Hannover, April 2, 1995
At the 1995 Hannover Trade Fair, Daimler-Benz is presenting an innovative research vehicle with a difference. Fundamentally different from conventional automobiles, the Vario Research Car - VRC for short - can be converted in just a few easy steps from a convertible to a sedan, or from a pick-up to a station wagon. In just a few minutes, the driver can configure the vehicle for its next journey. The spacious station wagon configuration, for example, is ideal for shopping. For weekend trips, the four-seater convertible is just the job, and for the sportsman, the pick-up's practical loading space makes life a little easier."The Vario Research Car combines four different vehicle concepts into one, giving the driver plenty of opportunity to personally configure his automobile according to his needs," says Dr. Michael Krämer, Director of the Mercedes-Benz Research Institute. "In the coming months, we will be gauging the reaction of the consumer to this new concept in automobile design and gathering tips for its further development."
Market research: leisure-oriented cars are coming into vogue
The Vario Research Car is Mercedes-Benz's answer to market research indicating that the automobile of the future will need to be suited to both its traditional role as a means of transport, and to the ever-increasing role it will play in leisure-time activities. While the usefulness of conventional automobiles is limited by their basic body design, the Vario Research Car is ideal for satisfying the most diverse motoring needs. It is every bit as much a leisure car as it is a mini-truck, and it neatly fills the role of family sedan or vacation car.
Design concept: each variant with its own individual character
The base body houses the VRC's power train and running gear along with its windshield, doors, dashboard and seats. Thanks to intelligent design, the base body and the add-on modules mesh neatly together in such a way that the seams between the two body sections are hidden from view under the belt line on the sides, at the side windows, in the rear, and at the upper edge of the windshield. The conversion of the research car takes just a few minutes and requires a minimum of technical effort. Due to the use of lightweight materials such as carbon fibers and aluminum, the add-on modules weigh between 30 and 50 kilograms each. Strong electro-magnets and special locking mechanisms secure the add-on to the base body.
A central plug in the rear of the vehicle allows the add-on to be electrically coupled to the vehicle's onboard electronics. The vehicle's electronics system automatically recognizes which variant is installed and establishes the necessary connections.
The interior: as "roomy" as a C-class
The concept of the Vario Research Car was born in the ergonomics laboratory of the Mercedes-Benz Research Institute, where engineers carried out comprehensive tests with drivers of varying body sizes. The result is an interior which, despite belonging to a compact car, offers the comfort and elbow room of a sedan comparable to the Mercedes-Benz C-class. The powered front seats can be swivelled a long way forward, thereby easing passenger entry into the rear of this two-door vehicle. By folding the rear seats down, the rear compartment of the vehicle can be converted into a level loading platform.
A vision for the future: rental depots for the different add-ons
Part of the vision embodied by this versatile car is an equally variable business concept. Drivers won't have to purchase all the various add-ons - instead, they will be able to rent them from special service depots. Regardless of whether the style is dictated by the season, personal taste, or transportational needs, drivers will be able to swap "their" add-on for a different one.
Moreover, as far as the scientists and engineers of Daimler-Benz Research are concerned, the Vario Research Car is more than just a versatile vehicle. It is also a rolling laboratory in which they can put all sorts of advanced systems through their paces. One of these systems is the futuristic "operating and display concept" which will spare the driver the burden of performing many mundane tasks while driving. Important information on speed limits or safe following distances will be displayed in the form of easily understandable, colored symbols.
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© 1995 Daimler-Benz