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...