Mercedes shows off next-gen E-Class' new tech

Mercedes-Benz says its E-Class will be ‘semi-autonomous’ when it goes on sale next year and take a major step towards being the world’s first ever accident-free car.

Equipped with ultrasonic and radar sensors, plus forward, side and rear cameras that give a 360-degree view, the big new Mercedes sedan is able to detect dangers, warn, assist and even communicate with other vehicles to reduce the risk of an accident and reduce the stress of driving.

Mercedes calls its new semi-autonomous tech ‘next-level Intelligent Drive’. Designed to work from 0-200km/h, the system maintains a correct distance in towns, cities, country roads and freeways, taking away the need for the driver to operate any of the pedals, and will even steer for the driver. The car’s cameras, meanwhile, can read road signs and speed limits and reduce the speed accordingly without any input from the driver.

Other pioneering new technology includes Mercedes’ ‘Car-to-X’ communication, which has been created to share information with other cars to prevent collisions on a country road or urban hotspots like hidden junctions or blind bends. The system, which will eventually be fitted to every Mercedes car, will also share weather and traffic updates.

The E-Class will also come with next-generation LED headlight tech that uses 84 individual lighting units that carve precise shapes of light, making it impossible to dazzle oncoming drivers.

If the Mercedes detects an obstacle the new Active Brake Assist will warn the driver and apply the brakes. Unlike other systems, it can differentiate between crawling traffic and stationary vehicles and even pedestrians and provide more precise braking and, in the case of pedestrians, even add steering to help avoid them -- if you opt for the optional Evasive Steering Assist.

If the worst does happen and a crash is imminent, engineers have even gone as far as creating ‘Pre-Safe Sound’ system that provokes a natural reflex using sound to prepare the body for an accident. A noise triggers a muscle in the human ear that contracts to protect the inner ear from damage.

New seats also contain inflatable side bolsters that push the passenger towards the centre of the car before impact.

Finally, like the new BMW 7 Series, the new E-Class can also self-park itself using your smartphone as a remote control to help you squeeze into tight car park spaces like a small garage.

The new E-Class is set to be officially unveiled January 2016 at the Detroit motor show.