Report 1
A slew of vehicle safety systems are being showcased by Mercedes-Benz. The German premium car maker has created an Experimental Safety Vehicle, the ESF 2009 which is based on the upcoming S400 Hybrid. It is their first vehicle of this nature since the ESV24 which was introduced at the 1974 Geneva Motor Show.
The ESF 2009 features inflatable metal structures developed to save space and increase crash protection. These include side impact bars which would be blown to pressures of between 10 and 20 bar. When deflated they could save some weight and actually allow for other safety apparatus to be fitted.
Then they have an auxiliary brake in the floor of the ESF 2009. What makes this brake interesting is that it works with a bag that is similar to interior air bags but is much tougher. When the car senses an imminent collision the brake bag inflates to create friction with the road thus also slowing the car down. In addition to that it lifts the car up by up to 80mm to compensate for dive.
The interior, along with standard air bag and restraint systems is fitted with seat bolsters that shift the passengers about 50mm into the centre of the cabin should the car sense that a side impact is about to take place. The other safety features of interest arereflective tyres and air bags installed inside a seatbelts.
Full details and more photos expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Source: WorldCarFans.com
Report 2 Mercedes-Benz will revive the ESF nameplate under a modern approach via a whole new concept that is to be unveiled the following week.
We are talking about the
Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009 Concept, based on the recently revealed 2010 S 400 HYBRID. The ESF is the german acronym for
'Experimentier-Sicherheits Fahrzeuge', meaning
Experimental Safety Vehicle. The three letters have a long history at Mercedes-Benz, but strange as it may sound, there has been no other car to carry this badge since 1974, when the last concept of the range, the
ESF 24, was shown to public, as the finish point of the
Experimental Safety Vehicle Programme. Prior to it, there were the
ESF 05 in 1971 and
ESF 13 in 1972. You can read an interesting story about these concepts by following the next link:
Mercedes-Benz-Blog TRIVIA: Safety research test lab on wheels.
Sticking to the point, the
ESF 2009 Concept is simply a miracle of 21st century technology which shows the latest advances of the Mercedes-Benz Safety Department in the active and passive safety field. As a pioneer in this segment, the Stuttgart-based carmaker has prepared a range of clever systems that can make you and the passengers stay safe & sound when being at risk. Under the car, you will be able to find an inflatable sack that will act as a progressive brake, rising the friction with the road surface and, along with the conventional braking system, taking care to diminish as much as possible the braking distances. Inside the car, the Stuttgart boys have prepared a set of crazy airbags, placed between the front seats. Their main role is to avoid a possible, painful contact between the driver and the passenger during an accident. The
ESF 2009 will also display a
beltbag(that's obviously an airbag placed on the seat belts), an improved
PRE-SAFE system, the usual
ESP, BAS & DISTRONIC PLUS, better connected one with the other, an
Active Lane Keeping Assist(wonder what's this doing better than the current non-active lane assistant?) and many, many more.
Source: Mercedes-Benz-Blog.com