Mercedes-Benz will present the F 800 Style research vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show. It is a 4.75-meter-long plug-in hybrid model with a standard average consumption of just 2.9 liters per 100 kilometers, corresponding to a CO2 value of 68 grams per kilometer. The drive unit of the five-seater luxury sedan consists of an approximately 220 kW / 300 hp V6 gasoline engine with next-generation direct injection and a hybrid module with an output of around 80 kW / 109 hp.
The F 800 has a purely electric range of up to 30 kilometers. The maximum speed is 120 km/h. In gasoline mode, the speed is limited at 250 km/h. The concept car accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The electric module is fully integrated into the housing of the seven-speed automatic transmission. The lithium-ion battery in the new research vehicle is located under the rear seat bench to save space. The platform of the F 800 Style is also suitable for use as a fuel cell vehicle. In this version, a roughly 100 kW / 136 hp electric motor develops a torque of around 290 Newton meters. Another special feature of the research vehicle is a new operating system-. Display concept and an HMI (Human Machine Interface). The control unit consists of a touchpad in the center console and a camera that records video images of the user's hand. In the live image, the hand is shown transparently in the central display above the center console: The user can see the contours of his fingers gliding across the image without anything being obscured. All functions of the current menu remain visible. Can be operated by light pressure. Similar to a laptop keyboard, there is also a slight haptic feedback here. The cam-touch pad HMI recognizes finger actions on the user interface such as swiping, sliding, rotating and zooming and allows intuitive control of the climate control, telephone, audio and navigation system as well as the Internet offering. The simple and convenient operation is intended to distract the driver less from traffic events and thus increase driving safety.
With the "Range on Map" function, the Mercedes engineers have implemented another particularly user-friendly innovation. The system displays the available radius of action during electric driving as a 360° view on a map. If in the future city councils permit only purely electric car traffic, drivers can use the "Range on Map" function to determine whether their vehicle's electric range is sufficient for entering and exiting urban areas. To do this, the system combines information about the current battery charge level with data from the navigation system.
The Distronic Plus proximity and speed control system has been expanded in the F 800 Style to include the new Traffic Jam Assist system. The system takes over both longitudinal and lateral guidance for speeds up to about 40 km/h and is also capable of following the person in front, even in curves.
The Pre Safe safety system has also been further developed. It observes additionally the vehicle surrounding field to the rear. Around 600 milliseconds before an imminent rear-end collision, the system activates the brakes. If the vehicle, which is already stationary, is braked in the event of a rear-end collision, secondary accidents can be avoided – such as the uncontrolled catapulting of the struck vehicle into an intersection or onto a crosswalk.
The Mercedes-Benz F 800 has no B-pillar and rear sliding doors that slide back on a pivot arm to make it easier to get in and out of tight parking spaces. The translucent roof of the 1.43 meter high research vehicle is divided into several segments. The interior of the F 800 Style features elegant wood surfaces. A lot of light for a high level of comfort. Cockpit and the door backrests with armrests almost seem to float in space. The innovative lightweight seats of the F 800 consist of a magnesium shell and a backrest made of carbon fiber laminate, covered by a highly durable mesh fabric. The seat shell is also veneered with real wood.