Arguably, the most interesting vehicle that Mercedes is displaying at the Frankfurt Motor Show is their beautiful F700 research car concept, which Mercedes-Benz describe as a “rolling bed” of their latest technologies.

The F700 is powered by a unique drivetrain that features a Diesotto engine - a four cylinder, direct-injected, sequentially-turbocharged 1.8-liter petrol engine that can alternate between conventional spark ignition and extremely high pressure compression ignition (like a diesel).

The Diesotto 1.8-litre engine is mated to a hybrid starter/generator which is integrated into its seven-speed transmission, a combination that is said to push the F700 to 100km/h/62mph in 7.5 seconds.

Overall, the F700 is shorter than current LWB S-Class but Mercedes say the F700’s unique drivetain has allowed them to endow the F700 with a longer overall wheelbase than the LWB S-Class – a by product of a reduced front overhang.

Not only is the F700 more commodious than a LWB S-Class and comparable in performance to an S350, it is also fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. Achieving around 8.6L/100km (44mpg) and producing CO2 at the rate of 127 grams per kilometre the F700 is the green answer to the gas guzzling limousine.

The suspension of the F700 is Mercedes-Benz’s active-damping system that’s been fitted with two front-mounted LIDAR sensors, which “read” the upcoming road surface and dynamically adjusts the system to compensate.

The F700 also marks the first use of Mercedes’ SERVO-HMI “Human-Machine Interface”, which shows data from the instrument cluster on a display at the base of the windshield. The idea, which Mercedes claims is backed by scientific studies, is to reduce eye strain from having to refocus from near to far every time the dashboard is glanced - which is said to alleviate driver fatigue.

Steane

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]