Mercedes-Benz has revealed a series of driver aids and safety features that will be fitted to the new S-Class. Many of these, as is commonplace for the S-Class, are world-firsts and will probably feature in everyday cars in years to come.
The S-Class has two features fitted to keep drivers on their side of the road. Active Lane Keeping Assist detects oncoming traffic and will apply the brakes on one side should the car stray towards the opposite lane. This is supported by DISTRONIC Plus, which can automatically follow the vehicle in front during slow moving traffic.
PRE-SAFE is fitted to the flagship too; working together in three separate systems. PRE-SAFE Brake can detect pedestrians and will automatically stop the car up to speeds of 50km/h. PRE-SAFE Plus can 'sense' an imminent rear end collision and prepare the occupant protection system and fully apply the brakes to prevent the S-Class shunting the car in front. PRE-SAFE Impulse uses the front seat belts to pull the occupants away from a frontal impact crash to reduce injuries.
Mercedes has improved its Night View Assist too, which changes the speedometer into a night vision camera. This is fitted alongside Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus; allowing the S-Class to have its lights on full beam without dazzling oncoming drivers.
Attention Assist is fitted as well. This monitors the driver's fatigue level over long distances, and offers different comfort settings to help keep the driver alert.
The S-Class uses LED technology to become the first car in the world to be sold without a single light bulb fitted. Adaptive lighting also dims the rear brake lights at night and when sat in traffic.
All-in-all, pretty exciting stuff. We're looking forward to seeing how all this stuff works in the real world; and how long it takes other companies to follow suit.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class will not be launched until the end of 2013.