The vehicle is DaimlerChrysler's self-propelled armchair, and it already exists. True, at the moment, the Komfortsessel is just another concept vehicle designed to test new technology, generate publicity, and make the company appear environmentally responsible. Then again, DaimlerChrysler could be serious about mass-producing the vehicle some day. And with sales of the much-maligned car, introduced last October, finally starting to show some life, Daimler and other European auto makers are taking a closer look at some of the wild ideas emanating from their design studios. That means everything from three-wheelers to cars that morph from station wagons into convertible sedans.
Carmakers are under pressure to do something.
Analysts think a four-year boom in European auto sales is near its peak. Examples will begin appearing in showrooms as early as next year. Next year, Ford Motor Co.'s European unit will start selling a two-seat electric car called the Think in selected countries. BMW and Mercedes have both experimented with three-wheeled vehicles that lean into curves like a motorcycle, with the passenger sitting behind the driver in a cockpit reminiscent of a jet fighter. Auto makers are certain to offer more surprises when the International Auto Show opens in Frankfurt later this month.