Mercedes has released a preview for some of the cutting-edge new technology which will feature in the upcoming E-Class executive saloon.
Due to arrive in dealerships next spring, Mercedes is touting the E-Class as one of the safest cars manufactured yet, having packed it full of intelligent semi-autonomous safety assistance functions.
Some of the cooler equipment additions include the new Pre-Safe system, which inflates side-mounted air chambers to push passengers to the centre of the vehicle in the event of a crash.
Mercedes has also announced a world-first feature called Pre-Safe Sound, which emits a high frequency noise that causes occupants’ ear muscles to contract, protecting against hearing damage during a crash.
Alongside this, the E-Class will also come outfitted with adaptive steering to help drivers evade dangerous obstacles, plus inflatable rear seatbelt airbags like those in the new Ford Mondeo.
Other safety kit will include the latest version of Mercedes’ Intelligent Drive system, which automatically detects speed limits and keeps a safe distance from slower cars ahead.
Alongside Intelligent Drive is the Active Brake Assist function, which can automatically engage the brakes in the event that the driver fails to respond to an impending crash at low speeds.
Mercedes is also introducing a new Remote Parking Pilot feature for the first time, which allows drivers to steer the car into tight parking spaces by using their smartphone like a remote control.
The driver’s smartphone can also be used as a backup vehicle key, while a new Car-to-X Communication feature allows the E-Class to communicate with other vehicles around it.
Using information from each nearby vehicle to build up a virtual picture of the road ahead, the car can effectively “see through walls”, alerting drivers to obstacles and hazards minutes ahead of time.
Finally, the new E-Class will also feature multibeam LED headlamps, each of which comprise 84 LEDs, which can switch on and off individually to maximise road illumination without blinding other road users.
Further details have yet to be announced, but the newest version of the Mercedes E-Class is due to go on sale in the UK early next year.
