New Mercedes E-class details unveiled

Date: 20 November 2008   |   Author: John Challen

Mercedes has revealed details of its next-generation E-class ahead of its official launch in March 2009.

Promising to be the safest Mercedes ever, the car will feature new and improved technologies to aid the company's quest for accident-free driving.

Systems include Attention Assist, which monitors fatigue; Active Highbeam Assist; Lane Keeping Assist and Speed Limit Assist.

One additional safety measure to be deployed is a pedestrian-friendly safety bonnet as standard. In the event of an accident, a system of springs raise the rear section of the bonnet by 50mm in milliseconds, enlarging the impact zone. The bonnet, introduced to meet new legislation, can be automatically reset if there is no damage, saving costly repair bills and cutting the amount of time the vehicle is off the road.

Drivers of the E-class will also sit more comfortably, thanks to new seats that have been developed with German supplier Continental. Extra padding on the sides of the seats help to keep occupants in position, and also protect in the event of an impact thanks to a specially developed reinforcement. A massaging system is also available.

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