Side-impact protection thanks to intelligent bodyshell

Similar to the design of the front area of the new M-Class, the vehicle's intelligent bodyshell design also performs impressively in side-impact accident scenarios. The specific distribution of high rigidity and high deformability helps to ensure that the occupants benefit from favourable kinematics in the event of a side impact:

The lower part of the B-pillar, an important component in side impacts, is highly compressible, whereas its upper part is extremely rigid. As a result, intrusions and the speed of intrusions in the lower area are reduced, while in the upper area high-strength steels on the exterior sides of the pillar prevent it from buckling unfavourably in a side impact. In addition, this design solution increases the stability of the passenger compartment in the event of a rollover
The stiffening of the floor structure by means of a supporting element made of an ultra-high-strength material running across the entire width of the vehicle, and ultra-high-strength reinforcements in the driver's seat crossmember, help to reduce deformations, primarily in the event of a pole impact. As a result, the occupant survival space benefits from even better protection, and the thorax load on the occupants is reduced
The geometry and body connections of the pillars and the roof frame made of ultra-high-strength material have been optimised to provide the best possible crash safety

    See also:

    4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
    4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are permanently driven. Together with ESP® and 4ETS, it improves the traction of your vehicle whenever a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip. WARNING&nb ...

    BAS (Brake Assist System)
    Observe the "Important safety notes" section (). BAS operates in emergency braking situations. If you depress the brake pedal quickly, BAS automatically boosts the braking force, thus ...

    Opening
    Switch off the engine. Remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock. KEYLESS-GO: open the driver’s door. This switches the ignition to position 0, which corresponds to having removed the Sma ...