Mercedes Benz C112 concept.
In the 90s, Mercedes could have challenged Ferrari with this evocation of the 300 SL.
At the 1991 Frankfurt Motor Show, Mercedes presented a sports car with a look and proportions that were unusual for the time. And above all, with a very powerful engine. We invite you to discover the C112 project....
The Mercedes C111 was a surprising car. The same can be said of the C112 project, which unfortunately never saw the road to production. However, with its basics, the C112 could really have shaken the nose-up brand.
Butterfly doors
In 1991, Mercedes wanted to present a hyper-technological car to the public. Its lines were inspired by what was best at the time and above all, we could see features of the Group C prototype having evolved in the 80s at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. You could see there, more precisely, Sauber-Mercedes C9 or Mercedes C11, these two models having respectively shone at Le Mans in 1989 and in the world championship of sports cars in 1990. To honor the rich past Mercedes and the 300 SL, the C112 also had butterfly doors called "Gullwing".
V12
The structure was composed of an aluminum monohull making it rather light (less than 1,600 kg) and in the rear center position, the 6-liter V12 produced 408 horsepower, a delirious power for the time. The C112 shot down 0 to 100 km / h in 4.9 seconds before climbing to 309 km / h! In the assistance department, it was already equipped with ABS, ASR (traction control system) and active chassis control. A must at the time! But cost reduction obliges, the C112 project unfortunately had to be abandoned.