W126 Concept Car

[Oversize]

Hideous on the outside but interestingly very similar to the W140 made years later. I just love the dash & seats though...

https://5komma6.mercedes-benz-passion.com/wp-b182d-content/uploads/2012/12/auto2000_FIS.jpg

 

[c107]

That dash would have been groundbreaking when introduced in 1979, but imagine trying to repair it now!

I am glad they went with something more conventional. The rest of the dash looks pretty similar to what they eventually went with. I see the fader and heated seats is in the console though.

Not sure the picture of the seats came through?

 

[Michel]

Looks amazing.
This is current technology... wow

 

[Patrick_R]

Very very interesting

 

[Oversize]

I love these early concepts!! Particularly with unusual variations to our beloved engines.... Looks like this one was a M116 380 with cylinder deactivation. Other options were a diesel turbo (I read V6 somewhere), so very similar to current thinking all to save fuel during the crisis of the 70s/80s.

BTW the hideous appearance was an early attempt at improved aero for better fuel efficiency.

https://www.motor1.com/news/137525/concept-we-forgot-mercedes-auto-2000/amp/

 

[c107]

I love these early concepts!! Particularly with unusual variations to our beloved engines.... Looks like this one was a M116 380 with cylinder deactivation. Other options were a diesel turbo (I read V6 somewhere), so very similar to current thinking all to save fuel during the crisis of the 70s/80s.

BTW the hideous appearance was an early attempt at improved aero for better fuel efficiency.

https://www.motor1.com/news/137525/concept-we-forgot-mercedes-auto-2000/amp/

It's interesting. You can certainly see the w126 underpinnings, but the back reminds me of the Citroen CX and the front looks like they later re-used it for the W140 two door.

The side opening bonnet is an interesting feature.

I wonder if the 3.3 liter diesel was a prototype of the updated six cylinder diesels that would come out a few years later. (e.g. the 602 and 603 engines). These were much more frugal than the old 617 models, but not as long lived.