This is how you drive the Mercedes F 200, the car with the joystick

At the end of June, the 2022 London Concours Show took place and the “Coachbuilts and Concepts” section brought together a collection of very special cars. was among them fantasy concept mercedes f200 1996, This prototype that predicted many technologies that would become a reality. It failed in only one: the joystick that was intended to replace the traditional steering wheel. Now, thanks to the video accompanying these lines, we know how it works.

We met the Mercedes F 200 Imagination at the 1996 Paris Motor Show. There it was presented as a stylish and luxurious two-door coupe, which, as we indicated earlier, developed some of the technologies, systems and elements that will become part of the equipment of the series that will be carried by future vehicles. The famous “wired” controllers were not so lucky.

There is no steering wheel, but with a joystick

Mercedes has replaced the traditional steering wheel with different joysticks with which the Mercedes F 200 Imagination can spin, accelerate and brake. They were in the center console (Where the gear lever will go) And on the front doors: Yes, the driver partner can also control the vehicle. We invite you to imagine the complexity of driving with this system, but you do not have to: YouTube channel TheTFJJ hold her.

Since 1996 Paris Salon, Rarely have they been able to capture the imagination of a Mercedes F 200 … and even less so in action. Being at the London Concours was a rare opportunity to see this unusual prototype live: pulling any model from a car carrier with such characteristics is a test of the driver’s nerves, complicated in this case by having to manipulate it with a joystick. The truth is the handling is perfect…except for a hard stop or two.

10 million dollars

Make sure that this is One of the few prototypes that Mercedes sold to the customer: The price? It’s a mystery, but rumors point to a figure close to $10 million (€9.84 million, according to the current exchange rate) for a car that was all a prediction of the future.

Bi-xenon headlights with six variable lighting modules upgraded the existing adaptive lighting, and ended up with the arrival of vertical opening doors as well as an electric sunroof. The dashboard full of screens reminds us of the current Hyperscreen And cameras that have replaced traditional rear-view mirrors aren’t alien to us anymore: the same thing happens with the 360-degree camera.

Integrated hands-free calling system such as voice command recognition. ABC air suspension and adaptive and variable stiffness are already on many models and These new curtain airbags have always been part of safety equipment of vehicles.