Mercedes-Benz's F 700 research car -- a diesel/gasoline-powered, fuel-efficient, full-on luxury touring car that makes its world debut today in Frankfurt, is a rolling statement of things to come from Benz.
The F 700 introduces the DIESOTTO drive system, a twin-turbocharged, common-rail direct-injection, four-cylinder engine that is able to match the performance of Mercedes' current S-Class equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 or 3.0-liter turbodiesel by delivering 238 horsepower. A 20 horsepower electric motor assists the engine primarily in stop and go traffic, increasing fuel efficiency and combining with the combustion engine to produce 295 lb-ft of torque. The DIESOTTO system works much like a conventional diesel when starting and under full load -- that is combustion is completed without the aid of a spark plug. Under low and medium engine speeds, however, the engine acts as a normal internal combustion unit. The result is a 7.5 second run from 0-62 mph and fuel consumption of just over 44 mpg.
Additionally, the PRE-SCAN suspension system, monitors the road ahead for surface condition and automatically compensates for less-than-even terrain. The system works via two laser sensors in the front headlamps that are able to gauge the roadway ahead, allowing the control unit to set specific hydraulic pressure and flow levels for each individual wheel. Lasers are also used in the doors to scan the area they are opened into. Should the door near contact with an object in its path, a hydraulic cylinder stops its movement.
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