Not sure about the rear end greenhouse, but I like it. But then again, I like big German wagon-y things.
After the effects of the ‘70s oil crisis, Mercedes-Benz wanted to make a more efficient vehicle designed for the upcoming new millennium. So, naturally, they made a giant lift-back sedan concept and called it the Auto 2000.
That size was important, however, as the car was designed to hold four people with a payload capacity of over 800 pounds.
How exactly did they make the 2000 efficient? Mercedes-Benz offered three different potential power sources: a 3.3-liter turbodiesel V6, a 3.8-liter V8 with cylinder deactivation (pretty advanced tech for the time) and even a gas turbine engine. Those, coupled with the car’s reported 0.28 drag coefficient, was intended to get more than 20 mpg—in 1981.
There is no official word at if the Auto 2000 succeeded at its lofty goals, but it did at least leave us with an interesting-looking concept from Mercedes-Benz.
Was the Auto 2000 a good sign of things to come from Mercedes-Benz, or was it just another odd German design study?
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Not sure about the rear end greenhouse, but I like it. But then again, I like big German wagon-y things.
That looks like they made about 15 years after the 70's oil crisis.
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:That looks like they made about 15 years after the 70's oil crisis.
1981.
Definitely looks late 80s
BMW: "Ve Leik dis... Bvarracuda? Shark-muskle car?"
Chrysler: "Uh, thanks? Yeah, it's pretty-"
BMW: "Excellvent. Ve require twelve for study. Ve vill make... bvetter."
Well that front end certainly made it into production by the early 90s.
I will take: "How to make your car 140 degrees inside after parking it in the sun, for 200 Alex"
I see plenty of influence that went forward to the W126. I'm mostly surprised that they were working on a V6 turbo diesel that early.
Lots of W124 in the front and rear end
I dig it.
My '83 Starlet held 4 people and got 52mpg highway.
No way it would handle 800lbs though.
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