Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style Research Vehicle
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Mercedes-Benz
24th February, 2010
Efficiency paired with elegance: Pioneering upper-range sedan with
“eco-friendly” technology and avant-garde design
- A reinterpretation of the concept of “fascination and responsibility”
- Multi drive platform enables use of two alternative drive systems — either Plug-in Hybrid or fuel cell
- Intelligent display concept focussing on “electric driving”
- HMI with cam touch-pad for intuitive and precise operation
- Traffic Jam Assistant for increased comfort and safety
Mercedes-Benz’ F 800 Style research vehicle is showing the future of premium automobiles from a new perspective,
as the five-seat upper-range sedan combines highly efficient drive technologies with unparalleled safety and
convenience features and an emotive design idiom, which interprets current Mercedes-Benz styling in line with the
brand’s hallmark attribute of cultivated sportiness.
The Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style has a spacious interior full of intelligent seating, operating, and display
concepts. Another unparalleled feature for a large sedan worldwide is an all-new multi drive platform, which is
suited for electric drives with fuel cells (enabling ranges of almost 600 kilometres) as well as the use of Plug-in
Hybrids that can drive for up to 30 kilometres solely on electricity. Both variants of the F 800 Style therefore
make locally emission-free mobility possible at the level of a premium-class automobile, while at the same time
being fully suited for everyday driving and providing a dynamic driving experience.
“We are dedicated to reconciling our responsibility for the environment with practical customer utility in a
fascinating automobile,” says Dr. Thomas Weber, the Daimler Board of Management member responsible for Group
Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. “The new F 800 Style research vehicle combines this commitment to
providing the leading innovative drive concepts with our traditional Mercedes strengths in the areas of design,
safety, comfort, and outstanding performance.”
A glance into the future of pioneering upper-range sedans
Within the 4.75 metre external length of the F 800 Style, all of the components of the vehicle’s especially
efficient and environmentally compatible alternative drives (Plug-in Hybrid or fuel cell drive system) are
installed in a space-saving manner in the engine compartment and the gaps within the chassis. Each of the drive
systems takes up comparatively little space for the installation. This applies in particular to the electric drive
with fuel cell, which has been enhanced by Mercedes-Benz to be compact and powerful. The front end’s compact
package was made possible through the consistent down-sizing of all F-CELL components. As a result, the entire
interior space is preserved and offers lots of room for five occupants.
“For many decades now, our research vehicles have been turning pioneering concepts into reality and thereby
setting future trends. We set a course on the large touring sedan segment in 2007, when we presented the F
700,” says Prof. Herbert Kohler, Head of E-Drive & Future Mobility and Chief Environmental Officer at Daimler.
“Characteristic features of the F 800 Style are its innovations, whose development is already close to the
series production stage. This is true not only of the electric drive with fuel cells but also of the Plug-in
Hybrid, whose components were taken from our modular system for electric and hybrid vehicles.”
F 800 Style with Plug-in Hybrid: Outstanding performance despite emissions of only 68 grammes CO2 per
kilometre
In combination with the very powerful Plug-in Hybrid drive system, the Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style is a very
dynamic expression of the concept of “fascination and responsibility.”
Its drive unit consists of a V6 petrol engine with an output of approximately 220 kW (300 hp) with
next-generation direct injection and a hybrid module with an output of about 80 kW (109 hp) so that it delivers
a total power of around 300 kW (409 hp). The lithium-ion battery with a storage capacity of >10 kWh can be
recharged either at a charging station or a household power socket. Thanks to its powerful and high-torque
hybrid module, in the city the F 800 Style can run exclusively on electricity and therefore without generating
any local emissions.
Because it also has a high torque right from the moment it starts, the vehicle has the same driving
performance as a car with a V6 petrol engine even when operating in electric mode.
The F 800 Style with the Plug-in Hybrid can run purely on electricity for up to 30 kilometres. The F 800 Style
research vehicle therefore marks a further important step in the provision of a market-ready Plug-in Hybrid.
Mercedes-Benz will begin series production of the S 500 Plug-in Hybrid with the introduction of the
next-generation S-Class.
Due to its efficient drive system and a CO2 bonus for the battery-electric driving mode, the vehicle has a
certified fuel consumption of only 2.9 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres. This corresponds to extremely low
CO2 emissions of only 68 grammes per kilometre.
Thanks to its outstanding efficiency, the Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style equipped with a Plug-in Hybrid
nevertheless has a driving performance comparable to a sports car (0-100 km/h in 4.8 s, top speed of 250 km/h).
When in electric mode, the F 800 Style has a top speed of 120 km/h, and can thus also meet the needs associated
with long-distance driving.
As is the case with the Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID introduced in the summer of 2009 and the Vision S 500
Plug-in Hybrid, the especially powerful electric module (approx. 80 kW) of the F 800 Style is completely
integrated into the housing of the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed transmission. The lithium-ion battery in the new
research vehicle is located underneath the rear seat, where it takes up little space, provides a low centre of
gravity, and ensures maximum safety in the event of a crash.
The electric drive components in the F 800 Style with the Plug-in Hybrid once again demonstrate the
versatility of Mercedes-Benz’ extensively scalable modular hybrid system. The hybrid system can be expanded in
various ways, depending on performance needs and the area of application. On this basis, it is possible to
combine hybrid modules and batteries of different performance ratings with fuel-efficient, high-torque petrol
and diesel engines. Examples range from the current mild hybrids all the way to Plug-in Hybrids that enable
exclusively electric driving over long distances.
In developing the F 800 Style with Plug-in Hybrid, the Mercedes engineers particularly focussed on improving
the possibilities of driving exclusively with electricity in urban traffic. Thanks to high power reserves, the
F 800 Style in e-mode easily masters all kinds of city traffic while producing no local emissions. With the new
hybrid module, the top speed of the F 800 Style with Plug-in Hybrid has been increased to 120 km/h in electric
mode compared to the Vision S 500 Plug-in Hybrid. At the same time, it emits only 68 grammes of CO2 per
kilometre, compared to the latter vehicle’s 74 grammes per kilometre.
Flexible, secure, and fully suited to everyday use: The F 800 Style with electric drive and fuel cell
technology
The Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style also offers clean driving pleasure in the variant equipped with an electric
drive based on fuel cell technology. The vehicle’s electric motor develops around 100 kW (136 hp) as well as a
strong torque of approximately 290 Nm. The fuel cell generates the traction current by chemically reacting
hydrogen with oxygen on-board the vehicle, producing water vapour in the process as the only emission.
The components of the fuel cell drive are taken from the range of e-drive modules, which Mercedes-Benz
developed for a variety of different electric vehicles. These components, which are already being installed in
the limited edition B-Class F-CELL, can be flexibly used and are suited for a variety of different drive
configurations. The F 800 Style is an example of this, as it uses rear-wheel drive, in contrast to the B-Class
F-CELL. The same components are also installed in commercial vehicles, with developments here being spearheaded
by the new Citaro fuel cell bus, which is equipped with two of the F-CELL systems used in passenger cars.
The new Mercedes-Benz research vehicle has the fuel cell located in the front, while the compact electric
motor is installed near the rear axle. The lithium-ion battery is located behind the rear seats and is
protected as well as possible against the effects of accidents, as are the four hydrogen tanks. Two of the
tanks are located in the transmission tunnel between the passengers, while the other two are underneath the
rear seat.
F 800 Style with further innovations for more comfort and safety
In addition to a multi-drive platform that is unparalleled for large sedans and the combination of different
alternative drive technologies, the Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style features many other technological innovations,
such as a new operating and display concept and a human-machine interface (HMI) with a cam touch-pad. The
display shows many additional functions not found in conventional instrument clusters.
The F 800 Style’s operation and display concept focuses for the first time primarily on electric driving
functions.
HMI with cam touchpad for intuitive and precise operation
The new cam touch-pad HMI is an intelligent system expansion for COMAND. For many years now, Mercedes-Benz
has been forging ahead with the development of innovative operating and display systems. A particularly
user-friendly innovation is being presented in the F 800 Style.
The HMI unit here consists of a touch-pad on the centre console and a camera that records video images of
the user’s hand as it works the pad. The live image of the hand is presented in transparent form in the central
display above the console. The user sees the contours of his or her fingers glide across the image without
covering anything, thus ensuring that all of the functions of the currently used menu remain visible so that
they can be easily operated by applying slight pressure to the touch-pad. Pressing the display with one’s
fingers generates a feeling similar to that of touching laptop keys so that users know when they are carrying
out specific actions.
The cam touch pad HMI unit recognises finger movements on the pad surface such as wiping, pushing, turning,
and zooming, thus enabling intuitive regulation of the climate control system, telephone, stereo and navigation
systems, and Internet access. The unit enhances active safety as well, because it is extremely easy and
convenient to use and therefore does not distract the motorist as much from the actual task of driving. And
unlike conventional touch screens, the HMI cam touch-pad does not get smudged with fingerprints.
Conventional touch-pad units generally depict hand or finger positions only by a small point in the display.
Their lack of precision makes it very risky to enter information while driving, because doing so diverts the
motorist’s attention too much from the road. By contrast, the HMI with cam touch pad can be easily and safely
operated even while driving. Test persons have confirmed that the HMI with cam touch-pad is extremely easy and
safe to use, particularly as a result of the transparent depiction of the hand.
Range on Map: Graphic range depiction during electric operation
Another very user-friendly innovation provided by the Mercedes engineers is the Range on Map function, which
shows the remaining possible travel radius during electric vehicle operation as a 360° depiction on a map.
Should municipalities only permit purely electric automobile traffic in the future, the driver can determine
whether the electric range of his or her vehicle is sufficient for the journey into and out of the urban area
by means of the Range on Map function. The system provides this function by combining information on the
current battery charge level with data from the navigation system.
In the new operating and display concept, Mercedes-Benz has provided a solution that provides an unparalleled
amount of information in a system of exemplary clarity. The engineers have thus achieved the goal of
successfully developing a comprehensive yet easy-to-operate information and control system for future
automobiles equipped with electric or partially electric drive systems. A further-developed version of the
system can be set up to also display recharging stations.
Mirror display is easy on the eyes
The mirror display of the innovative cam touch-pad HMI eliminates the differences between close proximity
visibility and visibility over longer distances, thus contributing to the driver’s physiological safety in a
manner typical of Mercedes. The system displays driving and vehicle information via a mirror in the instrument
cluster so that they appear to be farther away. The distance the eye looks into is thus extended, which means
less switching between near and far focus — and therefore less fatigue — for the eyes.
New DISTRONIC PLUS Traffic Jam Assistant further reduces the stress of driving
Back in 2006, Mercedes-Benz introduced DISTRONIC PLUS, the world’s first proximity and speed control system
that operates even when the car is standing still. The system substantially reduces the stress for drivers in
dense traffic, as it regulates the distance from the vehicle in front even at very low speeds all the way down
to a standstill. With its new DISTRONIC PLUS Traffic Jam Assistant feature in the F 800 Style, Mercedes-Benz
has also become the world’s first car maker to implement a system that is also capable of automatically
following the vehicle in front of it into curves. The system recognises the difference between driving along
curving roads and turning, which means it does not “blindly” follow the vehicle up in front — for example,
when it changes lanes in order to exit the highway.
The result is that at speeds of up to about 40 km/h, the Traffic Jam Assistant function takes care of both
longitudinal and transverse movements so that drivers do not have to steer themselves. The driver can just
sit back and relax — with hands on the steering wheel (although always accepting that the control of the
vehicle is always the responsibility of the driver). When the 40 km/h mark is exceeded, the steering torque
that keeps the vehicle in its lane is gradually reduced to a point at which the Traffic Jam Assistant smoothly
disengages. Drivers can, of course, override the system at any time. Sensitive sensors notice active steering
movements, thus automatically deactivating the system’s lateral control function.
“The DISTRONIC PLUS Traffic Jam Assistant is the logical continuation of the Mercedes-Benz assistance
and safety philosophy. With it, we are setting another milestone on the path toward creating innovative systems,
with which we will further enhance the high driving comfort that is a hallmark of Mercedes,”
The required data is generated by radar distance sensors that are supplemented by a stereo camera.
PRE-SAFE 360° improves safety in rear-end collisions
While the Traffic Jam Assistant heightens comfort and active safety, the innovative protective system known
as PRE-SAFE 360° further improves passive safety. PRE-SAFE 360° is based on the proactive occupant protection
system PRE-SAFE® developed by Mercedes-Benz. Unlike the previous system, PRE-SAFE 360° also monitors the area
behind the vehicle. As a result, the system engages the brakes around 600 milliseconds before an anticipated
rear-end collision occurs. The key advantage of this system is that braking a stationary vehicle that is hit
in the rear helps prevent secondary accidents such as those that occur when the car is catapulted uncontrolled
into an intersection or a pedestrian crossing. It goes without saying that PRE-SAFE 360° also allows the driver
to take control at any time. For example, the brake is immediately released if the driver hits the accelerator
knowing that there is sufficient space in front of his or her own vehicle to avoid the rear impact.
Rear pivot-and-slide doors ensure maximum entry comfort
A particularly customer-friendly innovation of the Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style is its rear doors. Whereas the
front doors are attached to the A-pillar in a conventional manner and open wide toward the front, the rear
doors slide backward when opened, as they are suspended from an interior swivel arm. Because the doors slide
back close to the vehicle body, occupants find it much easier to get into and out of the car in tight parking
spaces.
The F 800 Style has no B-pillar, making the entire space between the A and C-pillars completely accessible
when the doors are opened. Despite the lack of a B-pillar, the F 800 Style boasts a body shell that is both
extremely robust and light weight, and that meets the stringent demands for crash safety that are a hallmark
of the Mercedes brand.
Reinterpretation of the typical Mercedes-Benz design idiom
The F 800 Style is both a technology package and a show car. This research vehicle was designed through
close cooperation between technical research and advanced engineering departments and the advanced design
studios in Sindelfingen, Germany and Como, Italy. Its exterior appearance is marked by a long wheelbase, short
body overhangs, and a flowing roof line.
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“The exciting coupe-like roof line, and in general the vehicle’s balanced proportions, lend it a stylish
sporty look that reinterprets the Mercedes-Benz design idiom and emphasises the sculptural character of the F
800 Style,” says Mercedes-Benz Head of Design Prof. Gorden Wagener. “The result is a harmonious blend
of innovative form and function, which conveys a sense of great styling and authority.”
Front-end with distinctive LED headlights
The vehicle’s front-end features a variation of the radiator grille with the centrally placed brand star
that is typical of Mercedes sports cars. The curved radiator grille bars softly flow around the tube holding
the Mercedes-Benz star. Along with the wide radiator grille and the generously curved air intake openings, the
model’s unique bright LED headlights emphasise the dynamic nature of the research vehicle.
The headlights are divided into individual segments for daytime running lights, turn signal indicators, and
primary headlights. The F 800 Style’s taillights are also equipped with state-of-the-art LED units that enable
an exciting interplay of indirect illumination and direct beams. The result is an attractive, unmistakable,
and memorable visual effect.
Wood and light make for a cosy interior
Precious wood surfaces and lots of light ensure a high level of comfort in the interior of the F 800 Style.
Occupants will immediately notice the modern sense of lightness, and functional elements such as the driver
area and the door armrests seem to float in space like sculptures.
The innovative light weight construction of the seats in the F 800 Style consist of a magnesium shell and a
carbon fibre laminate seatback across which a fine yet resistant netting is stretched. The seat shell also
features genuine wood veneer.
For the wood veneer process, Mercedes-Benz engineers used a 3D surface coating procedure designed especially
for the veneering of three-dimensional surfaces. This same procedure was used to provide the wood finishing in
the centre console, on the doors, and in the driver area. These wood finishing pieces are moulded as 3D
laminated components and are augmented by an aluminium core, which ensures that the components meet the high
crash safety standards that are, again, a hallmark of Mercedes.
Successful transfer from research to series production
Mercedes-Benz has presented 13 research vehicles since the early 1980s. The range of fascinating and
pioneering automobiles that was unveiled — beginning with Auto 2000 in 1981 and leading up to today’s F 800
Style — offers proof of the consistency and foresight with which Mercedes-Benz engineers address the core
issues of research and technology in order to develop innovative solutions for the future.
Many systems that were first used in research vehicles and viewed as revolutionary at the time can now be
found in Mercedes-Benz production cars, including the DISTRONIC proximity-controlled cruise control, which
was first installed in the F 100 in 1991 and made its series production debut in the S-Class in 1998.
The Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style is continuing this approach. Like its predecessors, the model features key
drive, comfort, and safety system innovations, as well as an avant-garde design, all of which point the way
forward for the series production of future Mercedes-Benz vehicles that will continue to impressively combine
fascination and responsibility.
Technical data of the Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style with Plug-in Hybrid
Key data and driving performance values:
|
F 800 Style with Plug-in Hybrid |
Petrol hybrid drive |
|
Length (mm) |
4,738 |
|
Width (mm) |
1,938 |
|
Height (mm) |
1,445 |
|
Wheelbase (mm) |
2,924 |
|
Boot capacity (l) |
440 |
|
Inertia class (kg) |
1,700 |
|
Tyres |
215/45R20 |
|
Displacement (l) |
3.5 |
|
Rated output of petrol engine (kW/hp) |
Approx. 220/300 |
|
Rated output of electric motor (kW/hp) |
Approx. 80/109 |
|
Total output (kW/hp) |
Approx. 300/409 |
|
Acceleration 0–100 km/h (sec) |
4.8 |
|
Maximum speed (km/h) |
250* |
|
Electric maximum speed (km/h) |
120* |
|
Fuel economy (litres/100 km) |
2.9** |
|
Electric range (km) |
30 |
|
Total range (km) |
Approx. 700 |
|
CO2 emissions (g/km) |
68 |
|
Emissions rating |
EU 6 |
|
Energy content of lithium-ion battery (kWh) |
>10 |
*Electronically limited
**NEDC overall consumption, preliminary figures
Technical data of the Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style with F-CELL
Key data and driving performance values:
|
F 800 Style with F-CELL |
Fuel cell drive |
|
Length (mm) |
4,738 |
|
Width (mm) |
1,938 |
|
Height (mm) |
1,445 |
|
Wheelbase (mm) |
2,924 |
|
Boot capacity (l) |
440 |
|
Inertia class (kg) |
1,700 |
|
Tyres |
215/45R20 |
|
Rated output (kW/hp) |
Approx. 100/136 |
|
Rated torque (Nm) |
Approx. 290 |
|
Acceleration 0–100 km/h (sec) |
11 |
|
Maximum speed (km/h) |
180* |
|
Hydrogen consumption
(kg/100 km) |
0.9** |
|
Total CO2 (g/km min–max) |
0 |
|
Range (km) NEDC |
Approx. 600 |
|
Energy content of lithium-ion battery (kWh)
Battery (kWh/kW) |
1.4
|
*Electronically limited
**NEDC overall consumption, corresponds to 3.0 litres of diesel equivalent
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