Park Assist also makes use of the S-Class' 24 GHz radar system, housing sensors within the front and rear bumpers to avoid those
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| Park Assist makes use of the S-Class' 24 GHz radar system, housing sensors within the front and rear bumpers to avoid those unsightly little divots on your bumpers. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz Canada) |
The last line of defense is a collision prep system designated PRE-SAFE. This electronic program combines information from the radar sensors, as well as sensors monitoring the new sedan's braking and speed levels and rates, and if it determines that a collision is inevitable it will initialize all the safety systems. Seat belts are tightened, the seats themselves readjust to better protect the occupant, windows and sunroof are automatically closed to provide the passengers with
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| The coolest of the new S-Class technologies is the Infra-Red Night Vision. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz Canada) |
The last and definitely the coolest of the new S-Class technologies is the Infra-Red Night Vision. The car has a pair of special headlamps that project infra-red light at the road ahead and a camera mounted onboard records the reflections and displays them on a view screen as a highly detailed black and white image. You can't get any cooler without being a black-ops Navy SEAL. Mercedes claims this system can increase a driver's night-time vision range by up to 150 metres (about 500 feet). Incidentally, Cadillac sold a similar system fitted to their outgoing DeVille DTS, developed by Raytheon, which has now been discontinued.