Sorry, got my forums mixed up a bit. Here's what Roo found..........
Mercedes-Benz debuted an all-new concept car with future-oriented technology. Unveiled at the Paris Auto Show, the F200 design study features a revolutionary control system to drive and steer the car, an inflatable airbag "curtain" for increased side-impact protection, and video technology to enhance driving safety.
Joysticks instead
of pedals and
steering wheel
Instead of the usual steering wheel, accelerator and brake pedals, the F200 uses "side sticks" or joysticks. Located in the interior door panels and center console, the side-sticks demonstrate the potential for electronic "drive-by-wire" controls which could provide greater safety and convenience for drivers (and passengers) of the future. To steer the car, the driver moves the side-sticks to the left or right, while the sticks are moved forward for acceleration and rearward for braking.
F200 Interior
Fuel-saving
video mirrors
Among the many design features which contribute to both safety and low wind drag are indash video displays instead of conventional outside rear-view mirrors. Four cameras for the "electronic mirrors" are hidden at the rear corners of the roof, and a fifth camera in the rear bumper is automatically switched on when the car is shifted into reverse.
Window-Airbag
A new feature for side-impact protection is shown for the first time in the F200. When deployed, a so-called window bag extends across the entire side of the car like a curtain. Hidden along the roof pillar trim, the new window bag works in conjunction with door-mounted side airbags to substantially reduce the risk of head injuries in lateral crashes and roll-overs.
Preview of new
S-Class features?
One may wonder whether some of the features of the F200, such as the window airbag, will actually make their way into series production with the new S-Class, which will debut in 1998 as a '99 model. Don't expect though to drive with a joystick anytime soon, the F200 certainly isn't a "preview car" like the AAV concept car, which actually resembled the soon to-be-released M-Class.
