S-class crash on TV was "faked"

The infamous clip of a brand new Mercedes S-class crashing while trying to demonstrate the "crash-avoidance" system turns out to be "fake".

It turns out that the engineers from Mercedes knew that under the circumstances of the test, the system wouldn't work so instead they had decided to brake manually to simulate the system. But because of the heavy smoke, the driver was unable to see the car in front so the engineers had layed out a plank of wood that the car would drive over in order to signal the driver that it was time to break. Unfortunately, the suspension of the car was too good so the driver didn't feel the car going over the plank and therefore slammed into the other!
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SixxFive - 12/23/2006 12:19:45 AM

+2 Boost

Ugh - this 'news' and the accompanying article are over a year old.

Auto_Fan - 12/23/2006 1:04:00 AM

+4 Boost

Old news, but it was also said that the driver forgot to switch the system on. Nevertheless, I don't think such technology is meant to be a supstitute for safe driving, its just an aid which should only be used within its limitation.

nox327 - 12/23/2006 3:41:35 AM

+2 Boost

I think everyone that follows automotive news, which is everyone that is reading this website, knew about that already.

The reason the system didn't work is because it was done in a warehouse. They say that the metal caused the radars to malfunction. They knew about that, so that is why they tried to fake it do demonstrate it to the public. They couldn't get such thick "fog" outside, so that is why they did it inside.

Bill - 12/23/2006 6:57:06 AM

+1 Boost

The metal warehouse would have caused the radar waves sent out by the system to scatter and not reflect back to their origin point.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/23/2006 10:39:08 AM

+3 Boost

Why didn't they just demonstrate the system somewhere else?

Bill - 12/23/2006 11:56:31 AM

+3 Boost

Why didn't they just demonstrate the system somewhere else?



Beats me. I guess they thought the driver would notice. This says a lot about S-Class comfort though!