You ain't seen nothing yet

[GIR]

Here's some word of what new MB tech we are going to get in the new W221 S-Class, some of it is old news and some of it is hot of the press. Apart from all the stuff that's on the current S class the W221 will get the following.

* COMAND has been completely redesigned in conjunction with Nokia and people head-hunted from Audi. I'm betting this system is going to be a dream to operate.

* Redesigned entertainment system by Bang & Olufsen. This system can incorporate any type of media or extension. DVD, MP3, CD, Super CD, TV, DVB you name it and it's possible.

* UHI (Universal Handy Interface) or Universal cellphone interface. I can't wait to see this system, I'm betting it involves getting a holder for your cellphone at the MB dealer.

* Traffic Information System. I've seen the Dutch MB CEO brag about this on Dutch TV. Basicly it's a system developed inconjuntion with the Dutch and German gov. What it does is warn the car behind you (which also has the system) about what you're doing. If you're braking hard then the car behind you will get a timely warning. It also connects to a central computer system and reports back about things like wet/slipery roads. Accidents and all kinds of stuff.

* Electronic glass roof as seen on the Maybach. For the people who do not know what this is, look at the glassroof in the 3th picture.

http://money.howstuffworks.com/maybach2.htm

That glass roof can change shades from completely transparant to completely dark within a touch of a button.

* Electro-Hydraulic breaking (or brake-by-wire) as seen on the E-Class.

* Steer-by-wire

* Shift-by-wire

* Rear parking sensors with break intervention.

* Automatic lane keeping

* Overtaking assistance, this will warn you if there's somebody in the lane next to you and whether it's safe to overtake. Once you're in the leftlane it will automaticaly increase gas to overtake. (For all you lazzy Americans out there )

* Nightvission device. An IR camera has been buildt into the rearview mirror. The image from that camera is projected onto the windscreen.

* A HUD (Heads Up Display) which projects a information onto the windscreen like on the BMW 5 series, execpt thsi system is full color and can use the entire windscreen instead of small piece of it.

* Pre-Safe II & III predefined sollutions to hazard situations.

* Improved pedestrian protection. When a pedestrian collision is detected the the hood is lifted 5 cm's so the impact is delivered over a wider area. Also because there's some room between the hood and the hard engine parts below the pedestrain has a "softer"landing and the engine parts are protected.

* Cold-storage device. Anybody who has air condictioning in their car knows that if the engine is running at lower speeds then the airco doesn't function aswell, this can be specialy annoying when you have to wait at a redlight for several minutes. The cold storage devices can store cold air for several minutes and once the airco gas runs out of cold this kicks in ensuring cold air for several more minutes to come.

* Air filtration system which is equal to that of a hospital.

* Inteligent multifunction headlights which give optimal lighting into any direction in any condition.

* Inteligent airbags. Now I know the term "Inteligent airbags" has been dropped by many manufacturers but these are truely inteligent. First of all the airbags at the front cover the complete front windscreen, this is not for the people in the front but in the back. Any childeren standing in the back with out seat belts (kids do this all the time, my niece is just 3 and she already knows howto take her seatbelt off) are protected from being launched through the front windscreen.

Sensors in the seats measure the position and weight of the person sitting in the seat. Airbags are then triggered according to impact force, impact vector and occupant variables in the car. If a 200 pound person is sitting in the car then the airbags are inflated to full but a 90 pound person will trigger a much lesser response.

* Four way shocks which were up untill today were only used on race cars but are now standard on the S class. The four way shocks ensure much smoother and comfortabler ride.

* For an extra charge you can get an improved ABC system which consists of 4 seperate systems at every wheel instead of the current centralized control to each wheel. Lighter and again more comfortabler. This also means that your complete car has to be upgraded from a 12v to 42v system which means replacing every electronic component in the car.

* Ceramic breaks will be standard. To accomodate these 19 inch rims will also be standard.

* The car will come with a completely new line of V8 and V12 4 valve engines. CDI Diesel and GDI Gasoline engines are the only two flavors.

* In future models MB is planning on including fuel cell as a small power plant in the trunk. This can operate the climate control and other electronic system onboard while the engine is turned off. No more getting into a hot car in the summer and no more cold starts in the winter.

* And as final the creme de la creme. A full metal front grill which has a intregal place in the overal design. MB is stepping of the artsy fartsy stuff and returning to it's roots. As seen on the new C class all cars are going to get metal front grills and a star on the hood. MB also promised to get quality back upto par and maybe even better. The new C class should prove this over the next few years.

All I can say is WOW! Can't wait to feast my eyes on this beauty.

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Hallo GIR,

 

kennst du schon You ain't seen nothing yet (Anzeige)? Dort ist vieles zu finden.

 

Mercedes Ersatzteile (Anzeige) | Mercedes Zubehör (Anzeige)

[skyline_r34v]

Sry Gir, that sounds like TOO MUCH bullshit in a car for me.

Overtaking assistance? Riiiiiiiiiiiight i don't need suffin tellin me when to take sumbody and helpin me get by them. It could malfunction and zoom up when i'm tryin 2 put on the brakes and then i chicken ram sumbody.

All that shit adds unconditional, unneeded weight and for GOD sakes MB doesn't need heavier cars than they already do.

All this sounds like stupid bullshit and trying to "woe" and "wow" the crowd with this fancy shit. Personally i think it's all gay.

[GIR]

It's a frikkin S class for gods sake. Who cares about it's weight?! The people who buy this, buy it for all the crap you get with it

[LateNightCable]

* Traffic Information System. What it does is warn the car behind you (which also has the system) about what you're doing.

Yeah, only if the car behind you also happens to be a brand new $100,000 Mercedes.

* Electro-Hydraulic breaking (or brake-by-wire) as seen on the E-Class.

* Steer-by-wire

* Shift-by-wire

* Rear parking sensors with break intervention.

* Automatic lane keeping

Uh oh ...

* Overtaking assistance, once you're in the leftlane it will automaticaly increase gas to overtake. (For all you Americans with a death wish out there )

Double Uh oh ...

* Nightvission device. The image from the camera is projected onto the windscreen.

* A HUD (Heads Up Display) which projects information onto the windscreen, execpt thsi system is full color and can use the entire windscreen instead of small piece of it.

So you won't see that pedestrian you're about to plow head on into, how clever!

* Improved pedestrian protection. When a pedestrian collision is detected the the hood is lifted 5 cm's so the impact is delivered over a wider area.

So instead of the victim's legs taking the brunt of the impact, their head can also absorb some of the energy. Smart thinking!

Also because there's some room between the hood and the hard engine parts below the pedestrain has a "softer"landing and the engine parts are protected.

As if getting mowed over by a 5,000 pound Mercedes could ever be "soft". At least the engine parts are protected at all cost, would'nt want any of that yucky blood on them.

* Air filtration system which is equal to that of a hospital.

Smells like one too!

* Inteligent multifunction headlights which give optimal lighting into any direction in any condition.

So oncoming drivers will be blinded, and won't be able to see anything at all.

* Inteligent airbags. Any childeren standing in the back with out seat belts are protected from being launched through the front windscreen.

So instead of flying through the movie screen ( otherwise known as the MB windshield ), they can get whiplash while they suffocate in a huge bag. Thats what you get for standing in the backseat junior, while mom is trying to pay attention to the 56" HUD.

* For an extra charge you can get an improved ABC system, this also means that your complete car has to be upgraded from a 12v to 42v system which means replacing every electronic component in the car.

How thrifty!

* Ceramic breaks will be standard. To accomodate these 19 inch rims will also be standard.

Gots to have them 19" rims dog.

* And as final the creme de la creme. A full metal front grill. MB is stepping of the artsy fartsy stuff and returning to it's roots. MB also promised to get quality back upto par and maybe even better.

" We admit it, we fell off the wagon for awhile, but we'll do better, we promise - with revolutionary new features like a metal grill, and our newly developed technology that allows us greater ability to cut corners without the consumer detecting it. "

All this sounds like stupid bullshit and trying to " woe" and "wow" the crowd with this fancy shit. Personally i think it's all gay.

The people have spoken ...

The people who buy this, buy it for all the crap you get with it.

The kind of people who could'nt care less about the safety of any pedestrian, just don't hurt their engine componants.

[imported_qramos]

I just have a question for you guys, have you ever driven a Merc on a daily basis? I drive one every day, although mine is not that nice, and Even though it doesn't fly I have come to appreciate it because it is quiet and comfortable, and all that stuff you call crap makes it comfortable and easy to use. COmfort, not speed, is the name of the game. Not that it is slow though. Here is where I don't mind spending a little extra dough to get the comfort I want. You don't think about all that stuff when you drive the car. All you see is a sweet interior, uncluttered and simple. All you hear, is, well, is the fancy Bose sound system. You feel the comfort of the seats, and you don't feel the bumbps on the road. WHen you are sitting in rush hour traffic, you don't smell the exhaust fumes and dust from that diesel truck in front of you thanks to that fancy air purification unit. When your foot accedentaly slips onto the pedal a litle too hard from the stop light, it takes over and gives you a nice gentle takeoff. It is super refined, and my point is YOU DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT ALL THAT STUFF. iT LETS YOU THINK LESS ABOUT THE CAR, SO YOU CAN RELAX AND ACTUALLY ENJOY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC after having been stressed all day. And by the way; that added weight makes the thing feel more secure when you drive.

[skyline_r34v]

COmfort, not speed, is the name of the game.

Not for everybody, i myself value comfort greatly but i value speed alot more.

All you see is a sweet interior, uncluttered and simple. All you hear, is, well, is the fancy Bose sound system. You feel the comfort of the seats, and you don't feel the bumbps on the road. WHen you are sitting in rush hour traffic, you don't smell the exhaust fumes and dust from that diesel truck in front of you thanks to that fancy air purification unit. When your foot accedentaly slips onto the pedal a litle too hard from the stop light, it takes over and gives you a nice gentle takeoff.

That's true all u can SEE/HEAR/FEEL is the interior, sound system and the comfort of ur seats. I don't even smell the exhaust fumes and dirt in my eclipse behind traffic so np there. Sry gramos but my foot will never "accidentally" slip off the pedal when i'm at a stop light. Around here if u don't pay attention these idiots will ram u, even at a stoplight. So i pay close attention the whole time i'm driving unless i'm on the HWY or Interstate.

You don't think about all that stuff when you drive the car. It is super refined, and my point is YOU DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT ALL THAT STUFF. iT LETS YOU THINK LESS ABOUT THE CAR, SO YOU CAN RELAX AND ACTUALLY ENJOY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC after having been stressed all day.

Actually i WOULD be thinking about everything my car has and ask myself WHAT is the purpose of all these creature comforts and is it really necessary?

I can wry about the car along with myself AND relax at the same time. Sry to say WHO would actually enjoy rush hour traffic? Even in ultimate comfort of a maybach i would STILL not enjoy it.

Unless i was watching Dumb&Dumber or Big Daddy.

And by the way; that added weight makes the thing feel more secure when you drive.

Yes even more easier when you have a wreck to demolish the other person's car along with the other person killing them instantly. Why you think SUV's are dangerous when ppl have head-on collisions or get blind-sided by them and the other ppl in the cars are either dead or critically injured and ur setting pretty?

[LateNightCable]

I have never owned a Mercedes myself, but I can tell you that the seats in the old SL were kind of stiff for one thing. But I can see this turning into another " why do you hate MB? " thread already, so before it has a chance to become that, I will, on the part of everyone who is not a three-pointed star die hard, once again acknowlege that MBs' are fine cars, and fill their role admirably, they take care of things so you, the driver don't have to - I think every level headed person here would agree on that.

But, there is merit to the notion that Mercedes cars contain an unnecessary amount of technical doo dads that amount to not much more than flash. If you want to use them, they are there, but how important are they really? And how much is it going to cost you to have them? In the short term and the long run. Luxury cars were plenty comfortable before windshield size HUD, steer/brake/shift-by-wire, multi-function intelligent headlights, and all that other funky stuff.

All that weight would indeed make you feel secure, since you would have comfort in knowing you would probably hold the upper hand in an accident, but it's also very selfish. My main question is with the " pedestrian protection ". When detecting a collision with a person, why would the car raise it's hood a couple inches, as if rolling over the pedestrian was better than having him hit the hood, and messing up the paint? If it can detect human collision, why can't it veer it's own ass over a few feet to avoid them, or apply it's own the brakes? Because, perhaps like it's driver, this is a very self absorbed car.

[skyline_r34v]

agreed

[mv]

woe wow

[GIR]

Well I won't comment anymore on the stuff in this thread, as a man of science you guyz know where I stand All I have to say is stop being so pesimistic and embrase the advancements, you know you want to everybody else is doing it.

About the Traffic Information System. Like I said it has been developed inconjunction with the Dutch and German goverment. It has been tested on the Dutch roads and if the deployment of it in the S class goes as planned the EU has plans to make it a requirement on all cars.

So yes for the first few years only expensive cars will get it, but you have to start somewhere. It's better then not putting it in at all.

Intelligent lighting. If that were to be true then everybody who has XEON lighting would blind everybody on the road.

Jaguar also developed a Nightvision system with a HUD but for some reason they never deployed it. The HUD doesn't hinder your sight at all, it is fully transparent and if at all improves traffic awarnes. You don't have to look down anymore to see how fats you;re going, what song is playing on the radio or what the setting of the climate control is. If you don't believe me take out one of the BMW E60's and you'll see for yourself.

Liek qramos said. You'll only learn to appriciate all the stuff on a Benz untill you drive one yourself. I still miss the "easy exit" functionality on my old S500. I'm rather tall myself (1,95m) which makes getting out of a vehicle a task on it;s own. With easy exit I could pop in and out of the car like it was nothing.

But the funny thing is that MB has always been the trend setter in the upper luxury range. I'm betting BMW and Audi will come with similar tech within a few years.

[Anzeige eBay]

Hallo GIR,

 

schau doch mal hier zum Thema Zubehör für Mercedes (Anzeige)? Eventuell gibt es dort etwas Passendes.

[LateNightCable]

All I have to say is stop being so pesimistic and embrase the advancements, you know you want to everybody else is doing it.

Uh, I don't know about anyone else, but I've never been one to care what everyone else is doing. I'll march to my own drum, thanks. And whether those are really " advancements " is up for debate.

The Traffic Information System could only become manditory on new cars, so if you drive a 20 year old car, you're in luck!

I'm willing to bet as well that BMW and Audi would follow along with that nonsense - how sad.

You have to realize that some people do not want to drown in the latest technology with the car beeping at them and doing things on it's own. People like GIR or Gramos would love it. But to others, it would be a nerve wracking pain in the ass.

[thepolarfoxqx]

i have been driving a mercedes for the summer actually. I have been in san diego driving an S420. Yeah, that's a 2. Try 1998.

My observation of mercedes is that their seats, despite seeming at first stiff, are amazing for long drives. They are very very calm and collected. They feel floatier than they are. They also assume the driver has an IQ of 45, the climate control on that thing had like 2 modes, Auto and Off. Why can't I decide how much air of what temperature hits my face?

I am suspicious of all the new stuff being added, for fear the attitude of it all might be the same. I do have faith though that mercedes will restore the quality that my 1998 has to the 05, and the S will retake it's standing as the ultimate luxury sedan.

[imported_qramos]

They also assume the driver has an IQ of 45, the climate control on that thing had like 2 modes, Auto and Off. Why can't I decide how much air of what temperature hits my face?

Polarfox has been doing a ton of writing. Welcome back. Regarding the quote, that is the only thing tends to get irritating. THe climate control sometimes goes crazy with the fan in an effort to correct the temperature quickly. It also can't take into account the radiant heat of the sun shining on you through the windows. And it gets really annoying sometimes that it takes more effort to adjust it, than to just shut it off and roll-down the windows. Most systems are not like that though. THey are usually pretty user friendly.

My observation of mercedes is that their seats, despite seeming at first stiff, are amazing for long drives.

In the last two years Merc has somewhat abandoned their old seat style, in favor of a new, cushier style, especially in the S-class cars. But I didn't have any gripes about the older ones because, although not being as soft as a caddy's seats, they just fit really well and were comfortable, especially on long drives. I did not get the new ones on my 2002 E- class, but I have seen them and they look really really nice.

[thepolarfoxqx]

i've not really had long term exposure to a really new S-Class seat, but i am familiar with their traditional seat, it's like an old BMW seat but springier and more supportive. They were really were good. I think the germans are pandering too much. The real bread and butter buyers, the loyalists like the stiff steering, the stiff, yet not harsh ride, and the seats that worked a lot better than you'd expect. The S420 i was driving was beautiful in terms of function. I test drove a new E500 and while it was impressive, it just didn't feel merecedes to me.

As far as the climate control goes, the jag and the audi have over-rides that are fairly functional (if ill designed) that allow you to effectively control the climate control without using the automatic function, benz just gives you like auto, full power and off. basically it's like trust us to run it or don't have it. For benz buyers i guess that works, but as an old bmw fan, i like the mechanical driver in total control thing.