Jump to content

Mercedes-Benz C111

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
Mercedes-Benz C111/II
Mercedes-Benz C111/II at the Mercedes-Benz Museum
Overview
ManufacturerDaimler-Benz
Production1970 (16 cars produced)
AssemblyUntertürkheim
DesignerBruno Sacco
Body and chassis
ClassSports car
Body style2-door berlinetta
LayoutLongitudinal, Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
DoorsGullwing doors
Powertrain
Engine
  • C 111 I: M 950 F (3-rotor Wankel, 3,600 cm³[1]
  • C 111 II: M 950/4 (4-rotor Wankel, 4,800 cm³[1]
  • C 111 II-D and III: OM 617 (5-cylinder Diesel, 3005 cm³[2])
  • C 111 IV: M 117 (V8 Otto, 4500 cm³[3])
Power output
  • M 950 F: 205 kW (275 hp) at 7000 rpm[1]
  • M 950/4: 260 kW (349 hp) at 6000 rpm[1]
  • OM 617: 140 kW (188 hp) at 4200 min−1[2]
  • OM 617: 170 kW (228 hp)[4]
  • M 117: 368 kW (493 hp)[3]
Transmission5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,620 mm (103 in)
Length4,440 mm (175 in)
Width1,800 mm (71 in)
Height1,120 mm (44 in)
Chronology
PredecessorMercedes-Benz SL-X
SuccessorMercedes-Benz CW311
Mercedes-Benz C112
Suspension layout of the Mercedes-Benz C111 with independent multi-link on the rear axle
C 111-II
C 111-III
C 111-IV

The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a series of experimental automobiles produced by Daimler-Benz in the 1960s and 1970s. The company was experimenting with new engine technologies, including Wankel engines, diesel engines, and turbochargers, and used the basic C111 platform as a testbed. Other experimental features included multi-link rear suspension, gull-wing doors and a luxurious interior with leather trim and air conditioning.

History

The first version of the C111 was completed in 1969, and presented at the 1969 IAA in Frankfurt. The car used a fiberglass body shell and with a mid-mounted three-rotor direct fuel injected Wankel engine (code named M950F). The next C111 appeared in 1970; it was shown at the 1970 Geneva International Motor Show. It used a four-rotor engine producing 260 kW (349 hp).[1] The car reportedly could reach a speed of 300 km/h (186 mph).[5]

The company decided not to adopt the Wankel engine and turned to diesel experiments for the second and third C111s. The C111-IID's engine was a Mercedes-Benz OM 617, and produced 140 kW (188 hp) at 4200 min−1. It was based on the Mercedes-Benz 85 kW variant of the OM 617 used in the Mercedes-Benz W 116 S-Class, but had a different turbocharger without a wastegate, which allowed an increased pressure ratio of 3.3. Daimler-Benz also added an intercooler that significantly improved the engine's thermal efficiency.[2]

The C 111 III prototype that was completed in 1978, had a more aerodynamic bodywork that gave it an air drag coefficient of 0.195. It had a modified 3-litre version of the Mercedes-Benz OM 617 five-cylinder Diesel, now producing 170 kW (228 hp), and a BMEP of 1.68 MPa, resulting in a maximum torque of 401 N·m at 3600 min−1. It enabled the C 111 III to reach a top speed of 338 km/h (210 mph) at the Nardò Ring in 1978, and also to average a 16 l/100 km fuel consumption at an average speed of 325 km/h.[4] The engine was fitted with an M-type inline injection pump of Bosch's PE series with a maximum injection pressure of 40 MPa.[6]

A later 4.5 L twin KKK-turbocharged V8 version that produced 368 kW (493 hp; 500 PS) at 6000/min[3] set another record, with an average lap-speed of 403.78 km/h (250.958 mph). This was achieved by Hans Liebold in 1 minute, 56.67 seconds on May 5, 1979.[7]

Total production was 16 cars: 13 first and second generation Wankel engined cars, two diesel engined third generation cars used in the Nardò record attempt, and a single V8 engined fourth generation car.[8]

Mercedes-Benz introduced the C112 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1991 as a proposed production sports car. The car used a mid-mounted 6.0 L V12 engine. After accepting 700 deposits, the company decided not to proceed with production.

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Bensinger, Wolf-Dieter (1973). Rotationskolben-Verbrennungsmotoren (in German). Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer. p. 143. ISBN 978-3-540-05886-1.
  2. ^ a b c Zinner, K. (1980). Aufladung von Verbrennungsmotoren (in German) (2 ed.). Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag. p. 294. ISBN 978-3-662-11204-5.
  3. ^ a b c Andreas Of-Allinger, Lilly Wöbcke (2020-03-20). "50 Jahre Mercedes C111: Design-Studie mit Wankelmotor". auto motor und sport (in German). Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  4. ^ a b Reif, Konrad (2012-02-23). Klassische Diesel-Einspritzsysteme (in German). Wiesbaden: Springer. p. 51. ISBN 978-3-8348-8664-4.
  5. ^ "Mercedes-Benz C 111". www.mercedes-benz.com.
  6. ^ Reif, Konrad (2012-02-23). Klassische Diesel-Einspritzsysteme (in German). Wiesbaden: Springer. p. 52. ISBN 978-3-8348-8664-4.
  7. ^ "Storia - Nardò Technical Center". Home - Nardò Technical Center (in Italian). Retrieved 2019-07-06. Con un motore biturbo V8 da 4,82 litri e una potenza di 373 kW (500 CV) a 6.200 giri/min, la Mercedes-Benz C111-IV raggiunge la velocità di 404 km/h. Con questa vettura l'ingegnere capo Hans Liebold percorse il "giro lanciato" sul circuito di Nardò in 1:57 min.
  8. ^ "1970 Mercedes-Benz C111-II - Jay Leno's Garage". Archived from the original on 2021-12-13 – via www.youtube.com.

Bibliography

  • Clarke, R.M., ed. (1987). On Mercedes 1963-1970. Road & Track Series. Cobham, Surrey, UK: Brooklands Books. ISBN 1-869826-41-8.
  • ——————, ed. (1980). On Mercedes Sports & GT Cars 1970-1980. Road & Track Series. Cobham, Surrey, UK: Brooklands Books. ISBN 0907073395.
  • Frère, Paul; Weitmann, Julius (1981). Mercedes-Benz C111: Experimental Cars. Lausanne: Edita. ISBN 2880010977.
  • Kalbhenn, Wolfgang; Heidbrink, Gerhard; Hack, Joachim (2021). Mercedes-Benz C111: Fackelträger, Traumsportwagen und Rekordjäger [Mercedes-Benz C111: Torchbearers, Dream Sports Cars and Record Hunters] (in German). Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 9783613041370.
  • Wirth, Thomas (2012). Mercedes-Benz Supercars: From 1901 to Today. Atglen, PA, USA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 9780764340901.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mercedes-Benz_C111&oldid=1232251901"