Research vehicles are independent of any specific model and incorporate multiple innovative technologies. They serve to demonstrate new technologies and trends in a working car so that they can be presented to the public.
Since 1991, the letter "F" has been used to designate a very special group of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. "F" stands for "Forschung" [German for "research"], for "Fascination" and, above all, for "Future". In terms of their design, too, "F" vehicles from Mercedes-Benz point to the future, set trends and offer pointers for the form which individual mobility will take in the years ahead.
The F 100 of 1991 is the first car of the "F" series. This MPV-style vehicle with a sandwich-construction floor assembly has no B-pillars and features servo-assisted doors, the front ones hinging open forwards at an inclined angle while the rear doors slide open backwards parallel with the sides of the vehicle. Other particularly striking features are the single central front seat for the driver, the spacious accommodation for six occupants and the three-point seat belts integrated in the seats. The onboard computer is able to prioritise three levels of safety warnings with only the current one appearing on the driver's display. Further innovative features include voice control, autonomous intelligent cruise control, an automatic emergency call system, solar cells on the roof for auxiliary ventilation and a linear wiper which sweeps the windscreen from side to side. Many of these innovations, which were revolutionary in 1991, are reality today and serve to confirm the importance of the role which a strong commitment to research plays in forming the basis for technological advances and leadership in the field of innovation.
The second research vehicle is the 1996 F 200 Imagination, an avantgarde coupé with a passenger compartment covered by a glass dome. Its most important feature is the future-oriented "drive-by-wire" dynamic handling system which allows the driver to control all vehicle movement by means of one of the sidesticks fitted on the centre console and in the door trim panel. Steering is performed by moving the sidestick in the desired direction; pulling forward on the stick accelerates the vehicle and pulling back brakes it. Other innovations are the Active Body Control (ABC) active suspension system, video cameras instead of rear-view mirrors, doors which open automatically in response to the presence of a magnetic card (the forerunner of today's "Keyless Go" system), side airbags, windowbags (another present-day feature) and the active light function which is also available today.
In 1997, the three-wheel F 300 Life brings the feel of a motorcycle to the car world. The public is amazed by the Active Tilt Control (ATC) system for the front wheels which allows the Life Jet to lean into curves like a motorcycle. The driver and passenger board the vehicle through conventional doors and sit one behind the other, as on a motorcycle. The cockpit of the Life Jet resembles that of an aircraft. Dynamic acceleration is provided by the A-Class engine which is situated behind the passenger compartment and drives the single rear wheel. The computer-controlled headlamp reflector always follows the course of the road to ensure that there are no "black holes" when cornering at night.
2002 sees the arrival of the F 400 Carving, an emotionally appealing vehicle in the form of an uncompromisingly pure-bred speedster with an extremely flat, elongated bonnet, a short tail and a weatherproof made-to-measure interior for two passengers. Once again, particular attention is paid to control systems which enhance the driving dynamics. A case in point is the Active Tyre Tilt Control (ATTC) system which adjusts the camber angle of both the front and rear wheels when cornering or during hard braking. A computer control system allows the outer wheels on bends to tilt sideways to a maximum angle of 20 degrees. The revolutionary design of the tyres with their asymmetric tread pattern ensures that, rather than running on their inside edge, they run on a section of particularly high-friction tread rubber which is specially designed for cornering. The wheels on the inside of the bend as well as the body of the vehicle remain in their normal position. As a result, depending on the speed and the radius of the curve, the F 400 sets new standards for directional stability, driving safety, speed and dynamism. Other notable features include the electronic steer-by-wire system, the electronic shift-by-wire system, which is controlled using buttons on the steering wheel, and the 42 V vehicle power supply.
