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Mercedes F300 Life Jet The Mercedes Life Jet is the realisation of many theoretical designs. It is considered to be a car, although by nature, it behaves more like a motorbike. Acheiving the best of both worlds, the Life Jet leans in towards turns like a motorbike to counteract the centrifugal forces. It can do this up to an angle of 30°, and at motorcycle speeds. The car can reach 130 mph and is powered by the all aluminium straight-four 1600cc engine used in the A-Class. The Life Jet can carry two, in coupe or open roadster guise. It was devised by Mercedes' Advanced Research Group and designed by Stola - the Turin based Italian design house. "We tried to combine the specialist items from a car and a bike," says Gunther Hoelzel, project leader. "In driving dynamics, the three-wheeler has immense potential for future development - provided that intelligent and forward-thinking solutions can be found to ensure an optimal degree of safety." The Life Jet is driven at the rear wheel through a five speed sequential gearbox via a sturdy toothed belt. The car weighs 800kg and is 3954mm long, 1730mm wide (at the front wheels). The Active Tilt Control (ATC) governs the suspension 'by-wire'. Computers judge yaw, steering angle and acceleration in order to tilt the vehicle at the most efficient angle. Capable of resisting forces up to 0.9g, the Life Jet is unlikely to see production. However, the technology developed with it will live on, to reach production in a more familiar type of vehicle in coming years. |
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