Towards an economical, low-emission future…
In the late 1970s, the German Federal Ministry for Research and Technology starts the project called “Auto 2000”. Actually the project title was “Demonstration of automotive engineering research results in the form of integrated overall concepts for passenger car test models.”
Manufacturers had until spring 1981 to prepare road-worthy prototypes of their visions for the future, which would then be unveiled to the public in September of the same year. The Federal Ministry for Research funded this ambitious project to the tune of around 110 million Deutschmarks, a figure which was then matched by the German automotive industry.
Several automobile manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Volkswagen were involved in this project.
There were some requirements and restrictions oriented towards reducing fuel consumption but the car manufacturers should not compromise in any way performance, comfort or range.
– 9.5 liters per 100 kilometers (24 mpg) for cars with a curb weight between 1250 and 1700 Kg. (2750 lbs and 3750 lbs).
– 11 liters per 100 kilometers (21 mpg) for cars with a curb weight up to 2150 Kg (4740 lbs),
– Space for 4 people.
– A payload of more than 400 kg (880 lbs)
Clear improvements were also expected in terms of service life, ease of repair, safety and environmental compatibility compared to series-production cars of that time.
The “Auto 2000”, was first shown to the public at the International Motor Show 1981.
Aerodynamics lessons learnt in Stuttgart several years earlier during the development of the W126 flagship were built upon, resulting in the Auto 2000 concealing its windshield wipers and washers behind the A-pillars. Also, the sloping tail was more than a styling feature: the ‘Kamm-tail’ is a drag-reduction feature which can be found today on most current hybrids. All of these features gave the car a very low drag coefficient of Cd = 0.28. We can find many similar elements from “Auto2000” on Mercedes-Benz W140 that was presented 10 years later.
The interesting transformation of the once-conservative estate car had only one goal: to use aerodynamics and mechanical ingenuity to create a car as parsimonious with fuel as possible.
Mercedes dug deep within its design department to produce three prototype vehicles each with a different propulsion method and innovative design features.
- The petrol engine designed for the research car was derived from a standard V8 with a
displacement of 3.8 liters. What made the modified engine so special was its fuel consumption, which was significantly lower at partial throttle. The key to achieving this was an automatic cylinder shut-off system that temporarily shut down four of the eight combustion chambers whenever the extra power was surplus to requirements.
The fact is that four cylinders operating at full load consume less fuel than twice as many cylinders operating at partial load, resulting in the fuel consumption figure for the Euromix driving cycle (urban, 90 km/h and 120 km/h) being reduced to just 9.3 liters per 100 kilometers. This technology is now a feature of some high volume gasoline engines from Mercedes-Benz.
2. The second car had a 3.3-litre six-cylinder diesel engine with twin turbochargers, and managed a fuel consumption of 7.5 liters per 100 kilometers at a speed of 120 kmh. (31.3 mpg at 75mph)
Despite being built around quite different technologies, the two powerplants still had one thing in common: their rated output of 110 kW / 150 HP, which was enough at that time for the lightweight, streamlined body.
3. However, it was the third version that was the most pioneering: a gas-turbine engine which brought several benefits, including low-pollutant combustion, low weight, compact dimensions, favorable torque characteristics and the elimination of water cooling.
The concept was still considered novel when it was used in the Jaguar C-X75 of 2010 – a testament to how forward-thinking the early-1980s Mercedes engineering department was.
All engines are coupled with a four-speed automatic. In the “Auto 2000” also the integral seats for driver and front passenger are being tested that has all loop strap on the seat, integrated child restraint systems in the rear and pedestrian-friendly bumpers.
While it might not have been a styling icon, the Auto 2000 concept had a raft of technological and design features that have made their way into Mercedes cars decades later. And given that gas turbine technology is yet to be used in a full-scale production car, perhaps its influence will continue decades into the future.
Dec 26 2013
1981 Mercedes-Benz Auto2000
Towards an economical, low-emission future…
In the late 1970s, the German Federal Ministry for Research and Technology starts the project called “Auto 2000”. Actually the project title was “Demonstration of automotive engineering research results in the form of integrated overall concepts for passenger car test models.”
Manufacturers had until spring 1981 to prepare road-worthy prototypes of their visions for the future, which would then be unveiled to the public in September of the same year. The Federal Ministry for Research funded this ambitious project to the tune of around 110 million Deutschmarks, a figure which was then matched by the German automotive industry.
Several automobile manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Volkswagen were involved in this project.
There were some requirements and restrictions oriented towards reducing fuel consumption but the car manufacturers should not compromise in any way performance, comfort or range.
– 9.5 liters per 100 kilometers (24 mpg) for cars with a curb weight between 1250 and 1700 Kg. (2750 lbs and 3750 lbs).
– 11 liters per 100 kilometers (21 mpg) for cars with a curb weight up to 2150 Kg (4740 lbs),
– Space for 4 people.
– A payload of more than 400 kg (880 lbs)
Clear improvements were also expected in terms of service life, ease of repair, safety and environmental compatibility compared to series-production cars of that time.
The “Auto 2000”, was first shown to the public at the International Motor Show 1981.
Aerodynamics lessons learnt in Stuttgart several years earlier during the development of the W126 flagship were built upon, resulting in the Auto 2000 concealing its windshield wipers and washers behind the A-pillars. Also, the sloping tail was more than a styling feature: the ‘Kamm-tail’ is a drag-reduction feature which can be found today on most current hybrids. All of these features gave the car a very low drag coefficient of Cd = 0.28. We can find many similar elements from “Auto2000” on Mercedes-Benz W140 that was presented 10 years later.
The interesting transformation of the once-conservative estate car had only one goal: to use aerodynamics and mechanical ingenuity to create a car as parsimonious with fuel as possible.
Mercedes dug deep within its design department to produce three prototype vehicles each with a different propulsion method and innovative design features.
displacement of 3.8 liters. What made the modified engine so special was its fuel consumption, which was significantly lower at partial throttle. The key to achieving this was an automatic cylinder shut-off system that temporarily shut down four of the eight combustion chambers whenever the extra power was surplus to requirements.
The fact is that four cylinders operating at full load consume less fuel than twice as many cylinders operating at partial load, resulting in the fuel consumption figure for the Euromix driving cycle (urban, 90 km/h and 120 km/h) being reduced to just 9.3 liters per 100 kilometers. This technology is now a feature of some high volume gasoline engines from Mercedes-Benz.
2. The second car had a 3.3-litre six-cylinder diesel engine with twin turbochargers, and managed a fuel consumption of 7.5 liters per 100 kilometers at a speed of 120 kmh. (31.3 mpg at 75mph)
Despite being built around quite different technologies, the two powerplants still had one thing in common: their rated output of 110 kW / 150 HP, which was enough at that time for the lightweight, streamlined body.
3. However, it was the third version that was the most pioneering: a gas-turbine engine which brought several benefits, including low-pollutant combustion, low weight, compact dimensions, favorable torque characteristics and the elimination of water cooling.
The concept was still considered novel when it was used in the Jaguar C-X75 of 2010 – a testament to how forward-thinking the early-1980s Mercedes engineering department was.
All engines are coupled with a four-speed automatic. In the “Auto 2000” also the integral seats for driver and front passenger are being tested that has all loop strap on the seat, integrated child restraint systems in the rear and pedestrian-friendly bumpers.
While it might not have been a styling icon, the Auto 2000 concept had a raft of technological and design features that have made their way into Mercedes cars decades later. And given that gas turbine technology is yet to be used in a full-scale production car, perhaps its influence will continue decades into the future.
By PaRaDoX • Concept Cars 0 • Tags: 1981 Mercedes, Auto 2000, Mercedes-Benz Auto 2000