This is the (1 of 2) 2002 Mercedes-Benz F200 ‘Imagination’, this being the second car built. The design for the F200 was finalized by 1995, and the first prototype was built in 1996. The F200 cars were equipped with cameras in replace of conventional rear-view mirrors, an active suspension system, voice recognition, bi-xenon headlights and doors that operated similarly to Koenigsegg’s dihedral synchro-helix door mechanism. The F200 drives via a joystick instead of a steering wheel thanks to an unusual drive-by-wire system which offered directional, throttle and braking control. The F200 Imagination was initially developed jointly by design teams in Germany, the US and Japan, under the direction of Harald Leschke (@xapis47), the Former Head of Advanced Design Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen. Leschke and company worked closely with Jürgen Weissinger from Mercedes Pre-development as well as designer Chris Rhoades (interior design) and Günter Hölzel from research & development in Stuttgart to complete the first car. Anthony Lo, a designer from Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center of Japan was the one who came up with the final exterior design for the F200. The original 1:1 scale model was constructed in Italy by Italian automotive company, Stola (now @studiotorino), who also produced all of the parts for both F200 cars. This second car shown here was assembled by the Research Mercedes Center that shared space with Carrozzeria Coggiola. SALT in Grugliasco supplied the interiors for both prototypes, and it was Bruno Sacco, former director of the entire Mercedes Style Center who came up with the color for both cars, “Caribbean Blue”. Both F200 prototypes are visually identical, however, the second car offers more safety features and has been seen with a Qatar registration plate. As confirmed by the @mercedesbenzmuseum, this car shown is the second of two cars built, and the first car (1996) is still on display in their showroom to this day.
How many made? 1 of 2
Engine: N/A 6.0-liter V12 engine with 394 horsepower
Debut: 1996 Paris Motor Show
Top Speed: 161mph
0-60: 6.1 seconds
Photo Credit: @s.e_automotive, @timpitt100
Research: @rarecarsonly