After scathing critiques of Audi’s Prologue concept for LA 2014 and a few other recent machines, we want to balance things out. An equal-opportunity offender here!
But the Prologue is just a major disappointment. It is not something that makes you want to gouge your eyes out with a red-hot iron spike.
When thinking of other truly fug-nasty concept cars, the F700 leaps to mind instantly. What were they thinking?
The low-nose and cab-forward style as a future S-Class-plus limo is hard enough to swallow, but then we have gobsmacking bug-eye lamps, a deeply plunging windowline into the front doors, and a rear end only a mother could love. The overall result is enough to make you shudder. What a relief that very few of these ideas for a future eco-limo have materialized since then!
The one piece of the design we do like and see applications for are the tear-drop skylights in the roof, which lighten the rear cabin elegantly.
Only the BMW i3 has taken the mantle of forcefully, violently unattractive eco cars from the F700.
2008 Mercedes-Benz F700
 
The F700 makes the impossible possible. It unites a high level of environmental compatibility with excellent performance and outstanding comfort. The secret is the Saloon’s DIESOTTO drive, which connects the strength of a low-emission petrol engine with the economy of a diesel.
But this “future-mobile” has even more to offer. The F700’s PRE-SCAN chassis is a world first. It uses two lasers to scan the road in front of the car for uneven areas and compensates with a high degree of sensitivity.
The REVERSE seat sets new standards. It allows individual sitting and reclining positions to face both the direction of travel and the opposite direction. A further highlight is an avatar that appears on the
SERVO-HMI display as an electronic assistant. This avatar helps with navigation, making phone calls or searching for a radio station.
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.