Bangkok--Mar 31--DaimlerChrysler (Thailand)
* Occupant protection on three levels during a frontal crash
* Adaptive airbags and belt force limiters
The innovative occupant protection systems in the new CLS-Class also underpin the traditional Mercedes-Benz claim to leadership in the field of car safety. This means that thanks to a comprehensive concept, the four-door Coupe is prepared for virtually every conceivable eventuality and offers its occupants an outstanding level of all-round protection.
Large deformation zones at the front end optimise the flow of forces during a collision, leaving the passenger cell substantially undamaged even during severe accidents. As in all recent Mercedes car models, impact protection is based on a three-stage concept which is wholly or only partly initiated depending on the severity of the accident:
* Up to approx. 4 km/h impact speed the plastic bumpers and foam elements absorb the impact energy and regain their original shape after the crash.
* Up to approx. 15 km/h impact speed the front cross members and the crash boxes on the front-end module absorb the energy, so that the structure behind them remains undamaged. Thanks to repair-friendly connections, the elements making up the front-end module can be replaced at low cost.
* At more than 15 km/h impact speed, occupant protection is assured by a sophisticated system of structural members. These include the robust steel sections above the wheel arches, which from a second tier of side members and ensure efficient load distribution during an offset collision. They are braced against the A-pillars. The lower side members in the front-end structure feature an additional, third skin on the inside surface. These direct the impact forces in the robust firewall cross member, which acts together with the pedal floor members to ensure that the energy is widely distributed right to the transmission tunnel and outer side members. Like the lower elements of the front axle, the integral member, to which parts of the front axle, the steering gear and engine mountings are attached, is also involved in energy absorption during a severe frontal impact. If the Coupe is in a frontal collision with a one-sided overlap, the special impact-absorbing elements in front of the side members perform an important function. They brace the wheels at an early stage in the collision, so that impact forces can also be transfered to the lateral body structure along this path.
The fact that 47.5 percent of all the sheet metal components in the godyshell are of high-strength steel alloys is a further indication of the high safety level in the new CLS-Class. These high-strength components provide maximum dynamic resistance despite a low material thickness.
Passenger cell: effective all-round occupant protection
The passenger cell is designed to withstand all kinds of accident situations - frontal or rear collisions, side impacts or roll-overs - and provides a very robust structure for a very high level of occupant protection even a high impact speeds. The sophisticated floor structure, robust longitudinal and cross members, flexurally rigid struts, three-walled A, B and C-pillars and tubular reinforcements in the B-pillars form the strong backbone of this "protection zone".
In the event of a rear-end collision, the same three-phase, speed-related safety concept as is found in the front-end structure of the new CLS-Class take effect, based on the plastic bumper, a flexing cross member and deformable crash boxes. The rear side members consist of a continuous, closed box section with specifically graduated material thicknesses, and are able to absorb large forces. The plastic fuel tank is installed in a crash-protected location in front of the rear axle.
Front airbags: two-stage control depending on accident severity
Mercedes-Benz has already been making a major contribution to improved occupant safety for many years, with intelligent restraint systems which adapt to the current occupant and accident situation. The new CLS-Class likewise features such an adaptive protection concept. The aim of these measures is to reduce the loads acting on the occupants even further during serious accidents, and to optimise the protective function during accidents in the medium speed range.
The sensors of the restraint system are supplemented with two upfront sensors on the radiator across member. Their remote positioning in the front end of the body enables them to defect the severity of a collision even earlier and with greater accuracy than the central crash sensor on the transmission tunnel. The information from the upfront sensors is used by the electronic control module to shorten the time that elapses between the moment of impact and the deployment of the belt tensioners, to adapt the operation of the belt force limiters to the severity of the collision and to trigger the airbags both earlier and in two stages, depending on the situation. During a minor frontal impact the electronic control unit only ignites one stage of the two-stage airbag gas generators, and the airbag inflates more gently. Should the control unit detect a severe frontal collision, however, it deploys the second stage of the gas generator after a slight delay. As a result, the airbag inflates at a higher pressure to provude the occupants with the level of protection required in a collision of this severity.
Side airbags: conbination of windowbags and sidebags
The restraint system in the new CLS-Class offers two further, highly effective systems with standard-fitted sidebags in the front seat backrests as well as windowbags. These complement each other in their protective effect: while the sidebags mainly protect the thorax area of the occupants, the windowbags deploy from the front to the rear roof pillar like a large curtain, providing head protection over a wide area. The windowbags and belt tensioners are also activated in the event of a roll-over.
The occupant restraint system in the new CLS-Class
Front seats Rear seats
Inertia-reel seat belts 0 0
with automatic confort-fit and
height adjustment
High-performance belt 0 0
tensioners
Belt force limiters 0 0
Adaptive
Head restraints 0 0
Adjustable for height
and angle
PRE-SAFE preventive Optional * -
occupant protection
Front airbags 0 -
With adaptive control
depending on accident
severity
Sidebags 0 0
Windowbags 0 0
For more information please contact:
DaimlerChrysler (Thailand) Ltd, Communications Department,
Fax: 0-2676-5685
Website: media.daimlerchrysler.com
Chatvithai Tantraporn 0-2344-6120, 0-1836-0014
[email protected]
Yaowaret Lertluechachai 0-2344-6121, 0-1805-3492
[email protected]
Orada Dolkit 0-2344-6122, 0-1853-4222
[email protected]
Or K.Kallayaratana Saenpanya (Ice)
PR Consultant 0-2257-0300 Ext.340
[email protected] End.