Mercedes F400 Carving
by Sam Livingstone

The Mercedes F400 Carving is so named because its outer two wheels lean into the corner in a similar way to skiiers with carving skis lean their outside ski inward to corner. This unusual feature has been tested by Mercedes to prove significant gains in cornering force.

One of the main reasons behind why this can be achieved is because the tyre can be comprised of two types of rubber compound, just as the tyres of extreme sports bikes are. The outside edge is made from a hard compound that wears well and produces little road noise. The inner edge is made from a very soft compound that grips well but would wear fast if it were not leant out of contact with the road for the majority of the time the car is running.

When leaning at its maximum of 20 degrees off vertical, the car is capable of generating nearly a fifth more cornering force. Ultimate cornering speeds would not increase in direct proportion to this, but the gain would be palpable. Beyond this benefit, the system would enable existing electronic stability programmes (ESP) do be able to control the degree of cornering force each wheel of the car provides to maintain a neutral and safe cornering stance in tricky conditions. Shorter stopping distances under emergency breaking are achieved by leaning all wheels out to maximise grip.

This technology is showcased in a roadster body that shares something with the Mercedes SLA concept car of Paris last year and the current Lotus 340R.

The F400 Carving is a dramatic design, if a little over-complicated, with a multitude of forms fighting for attention. The front wheels are framed top and bottom by pronounced, angular fender and rocker forms. The unusual wheelarch profiles are designed to make the leaning wheels appear more natural. For reduced fender height, the headlamp units use 'light-pipe' technology, where the light source is located under the hood. The interior design is influenced by aircraft, especially in the tunnel-mounted controls. The door panels feature floating shield-like inserts, which aim to give a sense of security.

The 'Carving' technical concept is a being developed further and may realistically be a feature of forthcoming Mercedes Benz production cars in a few years. This is after all the company responsible for more safety related technical innovations in today’s production cars than any other.