NAFA (Germany, 1982)

Congested streets, parking space at a premium and long tailbacks raised new questions in motor vehicle research. Mercedes-Benz answered them in 1981 with the concept study “Nahverkehrsfahrzeug”, NAFA for short – the short-distance vehicle.

With an overall length of 2.50 metres and an overall height and width of 1.50 metres, respectively, the two-seater contradicted everything the company was known to stand for to date.

Owing to four-wheel steering the car could be parked forwards into tight spaces. Its turning circle was 5.7 metres. Even where the gap to other vehicles on each side was small, two sliding doors permitted entry and exit. They opened forwards, and the side mirror folded in automatically.

The car had front-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. The equipment included air conditioning, power steering and seat belt tensioners. The comparatively high seating position, the low waistline and large glazed surfaces made for an all-round view.

The NAFA study did not fall into oblivion. The insights it furnished entered into the design of the A-Class of Mercedes-Benz, the prototype of which debuted in 1996. And in the smart fortwo, introduced in 1997 as the smart city coupé, the concept of the compact urban car celebrated its coming of age and has since been manufactured in large numbers.