Arlington Chosen As Site For New Mercedes-Benz Dealership

Mercedes-Benz of Arlington Rendering

ARLINGTON, Texas (May 29, 2014) – Park Place Dealerships broke ground today on a two-story, 91,000 square foot Mercedes-Benz dealership in Arlington. The 16-acre site is located at Interstate 20 and Beltway Place. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2015 and will create more than 325 construction jobs and approximately 90 permanent jobs.

“Mercedes-Benz has one of the most exciting product lines in its history and there is a strong demand for the vehicles,” said Ken Schnitzer, chairman of Park Place Dealerships. “April sales for the brand were up more than 12 percent from a year ago. Arlington is a great market and with this new location, we will be able to better serve current clients in the area, as well as expand our client base.”

Mercedes-Benz of Arlington Rendering

Mercedes-Benz of Arlington, a Park Place Dealership, will feature a showroom that can showcase up to 16 new vehicles. The multi-million dollar project also willfeature a shop with 35 service bays and 10 make ready bays. Every area of the dealership has been designed to make the experience more efficient for the client.

Mercedes-Benz of Arlington will also handle sales and service for the line of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans. Three service bays in the shop will exclusively handle service for the vans. The Sprinter vans are available in cargo or passenger models.

Hesham Elgaghil, a Park Place member for nearly 14 years, has been named general manager of the dealership. Elgaghil has held several positions with the company including most recently, general sales manager at Park Place Motorcars Dallas.

“Park Place has consistently been recognized as one of the top places to work,” said Schnitzer. “Through Park Place University, we encourage members to continue to learn and as a result, we have a strong employee retention.  A significant number of our members have been with the company for more than 10 years.”

This will be the 18th dealership for Park Place Dealerships, which just opened a new Maserati store in Fort Worth earlier this month.

Good, Fulton & Farrell has been named the architectural firm for the project with Hill & Wilkinson handling the general contractor duties.

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs nearly 1,800 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Infiniti, Volvo, smart, Jaguar, Lotus, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. For more information about Park Place Dealerships and Maserati, visit www.parkplace.com.

Take a Thrill Ride in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe

Germans excel at exciting the senses
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe has a way of delivering thrills, passion and luxury in one enticing piece of automotive eye candy. If you know Mercedes-Benz, then you know those shiny, bold, sleek lines and aerodynamic design beg to be driven. The German engineering that has gone into the Intelligent Drive system and computer-driven infotainment produced one smart car that can think as you drive to make your ride safer, easier and more entertaining.

MY14_E550A_Coupe

Under the hood
The heart of the E350 and E550 E-Class coupe consists of an engine driven by plenty of horses – a generous 302 hp/273 lb-ft torque in the E350’s V-6, and a steroidal bi-turbo V-8 engine in the E550 that kicks up 402 hp/443 lb-ft torque for powerful 0 to 60 acceleration rates of 6.2 and 5.2 seconds, respectively.

Elegant efficiency
The elegant efficiency of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe begins before you ever hit the road with optional keyless start and entry. Then you’re ready to ease into the hand-stitched leather, Active Ventilated, heated, 14-way power adjusting sport seats with 4-way lumbar support. As you begin your journey, the COMMAND computer system awaits your input for musical selections from your iPod, MP3 player, computer, wireless Bluetooth audio streaming or personal digital music collection on the Music Register. The realistic, amplified sound emitted by the12-speaker, 610-watt Dolby digital surround sound system sends you happily on your way. As your wheels hit the road, the navigation system will expertly guide you to your destination, and Mercedes-Benz mbrace2 enables you to search the Internet for any needed information.

The thrill of the road
The sweet and responsive engines in both the E350 and E550 emit a satisfying growl at start-up, and Mercedes-Benz smooth ECO Start/Stop technology shuts the engine off at each stop and automatically restarts it when you lift your foot off the brake, reassuring you that you’re burning as little fuel as possible. The 7-speed automatic transmission shifts gears intuitively, and you can effortlessly glide to your destination, unless you decide to push the 2014 E-Class coupe through some hoops using the shift paddles. Manual shifting, combined with a sports-tuned suspension, Mercedes-Benz automatic damping and dial-a-ride Dynamic Handling in Sports mode will allow you to release your driving passion with a good deal of instant gratification.

MY14_E550A_coupe rear

Help in tight spots
Parking the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe is effortless due to Active Parking Assist that uses radar and cameras to scan for the best parking space, and a parking system that automatically maneuvers your vehicle into place. Safety features from Intelligent Drive include Lane Assist, Adaptive Cruise Cruise Control for automatic stop and go driving, and Distronic Plus Pre-Safe Brake, which can alert the driver of road obstacles or pedestrians and automatically apply the brakes.

Rather than simply reading about the thrilling and elegant new Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe, why not visit one of the Park Place Motorcars dealerships in Dallas, Grapevine or Fort Worth for a test drive to see for yourself how effortless, exciting and safe-handling the new E-Class coupe can be.

2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Enters Production

The upcoming 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. With six different S-Class models coming your way, there is sure to be one that fits your lifestyle perfectly. Stay tuned at Park Place Motorcars Dallas to be the first to hear about the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class arrival.

Mercedes-Benz is in the middle of the most fertile epoch in its century-long history. The premium automaker has made itself the proud parent of six all-new luxury models in recent years; it seems everyone is in Stuttgart’s crosshairs now. Nowhere is the German company’s “driving forward in the offensive” model more apparent than behind the wheel of its flagship, the S-Class sedan. Read on for all the details on the newest jaw-dropping S-Class generation.
For 2014, six S-Class models are available, beginning with the S400 HYBRID, S350 BlueTEC, and S550, and on to the S63 AMG and S600. Then, of course, is the true head-of-household: the S65 AMG performance sedan.

Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec ( W222) 2012

Comfort and safety
First off the block for MY2014 is the dashing S550, which will land in the U.S. with a 455-horsepower V8 this September. The S550 will be the first to showcase the Mercedes-Benz “smart” suspensions, explaining how, as a Road & Track reviewer put it, the sedan “makes 80 mph feel like 50, yet still manages to involve its driver.” Of course, that’s also because S-Class undergoes the “toughest chassis test in the world” before it ever sees production, to ensure it maintains composure in the world’s most extreme environments. Being able to mute out the effects of such spinal antagonists as potholes and manholes is fantastic. You’re unlikely to find an automobile better equipped to smooth life’s many frictions. Along those lines, Mercedes is proud to announce the first production Mercedes-Benz series to debut its award-winning new safety recognition systems. Guided by signature “6D vision” technology, its advanced camera and radar programming preemptively maximizes safety for both S occupants as well as nearby drivers and bystanders. Whether it’s a pedestrian, bicyclist or deer in the headlights, your intelligent sedan will take swift and appropriate action.

Engine power
Lest you think all this comfort and play-it-safe comes at the expense of performance, rest assured that Mercedes-Benz has attended to the inner fire of the S-Class. It has upgraded engines across the board, not least among them the turf-abusing 6-liter, bi-turbo V-12 beast that governs the topmost S65 AMG executive. With 621 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, this drivetrain is all but bloodthirsty and leaves each and every driver speechless after about four seconds. Yet, the luxurious S65 will be as gentle as a lamb – if you ask nicely. The Mercedes Benz S-Class humanizes the process of transport. Model-year 2014 reincarnates one of the twentieth century’s great trendsetters with a gentleman’s aplomb.

Please visit our Motorcars Dallas, Motorcars Grapevine, or Motorcars Fort Worth sites to stay tuned for the upcoming 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class arrival.

2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class: A Sixth Generation in Dallas

The upcoming 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is gearing for its debut this fall, perfect for those who enjoy magic carpet rides, live in fear of assassination or have a pressing need for a spa on wheels. The all-new sixth generation of the Mercedes-Benz low-lying sedan, like its predecessors, is an astonishing achievement. There’s an S-Class vehicle for every kind of drivetrain preference, safety concern and essential creature comfort. Curious? We explain it all here. Want to be the first to know when it arrives? Please click here to visit our Park Place Motorcars website and let us know.

Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec ( W222) 2012
“S” is for safety and style

It sounds like a riddle: what can see like a human, sometimes doesn’t need a human, is well-lit without light bulbs, and comes with its own hot stone massage? A car whose length is determined by the needs of chauffeured elites, the debut of the 2014 S-Class promises models engineered to the millimeter for performance, connectivity and ride quality.

Mercedes Benz S-Class will begin its U.S. launch later this year, starting with the Mercedes-Benz S550 in September, followed shortly by the S550 4Matic in November. ‘4Matic’ is the term Mercedes-Benz uses to describe the specialized four-wheel-drive versions of its vehicles. As the core model of its class, the S550 interior pioneers a host of new features, from all-LED lighting to built-in seat massages modeled after ancient Ayurvedic stone treatments.

Also on board are award-winning safety mechanisms that protect passengers from inadvertent traffic accidents and allow semi-autonomous driving via digital sensing systems. An S-Class vehicle can keep its lane and maintain a consistent distance between your car and the one ahead of you. Automatic braking allows vehicles like the S550 to scan for obstacles as they appear and brake if they don’t move.

The S-Class is considered one of the safest automotive classes in the world—no surprise from the German manufacturer of cars for diplomats and leaders of over ninety nations. The S-Class experience approximates that of a private jet, albeit one that won’t leave the ground.

“S” is for smooth sailing

The S550 is accident-resistant, but what about its handling under ordinary conditions? While Mercedes-Benz’s Magic Body Control suspension technology isn’t a magic carpet, the ‘smart’ dampener system approximates the sort of fluid, frictionless motion you’d expect from an enchanted tapestry.

Magic Body Control uses the Mercedes-Benz exclusive 360-degree vision—a complex camera-and-sensor circuit—to continually scan roadways for street imperfections like potholes. The system responsively adjusts the new S-Class suspension on the fly, making rocky roads feel like smooth conduits.

It’s just another way Mercedes strives to mute the noxious sources of mental and physical fatigue that plague passengers’ experience in lesser cars. If you would like to be among the first to test drive the upcoming 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, please visit one of our Motorcars locations: Park Place Motorcars Dallas, Motorcars Grapevine, or Motorcars Fort Worth.

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG: The Ultimate in Speed and Class

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG is the ultimate luxury car designed to exceed expectations and polish off the competition. And it’s available now at Park Place Motorcars Dallas, Motorcars Fort Worth, and Motorcars Grapevine.

2014-Mercedes-Benz-E63-AMG-Dallas-Plano-FortWorth
What Other Carmakers Don’t Want You to Know It’s amazing when a sports sedan like the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4Matic can leave some of the world’s production super cars in the dust. A glance at the refined and sculpted lines of the E63 AMG does not give away the E63’s 0 to 60 secret—an acceleration rate of just 3.5 to 3.6 seconds in the S and base model variants. As Mercedes-Benz puts it, this car remains “unmatched by virtually any other car on the road.”
How the E63 AMG Does it The E63 AMG specs clearly illustrate how such an urbane sedan can polish off the competition. After all, the AMG series is Mercedes’ top performance line, so it’s designed to exceed expectations.  One of the remarkable things about this track-worthy AMG is that it comes standard with performance designed all-wheel drive. Most performance sports cars operate on rear-wheel drive for faster shift-to-torque response. The E63 AMG has a longer wheelbase and weighs more, making the 4Matic deliver terrific torque and maximum control. In fact, the computer governing all four wheels actually makes the vehicle “feel remarkably nimble,” states Car and Driver.

 

You Drive Your E63 AMG—it Doesn’t Drive You

The 7-speed AMG speedshift sports transmission offers four driving modes to match your mood, weather and terrain. In Sports, Sports+ and Manual modes, the driver melds more closely to the car for aggressive driving with open throttle, lighting fast gearshifts and a satisfying bass note howl from the E63’s exhaust.

One Prestige Hot Rod

You can count on the AMG Adaptive sports suspension to handle normal to rough road conditions with aplomb. While many performance enthusiasts complain about the numb feeling from their electronic steering, Car and Driver dub the new E63 AMG still worthy of being “one of the most enjoyable hot rods in the business.”

Of course, the 2014 E63 AMG received a facelift complete with dramatic new grille and front fascia. You can see the dynamic new body on the Mercedes-Benz website. But better yet, visit any one of our three Park Place Motorcars locations— in Dallas, Grapevine or Ft. Worth—to see the makeover for yourself. Slip into the driver’s seat to experience the drive of a lifetime.

The Key is in the Details: The ML63 AMG

2013 Mercedes ML

The 2013 ML63 AMG offers a beautiful synthesis between safety, function, speed and ability. This SUV is not only wonderfully styled with a sporty feel, but also offers immense comfort and luxury with sumptuous interiors to suit even the most discerning tastes, all while providing unparalleled performance and utility.

2013 Mercedes-Benz ML Performance

The sheer feel of the SUV is more solid and stable due to the use of advanced metals, as well as weight reduction, which allows the car to accelerate much more smoothly and quickly. Boasting a V8 engine, power is not sacrificed for fuel economy. The direct-injection engine provides roaring performance, while also easing one’s costs at the pump, improving the miles per gallon of the SUV significantly.

The sporty design is not a matter of appearances alone. The active damping and roll bars provide for far more stability in corners and allow for more speed and acceleration through turns. While sporty in nature, there is no need to sacrifice safety to get performance and luxury. The ML63 AMG received a 5-star safety rating, and it is equipped with the latest safety technology. This helps to give drivers and passengers the peace of mind that their family will be safe.

2013 Mercedes-Benz ML Interior2

Sports SUVs are notorious for riding somewhat rough at higher speeds, but the ML63 AMG has solved this issue using active engine mounts that adjust when the vehicle is running at faster speeds, leading to a smoother ride and easier handling around corners.

While the ML63 AMG is not only easy on the eyes and safe but it is one of the most aerodynamic and efficient SUVs available on the market today. Consumers won’t have to sacrifice comfort for such compact, superior performance. The interiors are custom designed from the highest quality materials and utilize the latest in infotainment technology which makes this SUV user-friendly, high tech and full of amenities as well.

The 7-speed transmission enables increased acceleration and improved fuel performance. The ride in this SUV is further smoothed through the use of the AirMatic suspension system. This provides an adjustable air suspension that can provide optimum performance depending on the specific road conditions. This SUV is also designed to be adaptable and provide the utmost utility. The SUV includes a terrain program that allows drivers to select the type of terrain they will be driving on to allow the vehicle to self-optimize for the best performance for the selected driving conditions.

The AMG engine provides for a smooth off-road experience, and the active stability management tools make it far easier to handle when cornering, making this an excellent performer for aggressive recreational driving. Perfectly suited to take the children to school or head out on an off-road adventure. This latest Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG SUV provides a smooth, high performance ride, great acceleration, superior handling and all the amenities one has come to expect from a luxury vehicle.

Find your Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV at Park Place Motorcars in Dallas, Grapevine, and Fort Worth.

Two New Luxury Crossovers That You Will Actually Want to be Seen In

2013 Porsche Cayenne

Check out the following 2013 debuts to find a cutting-edge luxury crossover for hauling groceries and kids by day and cruising downtown come nightfall.

Best All-Around Crossover: 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK

13-GLK_1006_st

If you like your COV to feel like an SUV, take the Mercedes GLK for a spin. A small SUV by North American standards, the Geländewagen defies the eggy shape of other crossovers with its signature SUV-like verticals. Its growling direct injection V6 and sports-tuned suspension guarantee there will be road muscle to back up your car’s devilish good looks inherited from the manufacturer’s full-size SUVs.

GLK has only been pounding the pavement since 2008, but has whipped up plenty of acclaim during its rookie run. Mercedes’ premium crossover has raised the bar for the whole segment by showing how to harmoniously layer agility, utility, safety, and top-drawer style.

It’s a bold claim in a competition-dense market, but Mercedes easily earns the badge with its choice GLK.

Driver’s Favorite: 2013 PORSCHE CAYENNE2013 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

 

 

Engineered to perfection, the midsize Cayenne crossover developed by Porsche is hot enough for a second look. 21″ rims, performance tread and adaptive sport seats are among the bragging rights that come with ownership of a new Porsche Cayenne. This year, the company is introducing a 29-mpg Diesel for the U.S., plus the chassis-optimized GTS for speed demons everywhere.

Cayenne’s reviewers say she handles like a dream. It seems Porsche had the right idea incorporating responsive design principles into each layer of the car’s hardware.

With standard all-wheel-drive, classic Porsche-style cockpit, nimble footwork and a smooth ride, the Cayenne has earned a reputation as one of the coolest CUVs around.

When Technology Meets Class: Advanced Features Available on 2013 Mercedes-Benz Explained

2013 Mercedes S-Class

Mercedes-Benz’s S-class has always been a leader in technology, being the first to add subtle changes like rain gutters as well as technical leaps like traction and stability control. The tradition continues with the redesigned 2013 S-class.

Although it’s loaded with techno-wizardry, a lot of work has gone into making its use as easy and non-intrusive as possible. This means drivers and passengers alike can enjoy the car’s numerous features without them getting in the way of the traveling experience.

2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Active Parking Assist: Parallel Parking Can’t Get Easier

Thanks to the addition of steering control, Active Parking Assist can now park and leave parallel parking spaces with no driver intervention. Simply activate the system, and when it detects a parking space, come to stop and put the shifter in “Park:” The car does the rest. Come back later, and the car can do something no other competitor can do: drive the car backs out into the lane. Simply switch on the turn signal and shift into “Drive,” and the S-class will safely drive itself back onto the street. There’s no need to line up boxes on the navigation screen or steer as the system adjusts the throttle and brakes.

Distronic Plus: More than Cruise Control

Mercedes-Benz was the first company to introduce a radar-based cruise control system, automatically adjusting the car’s speed depending on the surrounding traffic. The same steering system, which enables automatic parking, can also help keep the car in the lane; making highway drives on some windy Texas roads less of a chore.

Stuck in a traffic jam? The system can also operate the car at low speeds, taking the annoyance out of driving through stop and go traffic.

Advanced Headlights: See More of the Road

The 2013 S-Class uses only LED lights, which means one less item that needs to be serviced. However, the real stars in this setup are the headlights. The high beams automatically adjust to aim light away from oncoming drivers, keeping them from being dazzled while maintaining visibility. Also, they change their aim to illuminate the road ahead no matter how tight the curve. If an obstacle like a pedestrian or a deer is detected, the lights can flash a spotlight at them to get the driver’s attention.

Smartphone Connectivity: Access the S-Class Anywhere

A new app available for iPhone and Android devices allows functions to be accessed remotely. Can’t remember where you parked? Fret not; the app can help you find your car. Don’t remember if you locked the doors? The locks can be operated remotely using the app.

Using Send2Benz, you can send route information from Google Maps directly from your computer or smartphone. Computer users can add a widget to copy any address and send it directly to the car’s navigation system.

mbrace PLUS: A Concierge at Your Fingertips

With mbrace PLUS, owners will get a concierge service accessible both from the car and through the app. Faced with an accident, unpredictable Texas weather or other catastrophe? The service can help there, too. Crisis Assist can help direct you away from closed roads and find emergency shelter.

Internet Integration for On the Go Planning

The COMAND infotainment system has greatly expanded Internet capabilities. Integrated social networking can help you plan meet-ups from your car. Google Local Search can be used not only to find locations, but also to call or navigate to them. Want to know where to dine in around Uptown? There’s integration with Yelp as well as a built in Zagat restaurant guide.

Top Quality Audio

The S-class comes standard with a harmon/kardon audio system designed specifically for the cabin’s acoustics, with 15 speakers and 600 watts to provide superb audio quality. Want something that will truly impress audiophiles? Buyers can get a system from Bang & Olufsen, the leaders in audio reproduction.

The Perfect Seat

Active Ventilated seats are standard, helping each passenger cool down, warm up or dry off quickly. Four zone climate control lets each passenger have their part of the cabin at just the right temperature to make them comfortable. Adjustable lumbar, shoulder and side supports give each seat a custom fit, giving the front seats a total of ten adjustments. Sound confusing? Don’t worry: Once everything is set up, the car remembers the position of everything from the side mirrors to the steering wheel angle, making driver changes a snap.

PRESAFE Plus: Preventing Accidents and Reducing Their Damage

The new system uses a series of sensors to identify possible collisions, whether it’s from the front, rear, or cross traffic at intersections. Not only can it apply the brakes, PRESAFE can adjust safety equipment inside the car to prepare for an impact. Is there someone in your blind spot? You’ll know thanks to indicators in the side mirrors, and should someone swing into that space, the car will pull it away to prevent an accident.

Visit Park Place Motorcars to learn more about Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz Backs Performance with Award-Winning Safety Features

Those looking for a luxury vehicle that is also backed with great performance and safety features should definitely be looking into 2013 Mercedes-Benz safety this time around. Though much of the focus is on the luxury experience, none of the models disappoint when it comes to performance or safety.

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class offers front side thorax airbags, a driver knee airbag, front side pelvic airbags, traction control, stability control, full length curtain airbags and anti-lock brakes as standard fare. In addition, the C-Class comes with the Mercedes-Benz mbrace2 emergency telematics that detects if the driver is acting drowsy or inattentive. The coupe model comes with rear side thorax airbags which are an option for the sedan. The Lane Tracking package also adds a lane departure and blind spot warning system.

2013-C-Class-Sedan-Gallery

A C350 Sport takes only 108 feet to come to a complete stop while the C250 Sport come within five feet of matching what is already an incredible halting distance. Testing gave the C-Class sedan four out of five stars for overall crash testing with five overall for side crashes. Also, it received the best “Good” rating for all standard crash tests.

In the case of the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, there are stability control, traction control, front side airbags, front pelvic airbags, active front head restraints, antilock brakes, a driver drowsiness monitor and driver knee airbag for standard fare. This line also gets the mbrace2 communications system for crash notification, a system to tell the driver when another driver has exceeded a boundary or preset speed, such as a teenager or a valet. This line also has the warning systems as options, and it rated the best possible of “Good” in all standard strength tests.

True safety comes with the 2013 Mercedes S-Class.  It’s equipped with  standard antilock brakes, side curtain airbags, active head restraints, stability and traction control, front side airbags, rear side airbags and the mbrace telematics. In addition to all of this is the PreSafe system can tighten the seatbelts and position the seats to fully protect the driver with the airbag if it senses an accident about to occur.

Depending on the trim, some S-Class owners can also get a number of optional features like a blind spot warning system and a lane departure system that comes with the PreSafe braking, infrared Night Vision Assist and automatic brake intervention. For the PreSafe braking, the system uses the radar system for the optional adaptive cruise control to detect when there will be a crash and automatically put on the brakes to try and minimize the impact.

distronic

In brake testing, the S400 trim took just 121 feet to come to a complete stop. The two AMG models stopped at an even better 111 feet while the S350 met the two halfway with its 116-foot result. The S550 and the S600 are similar to the S350 in this regard.

Though safety was obviously a key factor behind designing this year’s Mercedes-Benz models, there is still plenty of additional luxury and comfort to go around. For example, the compliant suspension easily cancels out the imperfections of the road while minimizing body roll. Passengers are also kept isolated with a quiet cabin akin to a library even when over old, rough pavement. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz cars bring a luxury feel to it without feeling too much in a bubble.

At the end of the day, Mercedes-Benz vehicles definitely provide more safety than anyone will hope to ever need in an accident, and it comes with all the power one would need as well, providing both a safe and exciting experience for every Mercedes-Benz driver.

Find your new Mercedes-Benz at Park Place Motorcars.

Mercedes-Benz Has Your 6D Vision: The Safety Revolution is On

It may sound like fiction, but Mercedes is determined to haul automotive safety standards into a new era of “accident-free driving” using the power of artificial intelligence. The company’s recent technological advances in safety represent a move towards cars that can either mitigate or prevent their own collisions on behalf of drivers. A turnkey technology essential to this effort called “6D Vision” is set to debut in the next-generation Mercedes S-Class in early 2014.

The World in Six Dimensions

Mercedes-Benz; along with parent company Daimler, have a solid and enduring legacy of contributions to occupant protection. For decades, the Benz marque pioneered technologies which have become pillars of modern automotive safety, from anti-lock brakes to airbags and “crumple zones.”

Now, Stuttgart’s world-class engineers have developed a microchip-enabled platform that syncs with radar to provide real-time imaging of the car’s immediate environment. The system empowers a car to accurately ‘see’ other automobiles, drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians or any other hazard, 360 degrees in every direction.

The car’s “eyes” perceive not only three-dimensional positions, but also three dimensions of motion, including direction and speed—hence the name ‘6D Vision’. This means your Mercedes-Benz instantly knows where an object is, where it is going and exactly how fast. It can then take appropriate action within a split-second—200 milliseconds, to be precise. The car could, for instance, swerve around a child that’s stepped into traffic, or avoid a parked car’s door that swings open into the lane.

Making History

In November 2011, key members of Daimler’s research team received the Karl Heinz Beckurts prize to wide acclaim for their contributions to the science of stereo processing and recognition in the making of ‘6D.’ The award credits their development of wave imaging and original algorithms to rapidly analyze moving objects in the environment, making possible a substantial reduction in real-world collisions.

It’s the first time a vehicle has been so efficiently rigged to read risk factors and movements with such minimal hardware. The live data stream can be instantly converted into lifesaving steering and braking decisions. Mercedes believes this technology could prevent thousands of accidents a year, particularly in those low-visibility conditions in which even the most conscientious driver can make critical mistakes, from rainstorms and nighttime to blind curves and busy intersections.

2014 S-Class: Intelligence in Action

The all-new 2014 S-Class will be the first to showcase the fruits of 6D Vision with the “Intelligent Drive” platform, the luxury sedan’s fully-networked safety suite. Intelligent Drive’s integrated components include lane-keeping and blind-spot assist, infrared night navigation, high-beam assist, adaptive cruise control and drowsiness detection. Many of these functions depend on inputs from the car’s six-dimensional vision.

The S-Class is an appropriate setting for the debut of the latest advances. S-Class sedans are often the company’s choice for test driving new safety inventions like 6D. In fact, the world’s first driverless car was an S-Class, way back in the 1980s. It was also the first car in Europe to carry air bags.

Professor Thomas Weber, Head of Group Research, Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, reflects on the capabilities of the anticipated S-Class: “This unrivaled interplay of highly advanced safety technology broadens the ‘senses’ of the automobiles and increases their intelligence.”

“It makes them ‘thinking’ partners that can see, feel, react reflexively, and act autonomously in order to support the driver actively in critical situations.”

The Future of Safety: Autonomous Driving?

Good sense has long underscored the importance of the driver to automobile safety. Despite some reservations, the overall prognosis is looking sunny for high-tech, intelligent safety features like 6D Vision. As states like California and Florida move to regulate autonomous vehicles, excitement about making the safety standards of the future today’s reality is gaining momentum. Keep an eye out in the near term for more record-breaking intelligence and unreal safety advances from the folks at Mercedes-Benz.