Merc’s safety revolution

By Mark Nichol

12th June 2009

Meet the car that’s got safety in the bag! This is Mercedes’ ESF 2009 concept, and it has some amazing airbag innovations.

Using the latest generation of the firm’s Pre-Safe system, it can now detect impending side and rear collisions, as well as front and rear crashes. Folded, hollow side-impact beams in the doors can be inflated like metal balloons. The seat bolsters ‘nudge’ the front occupant a few centimetres away from the impact, too.

There’s also a new type of airbag which deploys between front occupants, preventing them from clashing heads.

A similar system in the back uses a cushion that can be folded out manually and employed as a side headrest. To minimise injuries, a rear Belt Bag inflates the safety strap, while variable-volume front airbags take into account occupant weight and position.

An innovative Brake Bag, which is activated between the front wheels before a crash, creates friction against the road to stop the car rapidly. And if a rear shunt is imminent, Pre-Safe applies the anchors to prevent the car jolting forward, thus helping to avoid a secondary collision.  

There’s even a modular child seat, giving improved protection against head injuries. The rear Belt Bag is close to production – as is innovative car-to-car communication using wireless networks, which warns drivers about obstacles on the road and traffic congestion.

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