Mercedes F700 Concept Luxury Sedan @ Frankfurt Auto Show

[Merc1]

If there was any doubt about the theme of Frankfurt 2007, it was vividly dispelled by Mercedes-Benz’s extravagant, Cirque du Soleil-esque floor show of twirling trees, dancing flowers and giant birds, emphasizing the firm’s commitment to eco-friendly, sustainable mobility.

Oh, and there were some new cars on hand, too — 19 of them, in fact — which Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche called “True Blue Solutions” to the seemingly contradictory goal of melding driving pleasure with social responsibility.

The star of the show was the striking F 700 research vehicle, joined by seven hybrids from five different model series; an E300 Bluetec version of the E320 that was voted “World Green Car of the Year 2007”; three Smart cars with electric, gas-electric and diesel-electric powertrains; an E350 CGI with second-generation gasoline direct injection; B-Class cars with natural-gas and fuel-cell drives; S300 and E300 Bluetec Hybrids; an S400 Hybrid; and the ML450 hybrid, which, when it comes to market in 2009, will be the world’s most economical gas-electric-powered SUV in its class.

The ML’s two-mode hybrid system allows it to be driven with just its two compact electric engines or in tandem with its V6 gas engine, the combined system boasting an output of 321 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. A new four-speed transmission is said to combine the advantages of a multiple-speed automatic with the efficiencies of a stepless CVT gearbox. The ML will also be fitted with such additional energy-saving technologies as braking-power regeneration and the stop-start function found in the Smart hybrid. Expect stop-start to appear in many more models in the near future.

Also slated for 2009 European release is the S400 Hybrid, whose 279-horsepower gas-electric powertrain will make it, says Mercedes, the most fuel-efficient as well as the cleanest-running gas-powered luxury sedan. The S400 Hybrid’s compact electric module, which also functions as the starter motor and generator, is comprised of a disk-shaped electric engine that gets its power from a lithium-ion battery pack in the engine compartment. Under full throttle, the electric motor’s “boost effect” adds 118 lb-ft of torque to the gas engine for exemplary acceleration.

In 2010, Mercedes will release the E300 Bluetec Hybrid, combining a new four-cylinder diesel engine with a compact electric module for a maximum of 204 horsepower and an amazing 413 lb-ft of torque from only 2.2 liters of displacement.

Beyond 2010 will come a C300 Bluetec Hybrid, an S400 Bluetec Hybrid and, perhaps, the production version of the F 700 with its innovative DiesOtto powertrain, which combines the cleanliness of a gas engine with the power and efficiency of a diesel.

At the end of the presentation, the floor of the grandiose stand was cheek to jowl with new cars bursting with innovative technology, an impressive demonstration that Mercedes is leaving no stone unturned in its quest for sustainable mobility. -- Greg Brown, Contributor

Straightline - 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show: Mercedes' True Blue Solutions

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[Wolfgang]

Have they not shown the E300 yet?

Don't think so. This is the new E-Class (W212) which should debut in March of 2009.

Might introduce the new four cylinder diesel, the "world engine", the OM651.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Re: Frankfurt Preview: Mercedes to unveil F700 luxury sedan

You know some of this stuff will. ABC, Distronic Plus and other seemingly far fetched tech was introduced on F cars in the past and now they're standard fare in various Benzes today. Don't you just love Mercedes for this!

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Well the the technology yes, I know it will definitely trickle down. I was talking about the design. But it looks like that didn't take too long to answer for in the W212 E class thread, someone has already pointed out that the headlight design of the new E is similar to the F700. I honestly can't wait for the new E.

 

[Merc1]

Re: Frankfurt Preview: Mercedes to unveil F700 luxury sedan

Well the the technology yes, I know it will definitely trickle down. I was talking about the design. But it looks like that didn't take too long to answer for in the W212 E class thread, someone has already pointed out that the headlight design of the new E is similar to the F700. I honestly can't wait for the new E.

I'm sure the next S or even the W221 facelift will have some of the design cues from this F700 thingy. Either that or we're looking some inspiration for a future Maybach model. The big grille and headlight design probably.

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[Merc1]

Re: Frankfurt Preview: Mercedes to unveil F700 luxury sedan





Mercedes calls the F 700 the “future of big sedans,” and it is indeed a striking mix of luxury and efficiency. The swoopy sedan is loaded with all manner of future tech, but the biggest news is under the hood. The breakthrough 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine, dubbed DiesOtto because its dual mode of operation combines conventional spark ignition with the compression ignition of a diesel, delivers 258 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque -- good enough, says the literature, to take the luxury sedan from 0 to 60 mph in less than 8 seconds while also providing up to 40 mpg.

This best-of-both-worlds technology is wrapped by a sleek, three-box design penned in Mercedes-Benz’s California design studio under the direction of Gorden Wagener, vice president of Global Advanced Design. Wagener told Inside Line the F 700 is a “bionic design” called “Aqua Dynamic” that’s meant to be both futuristic and friendly, evoking the shape of a dolphin, including a roof-mounted fin, carving through the waves. Tense curves and flowing lines combine for a truly singular look that is both groundbreaking and pleasing to the eye.

The F 700’s extra-long wheelbase creates a huge interior space, which is divided by a long central console. The rear cabin looks and feels like an upscale lounge and includes a new “reverse” seating arrangement that allows the seats to face toward or away from the direction of travel. Up front, the driver is presented with a new operating system called Servo-HMI, which offers both a head-up display that’s easy on the eyes and a voice-activated interface that Mercedes calls a “virtual assistant.”

In addition to the economy provided by the DiesSotto engine, the F 700 sports significant aerodynamic touches to help it slip more easily through the air, including a neat set of see-through spats over the rear wheels.

Mercedes likes to preview upcoming technologies in its research cars, and one of the most intriguing on the F 700 is “Pre-Scan,” which uses an infrared scanner to read the road surface ahead and cue the appropriate response in the adjustable suspension. Cool stuff. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line

Straightline - 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show: Mercedes-Benz F 700 Concept

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[Merc1]

2009 Mercedes-Benz S400 hybrid



2009 Mercedes-Benz ML450 hybrid



2009 Mercedes-Benz S400 Bluetec hybrid



2010 Mercedes-Benz S300 Bluetec hybrid



2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 Bluetec hybrid


Mercedes-Benz Future Hybrid Lineup

Mercedes-Benz rolled out a green plan in Frankfurt to make most everyone else on the market look lazy. In addition to the expected and extensive lineup of economical diesels, Mercedes used its home turf to display a comprehensive future hybrid lineup as well.

2009 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

Unlike Lexus’s LS600h, the S400 hybrid is not aimed at the performance market. Instead it uses its hybrid drivetrain solely for the traditional aim of fuel-efficiency. The S400’s gas engine is a 275-hp V-6. Mated in the style of the mild hybrid with a 20-hp electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, the V-6 will turn off while the car is stationary and kick back on when the driver wants the car to move. Under braking, the batteries are charged. The electric motor can not propel the S400 on its own, but assists in acceleration.

With internal combustion and electronic wizardry working together, the S400 is capable of the 0 to 62 mph sprint in 7.3 seconds and will pull right up to 155 mph, all while delivering up to 30 mpg in S-class comfort. Additionally, the S400 packages all the hybrid equipment under the hood, so neither passenger nor cargo space suffers for the driver’s conscientiousness.

2009 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid

Like the S400 hybrid, the ML450 hybrid uses a gasoline V-6 producing 275 horsepower, but whereas the S400 is a simple mild hybrid incapable of moving under electrical power only, the ML450 is a more complex, two-mode hybrid that will scoot along in stop-and-go traffic or around the parking lot on electric power alone. Thanks to that technology, the ML450 hybrid manages up to 31 mpg, or better even than a conservative driver could expect to see in a Honda CR-V. Both the S400 hybrid and the ML450 hybrid go on sale in Europe in 2009 and are likely to make it to the U.S. as 2010 models.

BlueTec Hybrids

Starting in 2010, Mercedes will begin to roll out BlueTec hybrids combining clean-diesel and hybrid technologies with a seven-speed automatic transmission for what Mercedes claims will be the best fuel economy of any vehicle in each model’s class.

The 2010 E300 BlueTec Hybrid will team a 200-hp, 354-lb-ft, 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel engine with a 20-hp electric motor for performance similar to what we recorded from an E320 BlueTec while delivering up to a Prius-like 46 mpg.

The same powertrain/hybrid combo is also destined for an S-class sedan in 2010 and, later, a C-class sedan. According to Mercedes, the C-class will manage a 7.2-second 0 to 60 jaunt and be capable of 51 mpg.

In the heavier S-class Mercedes’s AdBlue urea-injection system will be added to kill exhaust pollutants so that the car will meet the strictest European and American emissions standards. Mercedes claims the S-class will be good for a 0 to 62 sprint of 8.4 seconds, a top speed of 150 mph, and 44 mpg. Later versions of the S-class BlueTec hybrid will see at least the addition of a 241-hp V-6 in an S400 BlueTec hybrid and possibly other engines or hybrid modules for varying levels of performance and efficiency. Testing is underway on other combinations, but no further commitments have been made. No word yet from Mercedes on whether any BlueTec hybrids will be visiting North America

Mercedes-Benz Future Hybrid Lineup - Auto Shows - Car and Driver September 2007

I'm really anxious to see what the reaction will be to ML450 and S400 hybrids on the U.S. market. If they can really pull the numbers as advertised Mercedes may have some serious hits on their hands.

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[Merc1]

For full size pic timeline of future models, see:

eMercedesBenz - The Unofficial Mercedes-Benz Weblog

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[bum-man]

Mercedes will be putting fuel celled powered vehicles for sale in 2010? Doesn't that seem a bit early?

 

[coolraoul]

They already have a fleet of 100 fuel-cell A-Class driving around the world in hands of selected clients. And they also have a fleet of hydrogen and fuel-cell busses.

It is clear that is is soon, but they seems to worked faster than many competitors on that Fuel-Cell, remember all the Necar concepts...

 

[bmer]

Mercedes will be putting fuel celled powered vehicles for sale in 2010? Doesn't that seem a bit early?

Yeah, sounds too early. I doubt the infrastructure (hydrogen stations) is ready by then and because of the expensive technology, the price of the car is going to be very high. Fuel cell technology in itself is ready for production, that's proven by Honda FCX Concept for example. So like I said the biggest obstacles are price and infrastructure.

 

[Pagani]

Re: Frankfurt Preview: Mercedes to unveil F700 luxury sedan

The F700 is indeed interesting. All are styling cues we have seen in various production vehicles and concepts, yet the direction they point to is novel and worthy of attention. I dare say I see styling cues here for the next S Class, or indeed, an S-Class-based four-door coupe.

Mercedes has recuperated a whole lot of the ground they lost at the turn of this century. They are back to the overengineered (a misnomer, in my opinion, you can never be too overengineered) quality and stylish powervehicles they once were.

 

[coolraoul]

Mercedes has recuperated a whole lot of the ground they lost at the turn of this century. They are back to the overengineered (a misnomer, in my opinion, you can never be too overengineered) quality and stylish powervehicles they once were.

Couldn't agree more. The new C-Class is the perfect example for that, it looks and feels and smells like a 80-90's Benz...

 

[Merc1]

Some live shots:

This F700 really does have some handsome styling touches that are going to be welcome on upcoming production models. I really like the front end/grille and the wheel arches.

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[Deleted member 25]

The live shots look way better than the official pics and btw, the covered back weels is something really intersting.

PS: I love the interior.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Yeah I agree, the IRL shots look much better than the studio ones.

Also, the rear wheel isn't covered dude.

 

[Merc1]

Actually the rear wheels are covered with some type of fine mesh I read somewhere. You can't see it from most angles though.

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[Deleted member 25]

Yeah I agree, the IRL shots look much better than the studio ones.

Also, the rear wheel isn't covered dude.

They are covered.

 

[Merc1]

Despite having a shorter overall length than the long-wheelbase version of the S-Class, the F 700's wheelbase is 28.5 centimeters longer. Wheels are 21-inches and feature spokes that are inspired by turbine blades. Transparent covers are fitted over the rear wheels to improve aerodynamic flow.

http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/coverage/frankfurt/112_0709_mercedes_benz_f_700_concept/

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[Merc1]

Some more live shots:



















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[Merc1]

There is something very 80'ish about this interior, but I'm not sure exactly what?

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