Sure a brand new Mercedes-Benz is cool and all, but how about the 1981 Mercedes-Benz Auto 2000 instead! This is a unique concept that was built to demonstrate what a Mercedes-Benz luxury-sedan might look like during the beginning of the 21st century. The Auto 2000 Concept was part of a German government-sponsored program to develop cars for the year 2000, ultimately challenging automakers to develop fully-functional prototypes that were more fuel-efficient than what was available at the time. The Auto 2000 project proposal was given to manufacturers in the year 1980 by the Federal German Ministry for Research and Technology, and the rules were simple. The prototype had to accommodate for at least four passengers, carry a payload of over 800lbs, and still be able to maintain comfort, performance and range, while also keeping a direct focus on the reduction of fuel consumption. The Federal Ministry of Research and Technology committed 110 million Deutschmarks into the project, and this resulted in multiple manufacturers to produce Auto 2000 prototypes such as Volkswagen, Audi, and of course Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz produced three Auto 2000 prototypes, all featuring vastly different powertrains however, sharing the same 150hp output. In addition to testing fuel-efficient propulsion systems, Mercedes used the Auto 2000 cars to test and develop other features such as new safety technology and liquid crystal digital instrumentation. As peculiar as it may be, the low-slung aerodynamically focused Kammback (Kamm tail) design is subtly pleasing to look at, and the car certainly accomplished it’s goal of showcasing the future of automotive technology at the time.
How many made? 1 of 3
Engine: Car 1: Mercedes 3.8L V8 with an electronically controlled cylinder deactivation system Car 2: twin-turbocharged 3.3L 6-cylinder dieselCar 3: supercharged twin shaft turbine with a single speed radial compressor-All of the cars produced 150bhp
Debut: 1981 Frankfurt Motor Show
Top Speed: N/A
0-60mph: N/A
Photo Credit: @car_keez •Research: @rarecarsonly