Mercedes-Benz E-Class A new generation of safety standards

Mercedes-Benz E-Class: A New Generation of Safety Standards

A Culmination of Milestones: The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Equals Excellence

48 Months in Development. 12,000 Engineers. One Technological Marvel.

Moving Toward an Accident-Free Future

Since inventing the first car in 1886, Mercedes-Benz has upheld the incredible responsibility of keeping drivers safe. In giving this gift of automotive freedom to the world, Mercedes-Benz has focused their engineering power just as sincerely on safety as on performance and comfort. Enter any modern vehicle and you will see standard safety features that were originally pioneered by Mercedes-Benz, such as airbags, crumple zones, and antilock braking systems—features we can hardly imagine a car without now. These safety milestones have generated a legacy of firsts throughout every decade of the past 60 years and beyond.

The culmination of these milestones is perhaps most beautifully rendered in the all-new 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Developed over 48 months by 12,000 engineers, this technological marvel underwent thousands of tests in extreme conditions to ensure its reliability and intelligence. Employing the suite of Mercedes-Benz safety features known as Intelligent Drive, which are found across the entire vehicle line, the E-Class serves as a showcase of features that are sure to herald yet another paradigm shift in road safety. To take in the true scope of innovation debuting with the E-Class, let us explore some of these new features that are sure to move us ever closer to the goal of an accident-free future.

• PRESAFE® System
  PRESAFE® is more than a safety feature—it is an entire range of intelligent measures designed not only to keep you safe in the event of an accident, but to help prevent them from happening at all. This system constantly analyzes driving conditions and detects potential collisions using a clever network of sensors, then in milliseconds performs a series of adjustments to maximize the effectiveness of all other safety features and alert drivers to danger. In the most precious moments before an unavoidable impact, PRESAFE® tightens front seatbelts, adjusts the front head restraints, and can even raise the windows and close the sunroof to better prepare and support the car’s occupants.
• PRESAFE® Impulse Side
  Through the 1960’s and 70’s, as airbag technology was first being explored, Mercedes-Benz earned the patent that became the standard, determining the system of sensors and gas-creation that made airbags a viable and lifesaving feature. For 40 years, Mercedes-Benz has continually improved upon that original design, as well as added new features to work alongside it. Such is the case with PRESAFE® Impulse Side, a feature that works toward the same goal as an airbag—reducing the impact of a collision through space. The PRESAFE® Impulse Side function inflates the side of the seat to push the occupant as far away from an imminent impact as possible, placing them further toward the center of the vehicle and away from the door, in the event of a side-collision. Those few millimeters significantly reduce the severity of a possible injury during an impact.
• PRESAFE® Sound
  One of the more intriguing features of the new E-Class, PRESAFE® Sound is a never-before-seen response to a side-effect of collisions many of us may not consider: hearing damage. The sound of an accident and the air bags deploying can be loud enough to permanently damage the inner ear, so the engineers at Mercedes-Benz have taken advantage of “pink noise” to trigger a natural reflex in our ears that insulates them from damaging sounds. When PRESAFE® Sound determines that a crash is unavoidable, a static-like combination of tones called pink noise will flow through the speakers, closing a flap inside the ear and preparing occupants to cope with the incoming sounds reflexively before they occur.
• DRIVE PILOT
  DRIVE PILOT takes a feature that we already use on a regular basis—cruise control—and imbues it with the intelligence to literally keep us in line. DRIVE PILOT takes the worry out of cruise control and replaces it with convenience, able to stop and go with the flow of traffic and keep you centered between lanes. This testament to semi-autonomous driving even allows you to change lanes simply by touching the turn-signal lever. You can rest assured that with DRIVE PILOT, like a co-pilot, you have an extra watchful eye when taking advantage of cruise-control on any journey.
• Car-to-X Communication
  In discussions of concept cars and how driving will change in the future, one of the staple ideas is that of cars communicating with each other. With the new E-Class, this is no longer a far-off fantasy; Car-to-X Communication is a world-premiere technology that keeps drivers connected to the world around them through updates about road conditions, hazards, traffic, and more. Car-to-X Communication receives information about the journey ahead and passes it on to you, allowing you to choose a safer or quicker route based on real-time notifications. With the added ability to report hazards, E-Class drivers can help build up the central information source, which aids other drivers. The future of car communication begins here.

This sample of industry-leading safety breakthroughs reflects the power of ingenuity, engineering, and commitment Mercedes-Benz has poured into their craft for over 130 years. To learn more about how these and the many other features available in Mercedes-Benz vehicles can keep you and your family safe, visit Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham today.