New research vehicle F 500 points the way for the automotive technology of the future
At the 37th Tokyo Motor Show Mercedes-Benz will present its new F 500 research vehicle which provides insights into the automotive technology of tomorrow and beyond. Packaged as a modern four-door fastback saloon, the F 500 Mind mobile research lab showcases more than a dozen ideas for enhancing safety, drive technology and comfort. The raft of innovations extends all the way from the night vision system with infrared laser headlamps to two-way doors and a programmable multivision display in the cockpit. Electronic accelerator and brake pedals, an interior pillar which provides structural rigidity and an ultrasound driver information system are further features being tested by Mercedes-Benz in the F 500 Mind. The DaimlerChrysler researchers will be using this pioneering vehicle to conduct the first practical tests of these innovative systems and pave the way for their commercialization.
A fascinating synthesis born of legend and innovation, the new SLR McLaren high-performance sports car will celebrate its Asian region debut in Tokyo. The modern-day incarnation of the legendary SLR racing sports cars from the Fifties features a supercharged V8 engine developing 460 kW/626 hp which propels the two-seater to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. Like the Formula 1 vehicles, the SLR's body is built from carbon-fiber composites. Further highlights of the Mercedes presentation at this year's Tokyo Motor Show include the new CL 65 AMG, whose 450-kw/612-hp V12 biturbo powerplant produces a maximum torque of 1000 Newton meters, and the new 4MATIC E-Class models in which permanent all-wheel drive interacts with the Electronic Stability Program to provide exceptional active safety and traction.
F 500 research vehicle: a rendezvous with the future
With a body length of 5092 millimeters and a wheelbase of 2965 mm, the F 500 Mind offers a significant gain in legroom in the rear compared with a conventional present-day saloon in this class. This was made possible by using innovative-design electronic accelerator and brake pedals, which take up much less space than their conventional equivalents.
The multivision display in the cockpit of the F 500 Mind forms the centerpiece of an innovative instrumentation and control system which offers the driver more flexible information delivery and at the same time reduces fatigue. The dials and displays in the instrument cluster are programmable and their images can be optically superposed or combined with the aid of a semitransparent mirror. An advanced-design voice-operated control system and an ultrasound-based driver information system take convenience even further. The ultrasound technology targets the sound at the driver so that only he or she can hear the information from the navigation system, the traffic news and other sound-based information sources, while the front passenger and rear passengers remain undisturbed.
In the dark or in poor visibility, the innovative night vision system projects its images onto the right-hand display. The night vision system consists of two infrared laser headlights on the front of the vehicle which 'illuminate' the road with their invisible light over a range of up to 150 meters, and a camera on the windscreen. This allows the driver to spot hazards much earlier than in a vehicle operating on conventional dipped headlamps. Thus, Night Vision offers further opportunities for making night driving safer.
The drive system in the research vehicle is a state-of-the-art diesel hybrid unit with a total power output of 234 kW. In the European driving cycle, it uses up to 20 per cent less fuel than a comparable CDI engine.
SLR McLaren: cutting-edge technology for the Gran Turismo of the 21st century
With the new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer and its Formula 1 partner McLaren pay testimony to their many years of experience in developing and producing high-performance sports cars. The two-seater with its distinctive swing-wing doors and styling elements from the Formula 1 Silver Arrow continues the glorious tradition of the legendary SLR racing cars of the 1950s.
The Gran Turismo of the 21st century consists almost entirely of carbon fiber composites (CFK). This light and yet extremely rigid material comes from aerospace technology and has also stood up to the rigors of Formula 1 racing. The high-tech material is around 50% lighter than steel. Yet at the same time, the carbon fibers provide four to five times better energy absorption than steel or aluminum in an impact. Adaptive airbags, newly developed kneebags and sidebags as well as belt tensioners round off the safety features.
Mercedes-Benz has also used new materials technology to manufacture the brake discs. Made of fiber-reinforced ceramic, they provide not only excellent resistance to fading coupled with a very long service life but also excellent deceleration in conjunction with the electrohydraulic braking system Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC™), features that bear strong witness to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren's motor racing credentials.
In the interests of perfect dynamic handling and superior stability under braking, the new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren has been designed as a front-mid-engined sports car. Mounted on a sturdy aluminum frame, the high-performance V8 engine is set low to provide a low centre of gravity and enhance the agility of the car.
With a displacement of 5.5 liters, the supercharged engine develops 460 kW/626 hp. Its maximum torque of 780 Newton meters is available over a wide rev band, coming on tap at 3250 rpm and remaining constant up to 5000 rpm. This makes the SLR eight-cylinder version one of the most powerful engines in a series-produced road going sports car. The high-performance sports car takes just 3.8 seconds to get from 0 to 100 km/h, reaches the 200 km/h mark after 10.6 seconds and 300 km/h in 28.8 seconds. The top speed is 334 km/h.
Aerodynamic design with know-how from Formula 1
In conjunction with McLaren, Mercedes-Benz has developed a highly sophisticated aerodynamic design to ensure that the exacting requirements made of such a high-performance car in terms of high-speed handling, stability and air-cooling are fully met. This aerodynamic design provides outstanding roadholding and, in turn, the safety that drivers have come to expect from Mercedes. As a result of extensive wind tunnel testing, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren has a virtually flat underfloor section and features a special six-channel diffusor at the rear. Both are proven design features taken from Formula 1. They help ensure the airflow under the vehicle is virtually undisturbed and also generate downforce at higher speeds.
At the rear, the SLR generates additional downforce with an adaptive spoiler. At speeds of 95 km/h and higher, it automatically rises to a 10-degree angle into the wind and so increases the negative lift force on the rear axle. The spoiler also acts as an air brake: if the driver steps heavily on the brake pedal, the spoiler rises to an angle of 65 degree, not only providing increased aerodynamic drag but also shifting the aerodynamic centre of gravity further back. When braking from high speeds, this lends the SLR outstanding stability.
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