2007 Frankfurt Auto Show: Mercedes-Benz F 700 Concept

• Looks like: A nightmarish version of an S-Class
• Defining characteristics: Huge grille, huger headlights, tiny little engine
• Ridiculous features: A backward-opening rear door only on the passenger side
• Chance of being mass-produced: Looking like this, little. An efficient luxury sedan? Not too much chance of that, either.

Mercedes’ F700 Concept is an interesting look at how fuel efficiency will impact this auto show season. Sure, lots of companies are bringing out small little hybrids, plug-ins and other gas-sipping concepts, but Mercedes thinks there’s also a market for affluent greenies. The F700 isn’t a hybrid, though — it uses a super-efficient four-cylinder engine with a prototype powertrain that moves like a V-6 but gets a dreamy 44.3 mpg.

Remember this is a concept, so those numbers aren’t even close to being real yet. The F700 also features an active suspension that predicts road conditions to mute bumps as much as possible. That’s one of those concept ideas we like. What we don’t understand is a seating configuration that allows passengers to face backward. Perhaps that would facilitate a face-to-face business meeting in the backseat — or high-speed nausea, depending on your travel habits. More photos below.

Comments

Woah,
I like the current style Mercedes has picked up with their vehicles, but if this is even the slightest indication of where they could be going I think even the die hard Benz fans would jump ship. Short of inadvertantly dropping a few profanities here at work, when I looked at the concepts pictures, like the Spears performance at the VMA's it reminded me of a trainwreck. Okay I get the bigger grille... kinda but who said you know what? Get me headlights bigger than your head. Cause that just screams affluance.
I think the designers looked at the new mazda 6 concept front end and said "bigger! make it bigger!" Unlike the Mercedes, the Mazda works.
That being said, I do like the idea with the efficient 4cyl. Sure it may not floor your 8cyl sporting friends but if the performance is spirited and you can impress at the pump, its a win win situation that anyone can admire.

reminded me of a cadillac at first

I agree that it is ugly, but I think it would be a success if it came to the market as a hybrid looking like that- people want to be noticed as being green. Look at the prius- its not cute at all, but it is a huge success.

All that being said- I think it is awesome, I can't stop looking at it.

I actually like this. Like the title says it looks like a demonic S-Class, and I really like the big evil look to it. I'm a fan of everyone (except Ms. Spears), but I kinda am turned off by the trend in styling to either look "Muscular," or "athletic."

Its just that all design seems to spin in that direction, its one or the other. There are the pretty designs to, the ones that still fall under muscular or athletic, but also "angelic."

I've never seen a beasty, evil looking car before. This has some hints of that. Give me more!

Looks like Mercedes got stuck with the old Chrysler design team when they divorced.

(Oddly enough I find elements of it intriguing. I really need to get out more)

I don't think it's ugly, I mean yeah the car dosn't look like the car always see on the road, like a chevrolet tahoe or a honda accord, but if it does go in to production it would be in like 2012 or 2013 at that time most of the cars would all futuristic and stuff.

What inspired this design? Larva?