Home Top

The most hi-tech car ever? New Mercedes E-Class will have everything from self parking through an app to the ability to communicate with nearby cars to find out what the traffic is like

Mercedes E Class set to go on sale next spring
Car to car communication allows it to warn other vehicles
Can park itself and be summoned using an app - even from tightest space
Driver assist can spot speed signs and adjust accelerator

Published: 17:48 EST, 15 July 2015 | Updated: 18:05 EST, 15 July 2015

View
comments

It could be the most hi-tech car ever made, with everything from a self driving mode to stereo speakers that protect your hearing in a crash.

Mercedes Benz has revealed the hi-tech features of its new E-Class car.

Set to go on sale next spring, it can even talk to other cars to warn them of problems on the road.

Scroll down for video

With everything from a self driving mode to stereo speakers that protect your hearing in a crash and its own network to talk to other cars, Mercedes says its new E-Class car will be the safest it has ever made.

SENSOR FILLED INTERIOR

The new car will also be packed with sensors,including an enhanced multi-purpose stereo camera behind the windscreen and new multi-stage radar sensors with adjustable range around the vehicle.

It will also use ultrasonic sensors and 360° cameras' lenses to scan the road.

'Numerous innovations in the new driver assistance package will enable semi-automated driving on freeways, highways and in city traffic, allow the car to be moved into and out of tight parking spaces from outside using a smartphone app, and facilitate autonomous braking to mitigate dangerous situations,' the firm boasts.

Although it will not be able to drive itself entirely, on motorways and country roads, it is not only able to keep the car at a correct distance behind slower vehicles ahead automatically, it can also follow them in their lane at a speeds from 0 of up to 200 km/h.

'This can relieve the driver, who doesn't necessarily need to operate the brake or accelerator pedal during normal driving and also receives plenty of steering assistance – even in bends,' Daimler says.

Thomas Weber, the head of Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development said 'We are taking a further major step along the road to autonomous and connected driving.

'The innovations that will be available for the future E-Class taking safety, stress relief, and comfort to a new level.

'And as such further Mercedes-Benz is underlining its leading position as a safety pioneer.'

Mercedes Benz preview their future E-Class technology

'Mercedes-Benz is taking a further major step along the road to accident-free and autonomous driving: drivers can expect to enjoy a new dimension of safety, comfort and stress relief in the future E-Class, which is being launched next spring,' it said.

The new car will also be packed with sensors,including an enhanced multi-purpose stereo camera behind the windscreen and new multi-stage radar sensors with adjustable range around the vehicle plus tried-and-tested sensors such as ultrasonic sensors and the 360° cameras' lenses.

The combined use of data from the sensors allows analysis of complex traffic situations, better detection of potential dangers on the road and, therefore, the ability to further enhance the increasing number of functions provided by the safety and assistance systems.

WHAT THE E-CLASS CAN DO

Car-to-X Communication: Mobile phone-supported exchange of information with other vehicles further ahead on the road, for example, can effectively allow the driver to see around corners or through obstacles. This means that the driver receives an earlier warning than previously in the event of imminent danger, such as vehicle in an accident.

Auto speed set In combination with COMAND Online, the optional Speed Limit Pilot subfunction can autonomously adjust the vehicle's speed in response to camera-detected speed limits or speed limits logged in the navigation system, e.g. in Germany 50 km/h in towns or 100 km/h on country roads.

Active Brake Assist: this system with enhanced functionality can warn the driver of imminent crash situations. In addition to detecting slower-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles, it also detects and reacts to crossing traffic at junctions, the tail ends of traffic jams and pedestrians in the danger zone ahead of the vehicle, for example.

Evasive Steering Assist: When the driver deliberately or instinctively performs an evasive manoeuvre in a dangerous situation, this function can assist by adding precisely calculated steering torque to support the movement of the steering wheel.

Intelligent Drive next Level: this system sees Mercedes-Benz taking the next step along the road to autonomous driving. On motorways and country roads, it is not only able to keep the car at a correct distance behind slower vehicles ahead automatically, it can also follow them in their lane at a speeds from 0 of up to 200 km/h. This can relieve the driver, who doesn't necessarily need to operate the brake or accelerator pedal during normal driving and also receives plenty of steering assistance – even in bends.

Remote Parking Pilot: this system for the first time allows the vehicle to be moved into and out of parking spaces from outside using a smartphone app, allowing the occupants to get into and out of the car easily, even if space is very tight.

Mobile Phone Car Key: this drive authorisation system uses Near Field Communication technology and allows the driver's smartphone to be used as a vehicle key.

Side Airbags: If an unavoidable side collision is detected, the air chambers in the backrest side bolsters inflate rapidly to preventively move the occupant sideways, away from the danger area. This increases the distance between occupant and door.