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With the F 300 Life-Jet concept three-wheeler unveiled at the 1997
Frankfurt Motor Show, Daimler-Benz aired some new ideas on vehicle
concepts. Although the vehicle never went into full-scale production,
the three-wheeler research study blended the special thrill and
cornering dynamics of a motorcycle with the safety and comfort of
a saloon car.
Three wheels, two seats and a "jet"-styled body are visual hallmarks
with which the researchers were targeting a market niche that did
not exist yet. Times have changed, though, as explained on the three-wheeler
page
The body styling of the F 300 is just as unusual as the driving
dynamics. The innovative tilting technology employed for the front
axle and body was the toughest nut to crack on the technical side.
It limits the stylists' scope, imposing a particularly narrow front
end and underfloor design. If the F 300 Life-Jet is to lean into
the corner at an angle of up to 30 degrees, the front axle and wheels
need to have a certain freedom to move about. So the body becomes
broader from front to rear like a letter V and is designed to take
into account the unusual body kinematics in the area of the front
axle.
Safety and lightweight construction had top billing in the design
of the chassis. The researchers employed a "space frame" design:
extruded aluminium sections with cast nodes form a strong structure
which not only weighs just 89 kilograms but also absorbs high crash
forces. On the underside the chassis is faced with double-skinned
panels, between which is sandwiched a new aluminium foam for additional
strength and sound insulation. Intelligent lightweight construction
means that the F 300 Life-Jet has a kerb weight of only just over
800 kilograms.
Unlike
a motorbike, the F 300 Life-Jet is an uncompromising all-year-rounder.
A two-part roof of aluminium and transparent polycarbonate provides
protection against bad weather.The two halves of the roof are very
light and can be easily removed whenever the mood takes the driver.
The side windows, apart from the triangular windows at the front,
can be completely recessed at the touch of a button. Only the strong
front windscreen frame and the integrated roll-over bar at the rear
remain in place, as integral parts of the car's safety concept.
There were three crucial requirements for the engine and transmission
of the F 300 Life-Jet: high efficiency, low weight and compact dimensions.
The researchers opted for the new 1.6 litre petrol engine used in
the A 160, which develops 75 kW/102 hp and impressive torque of
150 Newton metres at 4000/min. It offers performance to match, with
acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.7 seconds, a top speed
of 211 km/h, and outstanding value in the new European driving cycle:
5.3 litres of premium fuel per 100 km (NEDC overall consumption)
and emissions which undercut the EU 2 limits by up to 40%.
The F 300 Life-Jet offered everything adventure-loving motorists
could have wished for: The open-top experience of a cabriolet, the
individuality of a roadster, performance of a sports car, and the
comfort of a compact saloon. But do not despair, because modern
three-wheeler are in full production
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Mercedes
F300 Life-Jet
As in a jetplane, the driver is right at the
centre of control.
Inside the F 300, the jet-style steering, instruments
and seats create an impression of sitting in an aircraft cockpit.
The sharply rearward sloping A-pillars and transparent roof reinforce
this impression.
At first glance slightly unusual, because of
the special cornering characteristics, the passenger sits behind
the driver.
The heart of the driving technology is the ATC
(Active Tilt Control). Sensors calculate the appropriate body tilt
angle and send the necessary commands to the hydraulic system.
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