Mercedes-Benz F200

Last updated
Mercedes-Benz F 200 Imagination
1996 Mercedes-Benz F200 Imagination.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer
Body and chassis
Class Concept car
Body style 2-door coupé
Layout Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Doors Dihedral
Related
Powertrain
Engine 6.0 L M120 V12
Transmission 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission

The Mercedes-Benz F 200"Imagination" coupe is a concept study by then Daimler-Benz unveiled at the 1996 Paris Motor Show. The goal was to show off innovations in control, design, and comfort in passenger cars. The car's exterior design was in part based on the, then, upcoming S-Class. This 2-door coupe also previewed the CL-Class coupe, which debuted in 1999. [1]

Contents

Rear-side view, very similar to CL-Class C215 Mercedes-Benz F200 IMG 0899.jpg
Rear-side view, very similar to CL-Class C215

Innovations

One of the unique innovations was the implementation of "Sidesticks". Sidesticks were a drive by joystick design (rather than the conventional steering wheel and gas/brake pedals) that could be toggled between the driver and passenger. Other innovations included: [2]

Urban legend fame

In the early 2000s, the F 200 gained popularity as pictures of it were being mass mailed out under the subject of "The New Benz - very different... really different!". Many of the emails incorrectly claimed the car to be the new "SCL600". The intent of the email was to draw sarcasm from the radical designs of the car and its Sidesticks control system.

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References

  1. "F 200 Imagination | Daimler > Technology & Innovation > Insights into Research & Development > Research Vehicles". Archived from the original on 2015-01-06. Retrieved 2015-01-06. F 200 Imagination (1996)
  2. "1996 Mercedes-Benz F 200 Imagination Concept".