S-Class Goes to Jenny Craig for a Sharper Image
September, 1998 -- Mercedes unveiled the all-new S-Class sedans today at the Paris Auto Show. The S-Class models are Mercedes' premiere sedans, and constitute the pinnacle of the manufacturer's design and technology capabilities.
The S-Class cars receive a new look this year that renders them less imposing and more athletic. Despite a shorter overall length and narrower width, occupants gain interior space in every dimension. In addition to the more compact exterior, the new S-Class has a tidier waistline; all models have shed several hundred pounds in the redesign, thanks to the use of aluminum, plastic and high-strength steel in the construction process.
The technical innovations in the S-Class are staggering. Inventive performance, safety and convenience features abound in a manner never before seen in a mass-produced car. Some of the most impressive components of the technology showcase include the DISTRONIC intelligent cruise control system, the Keyless Go entry system, and the Dynamic Auto Pilot System.
The DISTRONIC intelligent cruise control system is designed to make using the S-car's cruise control easier and safer on semi-congested motorways. DISTRONIC works by sending out radar signals from a transponder hidden in the front of the car. The transponder measures the length between the signals to determine the distance between the S-car and the vehicle directly ahead. If the car ahead slows, the transponder slows the S-car to a corresponding speed, keeping a safe distance between the two vehicles. In the event that the car ahead stops suddenly, or if another obstruction is detected, an alarm is sounded to warn the driver to apply the brakes.
The Keyless Go entry system is the ultimate in convenience and vehicle theft prevention. S-Class drivers with Keyless Go can access and start their cars without a key or even a remote keyless entry system. Keyless Go relies on a small credit-card like device that can be kept in a shirt or jacket pocket that sends out an "unlock" and "start" command using the natural induction present in the driver's body. S-Class drivers with a Keyless Go card can merely touch one of the car's door handles to open the sedan, and depress the start button to get it running.
European drivers will gain a super-sophisticated ally in their fight to stay on the right course and out of traffic. The Dynamic Auto Pilot System (DynAps) works using Global Positioning Satellite technology to locate a vehicle and direct its course. What sets DynAps apart from other GPS navigation systems is its integration of congestion avoidance technology. DynAps is able to direct drivers along the most efficient path of travel by monitoring Europe's Traffic Message Channel (TMC) for information about accidents and traffic flow. If an incoming TMC message indicates congestion ahead, DynAps warns drivers and gives them the option of calculating a new route.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class will again be offered in regular- and extended-length versions. Initial availability will include an S320 V6-powered model, and S430 and S500 V8 models. A V12-powered S600 will be introduced later in the model year.
September, 1998 -- Mercedes unveiled the all-new S-Class sedans today at the Paris Auto Show. The S-Class models are Mercedes' premiere sedans, and constitute the pinnacle of the manufacturer's design and technology capabilities.
The S-Class cars receive a new look this year that renders them less imposing and more athletic. Despite a shorter overall length and narrower width, occupants gain interior space in every dimension. In addition to the more compact exterior, the new S-Class has a tidier waistline; all models have shed several hundred pounds in the redesign, thanks to the use of aluminum, plastic and high-strength steel in the construction process.
The technical innovations in the S-Class are staggering. Inventive performance, safety and convenience features abound in a manner never before seen in a mass-produced car. Some of the most impressive components of the technology showcase include the DISTRONIC intelligent cruise control system, the Keyless Go entry system, and the Dynamic Auto Pilot System.
The DISTRONIC intelligent cruise control system is designed to make using the S-car's cruise control easier and safer on semi-congested motorways. DISTRONIC works by sending out radar signals from a transponder hidden in the front of the car. The transponder measures the length between the signals to determine the distance between the S-car and the vehicle directly ahead. If the car ahead slows, the transponder slows the S-car to a corresponding speed, keeping a safe distance between the two vehicles. In the event that the car ahead stops suddenly, or if another obstruction is detected, an alarm is sounded to warn the driver to apply the brakes.
The Keyless Go entry system is the ultimate in convenience and vehicle theft prevention. S-Class drivers with Keyless Go can access and start their cars without a key or even a remote keyless entry system. Keyless Go relies on a small credit-card like device that can be kept in a shirt or jacket pocket that sends out an "unlock" and "start" command using the natural induction present in the driver's body. S-Class drivers with a Keyless Go card can merely touch one of the car's door handles to open the sedan, and depress the start button to get it running.
European drivers will gain a super-sophisticated ally in their fight to stay on the right course and out of traffic. The Dynamic Auto Pilot System (DynAps) works using Global Positioning Satellite technology to locate a vehicle and direct its course. What sets DynAps apart from other GPS navigation systems is its integration of congestion avoidance technology. DynAps is able to direct drivers along the most efficient path of travel by monitoring Europe's Traffic Message Channel (TMC) for information about accidents and traffic flow. If an incoming TMC message indicates congestion ahead, DynAps warns drivers and gives them the option of calculating a new route.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class will again be offered in regular- and extended-length versions. Initial availability will include an S320 V6-powered model, and S430 and S500 V8 models. A V12-powered S600 will be introduced later in the model year.
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