Mercedes-Benz Vario Research Car

The Mercedes-Benz Vario Research Car was a concept study that Daimler-Benz unveiled at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show to show innovations in control, design and comfort in passenger cars. Its central idea was interchangeable bodies, sedan, station wagon, convertible and pickup, fitted to the same chassis with a conversion done in 15 minutes. The bodies were light and sturdy carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. It also tested drive-by-wire steering and braking with no mechanical link, Active Body Control, which reached production in the C215, a colour display that reached the S-Class W220, and a central rotary control for electronic functions that reached the S-Class W221.