Stuttgart. The new #MercedesBenz #sclass has become more intelligent in many areas, and the driving experience reaches new heights. The digital innovations in e.g. MBUX[1] include new features that make driving even more enjoyable and even safer: among them are rear-axle steering with a large steering angle and #safety innovations such as the rear airbag. Furthermore – as a new function of PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side – the vehicle body can be raised just before a side impact thanks to the active E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension. Following systematic further development, the driving assistance systems are a further step towards autonomous driving. Thanks to improved environmental sensors, for example, the parking systems give the driver even better support when manoeuvring at low speed. While visualisation reaches new levels by virtue of integration into the intuitive operation of MBUX.
Can a luxury saloon with a long wheelbase be almost as manoeuvrable and agile as a compact car around town? Yes, if it has rear-axle steering with a large steering angle at the rear axle.
Are more #safety innovations even possible in the interior? Yes, as the #sclass demonstrates: The rear airbag for severe frontal collisions deploys from the front seat backrests, extending the protective systems for the two passengers on the outer rear seats.
Can the active E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension improve not only comfort, but also safety? Yes, because in addition to the well-proven PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side system, the new #sclass is able to raise the entire vehicle body immediately before an impending side collision. This can benefit all the occupants.
Can the driving assistance systems be improved even further? Yes, in the new #sclass, #MercedesBenz comes another big step closer to its vision of accident-free driving. The driver is assisted in controlling the vehicle by numerous new or extended driving assistance systems. He/she thereby has a reduced workload in day-to-day situations, and is able to drive comfortably and safely. When danger threatens, the assistance systems are able to help the driver respond to impending collisions as the situation demands, and ideally prevent them. Active Parking Assist and the 360° camera with a new 3D view assist the driver more easily and conveniently than ever before when parking and unparking, or when negotiating tight spaces.
"The new #sclass does full justice to its innovative tradition. The new generation will once again set the pace in the #automotive industry: the #sclass has trailblazing innovations in every area, from #safety and comfort to efficiency. One common theme is systematic digitalisation, both in development terms and in the vehicle itself. Intelligent networking of different systems gives our customers tangible added value",
Dr Uwe Ernstberger, Head of S and C-Class model series product group
"With the new #sclass we are now proudly presenting the world's first frontal airbag for the passengers in the rear. The rear airbag with an innovative, tubular structure is unique. And as a result it deploys extremely gently. Naturally the passengers should continue to fasten their seat belts. With the new, illuminated-design belt buckles, putting on seat belts is now even more intuitive",
Dr Thomas W. Hellmuth, Head of Body and safety
"The rear-axle steering makes the #sclass as manoeuvrable as a compact car. Even for the #sclass with a long wheelbase, the turning circle is reduced to under 11 metres. And thanks to Active Parking Assist with 360° camera, the vehicle can slip into tight parking spaces while recognising whether anybody is moving within that space. When leaving a space, the #sclass keeps a wary eye out for crossing traffic",
Jürgen Weissinger, Chief Engineer S-Class
"If the sensors discover an impending side-on crash, PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side preventively raises the body by up to 8 centimetres with the aid of E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL – in this way the impact is directed to particularly resilient structures in the lower part of the vehicle. As another feature celebrating its world premiere, the exit warning function now gives a warning as soon as the driver or front passenger reaches for the door. This is because the MBUX Interior Assistant recognises when a hand approaches the door handle",
Dr Michael Hafner, Head of Automated Driving
Overview of key features
With five multi-core processors, more than 20 sensors and the use of the stereo camera, the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension (optional) responds predictively to different driving situations:
Thanks to rear-axle steering (optional), the #sclass is as manoeuvrable as a compact car. The steering angle at the rear axle is up to ten degrees, allowing impressive manoeuvrability and agility in urban areas. At the same time the handling benefits from a virtual extension of the wheelbase at higher speeds:
The new #sclass also sets standards where accident safety is concerned:
The latest generation of the Driving Assistance Package has new and numerous improved functions. Two examples:
Thanks to improved environmental sensors and integration into MBUX, the parking systems give the driver even better support when manoeuvring at low speed:
The major innovations in detail
E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL: Adds semi-supporting hydropneumatics to the air suspension. The air springs bear the base load of the vehicle body and gradually regulate the level. The hydropneumatics generate dynamic forces that overlay the air suspension forces, and actively support and dampen the vehicle body. At each wheel, a damper is installed within the axle whose two working chambers have an adjustable damping valve and a hydraulic pressure reservoir. The damper is connected to an intelligent motor/pump unit in the 48 V network by hydraulic lines. Actuation of the motor/pump unit enables the hydraulic fluid to be displaced to create a difference in pressure within the damper, allowing an active force to be generated. The motor/pump units at all four wheels are coordinated by a central control unit which also actuates the valves and the compressor for the air springs, and therefore always controls the entire suspension system.
Rear airbag: Cylindrical, tubular structures are inflated with compressed gas and deploy a wing-shaped structure. A large, tent-like airbag deploys between the two wings, and this is inflated by the surrounding air via specially patented valves in the skin. These valves are designed so that the air cannot escape when the rear passenger is immersed in the airbag. The comparatively small volume of the tubes allows rapid deployment of a relatively large airbag volume. This takes place with comparatively low force and a low risk of injury, as the tubular wings give way to obstacles. The airbag enhances the restraining effect of the belt system, and can support the head and neck to decrease the loads on them significantly. In combination with a beltbag and the inflatable seat belt, the #sclass sets new standards for rear seat occupant #safety.
Rear-axle steering: An electric motor drives a spindle at the rear axle via a drive belt. This makes axial adjustments to the spindle. Depending on the speed and the steering angle, the rear wheels are turned in the same or the opposite direction as the front wheels (same-direction or counter-direction steering). In simplified terms, this produces more agility and a smaller turning circle by counter-steering and more stability with same-direction steering. In the #sclass, the full steering angle of ten degrees is especially used during parking manoeuvres. The environmental data of the vehicle sensors (radar, camera, ultrasonic) are used for large steering angles to adapt the maximum angle to the relevant situation. The system switches from counter-direction to same-direction steering at more than 60 km/h. The different driving modes rely on different steering strategies. The respective rear-axle angles and trajectories are shown in the driving mode menu in the central display. The 10° rear axle steering has a special snowchain mode. When activated by the driver, the steering angle at the rear axle is reduced and the steering characteristics are adapted for the special conditions of surface snow.
Centre airbag (country-dependent feature): During a severe side impact, this positions itself between the driver and front passenger seat, reducing the risk of their heads making contact It is integrated into the driver's seatback in the middle of the vehicle. The centre airbag is triggered when a severe side collision is recognised and certain conditions are met. The main factors for deployment are the direction of impact, impact side, and front passenger seat occupancy.
PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side: In addition to the familiar functions, the body of the new #sclass can be slightly raised just before the collision when a side impact threatens. The side-mounted radar sensors are able to recognise and track a potential side crash at an early stage. The actuator is the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension, which can raise the body upwards by up to 80 millimetres. This reduces the loads on the door structures, as the door sill can absorb more of the load thanks to its higher position. As a result deformation of the passenger cell and the loads acting on the occupants can be reduced.
[1] Meet the #sclass DIGITAL: "My MBUX" (Mercedes-Benz User Experience)
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