The S-Class full-size luxury sedan has long been the face of class,
sophistication, and cutting-edge technology for Mercedes-Benz.
Completely redesigned for the new model year, the latest S-Class
continues the tradition with perhaps the most pampering cabin on the
market and enough gadgetry to put technophiles into a state of utter
bliss.
Supple leather, exquisite wood garnishments and genuine metal trim
covers every inch of the S-Class' interior, creating an air of old-world
opulence. Fire it up and bring the electronics to life, however, and it
immediately becomes clear that the big sedan has all four wheels firmly
planted in the 21st century.
Night View Assist Plus
Mercedes engineers managed to improve the S-Class' night-vision system
with the introduction of Night View Assist PLUS, which is equipped a
special pedestrian detection function. The Pre-Safe braking system has
also been improved to reduce injuries in unavoidable crashes. Mercedes
says the car can apply maximum braking pressure automatically around 0.6
seconds before what is recognized as an unavoidable accident. The
system therefore acts as something like an "electronic crumple zone,"
Mercedes contends.
Occupant Safety
In addition to ABS and ESP stability control, the S-Class boasts nine
supplemental restraints including two-stage front air bags, a knee air
bag for the driver and pelvic air bags which work together with curtain
and side air bags to provide extra protection for front occupants in
dangerous side-impact collisions. Rear seatbelt airbags are optional.
A standard "ATTENTION ASSIST" system can alert the driver to the first
signs of drowsiness, a factor that causes more than 100,000 accidents a
year in the U.S.A. A steering sensor is coupled to smart software that
uses 70 parameters to establish a unique driver profile during the first
20 minutes of driving. Between 50 and 112 mph, the system identifies
the erratic steering corrections drivers make as they begin to get
drowsy and triggers an audible warning and a "Time for a Rest?" message
with a coffee cup icon in the instrument cluster.
Collision Prevention Assist uses radar to determine whether the S-Class
is in danger of colliding with a vehicle or object up ahead. Active at
speeds above 20 mph, it automatically prepares the brakes to apply the
ideal leveling of stopping power once the driver hits the pedal.
Optional safety gear includes Active Lane Keeping Assist, a new
technology that warns the driver if it detects that the S-Class is
drifting into an adjacent lane and can apply steering inputs to remain
on the proper course. Also available is Active Blind Spot Assist, which
uses radar to detect if a vehicle is in the blind-spot area. It provides
driver alerts and can also steer the car out of harm's way if the
driver accidentally starts to merge into a vehicle.
Pre-Safe Brake detects impending collisions with vehicles or pedestrians
and can automatically apply 100 percent of the S-Class' braking force
to avoid or mitigate the severity of the crash. It also includes
Cross-Traffic Assist, which can detect potential collisions with
vehicles approaching from either side of an intersection. Both are part
of the Distronic Plus with Steering assist system, an active cruise
control setup that can maintain a set distance from the car ahead and
also keep the vehicle centered on straight roads or in gentle curves.
Key competitors
The S-Class competes against a wide range of full-size luxury sedans
such as the Jaguar XJ, Audi A8, BMW 7-Series and Lexus LS 460.
Read more:
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