |
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Auto 2000 – testing of different drive systems |
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From autumn 1981 the “Auto 2000” research car was used to test new engine and aerodynamic concepts. |
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From autumn 1981 the “Auto 2000” research car was used to test new engine and aerodynamic concepts. |
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From autumn 1981 the “Auto 2000” research car was used to test new engine and aerodynamic concepts. |
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From autumn 1981 the “Auto 2000” research car was used to test new engine and aerodynamic concepts. |
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Outlining the future of the urban car: Mercedes-Benz NAFA (1982). |
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NAFA – the short-distance vehicle |
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NAFA – the short-distance vehicle |
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Innovative from its powertrain through to its sliding doors: NAFA study of 1982. |
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Made for two: As early as 1982, the NAFA model presented a practical automotive solution to problems of urban mobility. |
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Technology pure – the F 100 |
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Technology pure – the F 100 |
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Technology pure – the F 100 |
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Technology pure – the F 100 |
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The C 112 research vehicle, Active Body Control (ABC) |
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Four cars in one - the Vario Research Car |
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The Vario Research Car of 1995 combines four vehicle concepts in one. The car can be fitted with different body types. |
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The Vario Research Car of 1995 combines four vehicle concepts in one. The car can be fitted with different body types. |
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The Vario Research Car of 1995 combines four vehicle concepts in one. The car can be fitted with different body types. |
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Four cars in one – the Vario Research Car |
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Four cars in one – the Vario Research Car |
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Four cars in one – the Vario Research Car |
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Four cars in one – the Vario Research Car |
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Highlights of the F 200 Imagination include an innovative operating and display system. It was first presented in Paris in 1996. |
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Highlights of the F 200 Imagination include an innovative operating and display system. It was first presented in Paris in 1996. |
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F 200, studio shot, 3/4 view from in front, driver's door open |
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Highlights of the F 200 Imagination include an innovative operating and display system. It was first presented in Paris in 1996. |
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Pioneering drive-by-wire technology allows the car to be steered by a sidestick in the centre console. |
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Pioneering drive-by-wire technology allows the car to be steered by a sidestick in the centre console. |
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Pioneering drive-by-wire technology allows the car to be steered by a sidestick in the centre console. |
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The F 300 Life-Jet was presented at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) in 1997 as a new vehicle concept which combines the cornering dynamics of a motorcycle with the safety of a passenger car. |
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The F 300 Life-Jet was presented at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) in 1997 as a new vehicle concept which combines the cornering dynamics of a motorcycle with the safety of a passenger car. |
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The F 300 Life-Jet was presented at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) in 1997 as a new vehicle concept which combines the cornering dynamics of a motorcycle with the safety of a passenger car. |
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The F 300 Life-Jet was presented at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) in 1997 as a new vehicle concept which combines the cornering dynamics of a motorcycle with the safety of a passenger car. |
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F 300, concept vehicle, Life-Jet, driving shot, from behind, rear view |
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F 300, concept vehicle, Life-Jet, driving shot, rear view |
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F 300, concept vehicle, Life-Jet, detail: rear-wheel swinging fork. The drive consists of a toothed belt. The swinging fork is made of cast aluminium |
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F 300, concept vehicle, Life-Jet, engine compartment. The Mercedes-Benz A-class'es compact 1.6-l engine is situated between the passenger compartment and the rear wheel |
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F 300, concept vehicle, Life-Jet, detail: front-wheel suspension, steering. Sophisticated construction: The F 300 Life-Jet front axle is equipped with a hydraulic system that inclines the wheels and body sideways when going around a corner. The front axle |
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F 400 Carving research vehicle with dynamic chassis technology, driving shot, 3/4 view from in front |
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F 400 Carving research vehicle with dynamic chassis technology, driving shot, rear view |
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F 400 Carving research vehicle with dynamic chassis technology, passenger compartment, interior |
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F 400 Carving, engine compartment |
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The F 400 Carving research vehicle was one of the attractions at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001. |
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The F 400 Carving research vehicle was one of the attractions at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001. |
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F 400 Carving research vehicle with dynamic chassis technology, studio shot, 3/4 view from behind |
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F 400 Carving research vehicle with dynamic chassis technology, driving shot, front view |
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The F 500 Mind research vehicle: a research laboratory on wheels for the technology of the future |
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The F 500 Mind research vehicle: a research laboratory on wheels for the technology of the future |
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The F 500 Mind research vehicle: a research laboratory on wheels for the technology of the future |
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The F 500 Mind research vehicle: a research laboratory on wheels for the technology of the future |
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The F 500 Mind research vehicle: a research laboratory on wheels for the technology of the future |
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The F 500 Mind research vehicle: a research laboratory on wheels for the technology of the future |
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The F 500 Mind research vehicle: a research laboratory on wheels for the technology of the future |
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The F 500 Mind research vehicle: a research laboratory on wheels for the technology of the future |
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The F 500 Mind research vehicle: a research laboratory on wheels for the technology of the future |
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The F 500 Mind research vehicle: a research laboratory on wheels for the technology of the future |
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The Mercedes-Benz bionic car as a concept vehicle |
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The Mercedes-Benz bionic car as a concept vehicle |
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The Mercedes-Benz bionic car as a concept vehicle |
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The Mercedes-Benz bionic car as a concept vehicle |
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The Mercedes-Benz bionic car as a concept vehicle |
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The Mercedes-Benz bionic car as a concept vehicle |
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The Mercedes-Benz bionic car as a concept vehicle |
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DaimlerChrysler’s fuel cell vehicle ensemble features a very young “gallery of ancestors” (right). It took the Group’s engineers only 11 years to go from the “granddaddy” Necar 1 (rear, left) to the F 600 (front, right). The bridge to the future is the B-Class F-Cell (rear, right), which should be on the road within the next few years. |
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Powered by a zero-emission fuel cell drive with an output of 85 kW/115 hp, the F 600 HYGENIUS consumes the equivalent of 2.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, making it the first fuel cell vehicle to cover over 400 kilometres on a single tank of hydrogen. |
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F 600 HYGENIUS: The images on both high-resolution colour displays in the dashboard are diverted by means of two mirrors before being projected to appear at a point 1.40 metres in front of the driver. |
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F 600 HYGENIUS: Mercedes-Benz has devised a revolutionary new seat for the driver featuring a two-piece backrest cushion whose height, width and tilt can be adjusted to the contours of the occupant's body by means of electric motors, and which offers a particularly high level of support in the midriff area. |
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With an overall exterior length of 5.18 meters the F 700 is a little shorter than the current long-wheelbase version of the S-Class, but with its generously sized wheelbase of 3.45 meters the research car excels the production model by impressive 28.5 centimeters. |
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With its F 700 research car, Mercedes-Benz redefi nes the idea of effortless, superior refi nement. 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. |
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Mercedes-Benz F 700 research car, exterior |
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Whereas the three other doors open conventionally (hinges at the forward edge, handles at the rear), the fourth door is hinged at the rear. This facilitates boarding and leaving for the passenger when the REVERSE seat is positioned opposite the direction of travel. The driver’s door and the front passengers door also “observe” their surroundings attentively. In the base of the mirror of this PRE-SCAN door there is a very compact laser scanner which examines the area in which the door swings open for any obstacles. If collisions threaten, the door is arrested by a controllable hydraulic cylinder. |
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Mercedes-Benz F 700 research car, exterior |
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The spacious interior, the innovative, multifunctional configuration of the seats, or the use of elegant but natural materials enable an extremely relaxed form of transportation. With its REVERSE seat the F 700 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. |
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Mercedes-Benz F 700 Research Car |
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“SERVO-HMI” – the innovative operating concept. 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. |
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The exceptional efficiency of the overall concept of the F 700 is evident at first sight: its design is distinguished by soft, flowing forms. “Aqua Dynamic” is the name the designers have given to this design idiom with which they translated the flow dynamics of a fish into the design. The design provides an immediately indication that much room has been given to the passengers. |
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Mercedes-Benz F 700 research car, technology |
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Mercedes-Benz F 700 research car, technology |
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The future oriented DIESOTTO-powertrain with its 1.8-l displacement, 4-cylinder spark-ignition combines the performance of a gasoline engine and the high torque and fuel economy of a state-of-the-art diesel together with extremely clean emissions. Additionally, 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. The new technology package includes features such as direct gasoline injection, turbocharging and a variable compression. At the core of this innovation lies the controlled auto ignition, a highly effi cient combustion process similar to that of a diesel. The DIESOTTO-system can be operated using conventional gasoline fuel. |
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The “eyes” of the F 700 are integrated into the headlamps. 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. |
