What is it?
Mercedes-Benz F400 Carving
What's special about it?
Taking its name from a special form of skiing called carving, this roadster showcases all the wizardry that Mercedes-Benz has been devising. Incorporating drive-by-wire technology, this 'Benz controls steering and braking through computer-monitored impulses rather than conventional racks and cables. This allows for quicker responses from the car; after all, these computers are smarter than you. They override human inputs that it deems as incorrect (Hal? Hal?). Furthermore, the brakes are composed of a lightweight carbon-fiber ceramic that can withstand temperatures of up to 1,600 degrees Celsius. Also showcased is the next generation of active body control (ABC), which currently utilizes individual springs to control body roll. The new active hydropneumatic (AHP) suspension controls both the suspension and damping to further eliminate lean.
Most notable are the dancing wheels. In something called "active camber control," the wheels themselves tilt inward up to 20 degrees, allowing the body to remain almost perfectly flat. The wheels ride on a tire patch optimized for the greatest amount of traction and adhesion. This process is aided by special tires jointly produced by DaimlerChrysler and Pirelli. The tires' asymmetrical treads also serve to decrease braking distances. Since the wheels absorb the lateral force, the body of the vehicle itself has up to 30 percent more lateral stability, allowing for a g-force of 1.28g. This all adds up to a car with superior cornering ability and stability, enhancing electronic stability control (ESP) to increase the handling limits of the car.
With all manner of louvered contours decking the sides, the only traditional mark is the three-pointed star on the grille. Well, that, and the gullwing doors, a trademark of the Stuttgart team. Powered by Mercedes' 3.2-liter V6, the F400 Carving gets a Formula One-style steering wheel-mounted button shifters that control the Sequentronic gearbox.
Why should you care?
When Mercedes talks about new technology, the whole world listens. The progenitor of antilock brakes and stability control technology keeps thinking up new ways to overcome the laws physics when it comes to vehicle dynamics. The design cues of this radically styled roadster probably won't make it into a production vehicle unless its been greatly diluted to suit refined tastes. We're still intrigued by this show-stealer. — Liz Kim
Mercedes-Benz F400 Carving
What's special about it?
Taking its name from a special form of skiing called carving, this roadster showcases all the wizardry that Mercedes-Benz has been devising. Incorporating drive-by-wire technology, this 'Benz controls steering and braking through computer-monitored impulses rather than conventional racks and cables. This allows for quicker responses from the car; after all, these computers are smarter than you. They override human inputs that it deems as incorrect (Hal? Hal?). Furthermore, the brakes are composed of a lightweight carbon-fiber ceramic that can withstand temperatures of up to 1,600 degrees Celsius. Also showcased is the next generation of active body control (ABC), which currently utilizes individual springs to control body roll. The new active hydropneumatic (AHP) suspension controls both the suspension and damping to further eliminate lean.
Most notable are the dancing wheels. In something called "active camber control," the wheels themselves tilt inward up to 20 degrees, allowing the body to remain almost perfectly flat. The wheels ride on a tire patch optimized for the greatest amount of traction and adhesion. This process is aided by special tires jointly produced by DaimlerChrysler and Pirelli. The tires' asymmetrical treads also serve to decrease braking distances. Since the wheels absorb the lateral force, the body of the vehicle itself has up to 30 percent more lateral stability, allowing for a g-force of 1.28g. This all adds up to a car with superior cornering ability and stability, enhancing electronic stability control (ESP) to increase the handling limits of the car.
With all manner of louvered contours decking the sides, the only traditional mark is the three-pointed star on the grille. Well, that, and the gullwing doors, a trademark of the Stuttgart team. Powered by Mercedes' 3.2-liter V6, the F400 Carving gets a Formula One-style steering wheel-mounted button shifters that control the Sequentronic gearbox.
Why should you care?
When Mercedes talks about new technology, the whole world listens. The progenitor of antilock brakes and stability control technology keeps thinking up new ways to overcome the laws physics when it comes to vehicle dynamics. The design cues of this radically styled roadster probably won't make it into a production vehicle unless its been greatly diluted to suit refined tastes. We're still intrigued by this show-stealer. — Liz Kim
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