Things You Didn't Know You Needed: Mercedes-Benz Developing Uncarriage Air Bags

Accident prevention has evolved so much in modern automobiles that Mercedes-Benz is now focusing its efforts on diminishing the effects of collisions. The most innovative safety advancement on the horizon may be the braking bag — an airbag for your car that inflates 80 to 100 milliseconds before collision to dilute the physics of impact.

The German manufacturer detailed upcoming advancements in its traveling safety showcase, the ESF 2009 (a Mercedes S400 hybrid), for the automotive media at its U.S. headquarters in Montvale, N.J.

Among the ESF 2009's safety features, not yet available, are: the braking bag; gas-fired metal guardrails in the side doors; an innovative child safety seat that is open in the back; interior airbags to protect occupants in rollovers (i.e. so they don't land on each other); and, a shoulder-strap belt bag for rear-seat passengers.



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Whelan - 3/8/2010 4:33:50 PM

+4 Boost

Did they really need to waste a new E-class? I would have taken a donation and they could have tested the technology on my Matrix.

uaw_lax - 3/8/2010 8:33:54 PM

-1 Boost

LOL They can write the new E- class of as a business exspence so it would be cheaper than buying even a new Matrix.

Whelan - 3/8/2010 4:33:56 PM

+3 Boost

Did they really need to waste a new E-class? I would have taken a donation and they could have tested the technology on my Matrix.

LACMAN - 3/8/2010 6:06:32 PM

+3 Boost

...okay, what about my 300C or my '89 Caprice?

CarCrazedinCali - 3/9/2010 12:38:19 AM

-1 Boost

Great safety ideas. Stupid responses above about which car they are testing it on... Of course they would use their own product to test it on. Besides, the E class isn't all that anyway.

LACMAN - 3/9/2010 1:06:56 AM

+5 Boost

How were they stupid responses? Of course they would use their own vehicle to test it on, Captain Obvious. Its all stated for "just saying" purposes.

...And I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion but a stupid response (or comment) is to say the E-Class isnt all that anyway.

Whelan - 3/9/2010 8:18:39 AM

+2 Boost

Thanks for pointing the obvious CarCrazedinCali. I would think the article would drum up even MORE buzz and speculation had they actually used a 2005 Matrix to test this on. I could see it now, the airbag deploys and sends my car shooting forward like a jet on a steam catapult, LOL!

Here I'll make a VALID post to help you VALIDATE your existence:

A technology like this could really change things, for more than just the occupants. Insurance industry could keep costs down since repairs nowadays are hugely expensive when it comes to body work. Body guys can't just spot weld a hook and pop out a dent anymore with the shaping and forming of the metals on cars in such various ways. Although one has to wonder what the weight of such a system would be with the tanks and gas charges, etc.

Whelan - 3/9/2010 10:16:35 AM

+3 Boost

It will be available on the 2020 Matrix/Corolla assuming Toyota is still around after all the lawsuits have been settled.