This Week:

• DaimlerChrysler presents F 400 Carving research vehicle with dynamic chassis technology at the Tokyo Motor Show 2001
  .

• Chevrolet Introduces The "Cruze" Compact Lifestyle Vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show 2001, Jointly Developed By GM, Suzuki
  .

• Porsche invests approx. 250 million marks in Leipzig
  .

• Toyota and Daihatsu Announce Plans for Tokyo Motor Show
  .

• Andrej Barcak To Take Over European Remarketing And Used Vehicles
  .

• Seita Kanai and the new Mazda 6
  .

• Ford Reports Third Quarter Loss
  .

• Audi still enjoying record-breaking success
  .

• GM, Ford And DaimlerChrysler Go After Parts Counterfeiters
  .

• Valeo announces a plan to close its Baumenheim plant in Germany
  .

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News of  October 24, 2001
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DaimlerChrysler presents F 400 Carving research vehicle with dynamic chassis technology at the Tokyo Motor Show 2001

F 400 Carving

Photo: DaimlerChrysler

• Concept study with new systems for even more active safety
• Outer wheels that tilt by up to 20 degrees when cornering
• Active wheel camber control enhances directional stability
• Less risk of skidding and shorter emergency stopping distance
• Forward-looking technology with real design appeal
• Asian premiere of the new SL-Class and the face lifted M-Class

Tokyo - DaimlerChrysler is exhibiting a special concept study at the 35^th Tokyo Motor Show: the F 400 Carving is a research vehicle packed with dynamic systems designed to give the cars of tomorrow and beyond substantially enhanced active safety, dynamic handling control and driving pleasure.

The main attraction in the F 400 Carving is a new system that varies the camber angle on the outer wheels between 0 and 20 degrees, depending on the road situation. Used in conjunction with newly-developed tyres, it provides 30 percent more lateral stability than a conventional system with a fixed camber setting and standard tyres. This considerably enhances active safety, since better lateral stability equals improved road adhesion and greater cornering stability.

Active camber control boosts the research vehicle's maximum lateral acceleration to 1.28 g, meaning that the concept study outperforms current sports cars by some 28 percent.

The active camber control in the F 400 Carving paves the way for an equally new asymmetrical-tread tyre concept. When the two-seater car is cornering, the outer wheels tilt inwards, leaving only the inner area of these tyres in contact with the road. This area of the tread is slightly rounded off. Meanwhile both the tread pattern and the rubber blend have been specially selected to ensure highly dynamic and extremely safe cornering. When driving straight ahead, however, it is the outer areas of the tyres that are in contact with the road. These areas have a tried-and-tested car tread pattern, offering excellent high-speed and low-noise performance. Two different concepts therefore come to fruition in a single tyre, thanks to active camber control.

The research vehicle's "Carving" epithet symbolises the new technology, evoking images of the high-speed winter sport in which adepts perform sharp turns on a specially-shaped high-grip ski.

Less risk of skidding and shorter emergency stopping distance

The F 400 Carving is something of a mobile research laboratory for the Stuttgart-based automotive engineers. They will be using it to investigate the undoubted further potential of this new chassis technology: besides offering excellent directional stability during cornering, the new technology ensures a much higher level of active safety in the event of an emergency. By way of example, if there is a risk of skidding, the wheel camber is increased by an appropriate degree. The resultant gain in lateral stability significantly enhances the effect of ESP®, the Electronic Stability Program. If the research car needs to be braked in an emergency, all four of its wheels can be tilted in next to no time, thus shortening the stopping distance from 100 km/h by a good five metres.

Electronic steering, active hydropneumatic system and light from glass fibres

In addition to active camber control, the F 400 Carving research car is fitted with other forward-looking steering and chassis systems, including a steer-by-wire system. Sensors pick up the driver’s steering inputs and send this information to two microcomputers which, in turn, control an electrically driven steering gear. The DaimlerChrysler engineers also charted new territory when it came to the suspension tuning, and introduced a first: an active hydropneumatic system that optimises the suspension and shock absorption in line with the changing situation on the road, all at lightning speed.

The F 400 Carving is also the showcase for a totally new form of lighting technology developed by the Stuttgart-based researchers: fibre-optic lines are used to transmit light from xenon lamps beneath the bonnet to the main headlamps. This technology stands out by virtue of its high performance and extremely space-saving design. Additional headlamps positioned on the sides also come on when the car is cornering.

Exciting design symbolising innovation and emotion

The F 400 Carving is an exciting and harmonious blend of technology and design. The shape of the sports car – notably its distinctive wing profiles – provides the necessary room for the wheels to move when the active camber control is at work during cornering and, at the same time, emphasises the youthful and highly-adventurous nature of this concept study. In order to reflect the research car's high-quality driving dynamics, the designers opted for a speedster concept – incorporating an extended bonnet, a windscreen with an extremely sharp rake, a short tail end and an interior tailor-made for two.

Asian premiere for the new SL-Class with SBC braking system as standard

Alongside the F 400 Carving research car, Mercedes-Benz is also giving the new SL-Class its Asian premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan. The sports car continues the long tradition of the coveted Mercedes series whose unique success story began in 1954 with the legendary "gullwing" 300 SL. Since then, the Stuttgart manufacturer has produced some 490,000 of these exclusive dream sports cars.

A combination of state-of-the-art electronic chassis systems, unique in the world, enables the new SL to serve up an unparalleled, dynamic driving experience and, at the same time, provide superlative active safety, giving the SL a special position among sports cars. Of all its technical milestones, it is Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) – the electrohydraulic braking system – that leads the way. Mercedes-Benz is the first automotive brand in the world to offer this system. SBC works together with ESP® – the proven Electronic Stability Program – and with Active Body Control (ABC) suspension.

The latter reduces body roll to a minimum when cornering or braking. All of which means that the new SL-Class comes with a unique package of high-performance electronic control systems fitted as standard.

Further features that are unique in this sports car class include the aluminium vario-roof which, at the push of a button, transforms the Roadster into a Coupé within 16 seconds. Under the bonnet of the new SL-Class, a powerful V8 engine serves up 225 kW/306 hp and 460 Newton metres of torque from its five-litre capacity. It ranks as one of the most potent engines in this vehicle class and propels the new SL 500 from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds.

M-Class with new design and powerful V8 engines debuts in Japan

The model year 2002 version of the successful Mercedes-Benz M-Class features numerous stylistic and technical innovations. The new Offroader is being unveiled to the Asian public for the first time at the Tokyo Motor Show. During the extensive facelift over 1100 components were newly developed or modified. The new-look bumpers front and rear underline the all-wheel-drive vehicle's dynamic and powerful character even more clearly. Meanwhile, the new headlamps – sporting a sophisticated clear glass look – and the aerodynamically formed exterior mirror casings with integrated indicator repeaters add extra elegance. In terms of safety, the Offroader offers yet more typical Mercedes innovations, with windowbags and two-stage front airbags fitted as standard in the model year 2002 version.

Two powerful and torquey new engines will make the driving experience even more superb, both on and off-road. These powerplants are drawn from the Mercedes-Benz S-Class: the eight-cylinder diesel engine with common-rail direct injection, twin turbochargers, four valves per cylinder and a host of other high-tech systems powers the ML 400 CDI (184 kW/250 hp); the V8 engine developing 215 kW/292 hp is the force behind the new ML 500.

A-Class with luxury-class space and comfort plus three new AMG models

Other new developments which Mercedes is exhibiting at this year's Tokyo Motor Show include the long-wheelbase version of the A-Class. This model version offers substantially more space in the rear compartment: 170 millimetres more rear leg-room and a hip-to-hip distance between front and rear occupants of 945 millimetres provide unprecedented comfort. In fact these dimensions outclass those found in many luxury saloons.

Mercedes-AMG is presenting some new high-performance cars: the C 32 AMG -- available in saloon or estate form -- and the SLK 32 AMG, all of which are celebrating their Asian premieres in Tokyo. The new supercharged V6 engine links up with the new SPEEDSHIFT automatic transmission to provide a truly special driving experience.

The powerplant delivers 260 kW/354 hp. And with 450 Newton metres of torque on tap, there is no rival to match it. Some 90 percent of the maximum torque – over 400 Newton metres – is available from just 2300 rpm. It takes the SLK 32 AMG and C 32 AMG Saloon a mere 5.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h whilst the C 32 AMG Estate completes the sprint in just 5.4 seconds. The performance figures delivered by the three new AMG models are worthy of a thoroughbred sports machine, yet each car retains the comfort, safety and ergonomics which are classic Mercedes hallmarks.

(Oct. 17, 2001)

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