Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) reports that the company’s volume seller, the Mitsubishi Triton, recorded a 22.2% market share from January to July 2020, accounting for the bulk of the 4,008 units of Mitsubishi vehicles sold during the period. For the same period in 2019, the Triton’s market share was 16.9%.
The Triton is now in top position in the double-cab pick-up truck segment in three states – Melaka, Penang and Kedah.
Market share improvement
In overall performance, MMM saw its market share growing to 1.7% of the Total Industry Volume between January and July in spite of difficult market conditions, especially the long period of businesses being closed in compliance with the Movement Control Order.
“MMM is pleased to see positive sales take off after being under pressure by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. This is driven largely by the 100% sales tax exemption from the government which applies to both our locally-assembled SUVs the ASX Compact SUV and Outlander seven-seater SUV. The good sales also reveal brand and customer’s loyalty in these very tough times,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, Chief Executive Officer of MMM.
Coming to Malaysia soon…
New model launch soon
Mr. Shinnishi said that MMM is very excited for a thrilling year ahead with the introduction of the Mitsubishi XPANDER. “The 7-seater crossover will provide us with a solid base to maintain strong sales momentum until the end of the year. The demand and success of the new Mitsubishi XPANDER in our neighbouring ASEAN countries reflects on how well-suited this car is to meet the needs of customers and we’re confident that this impressive XPANDER will capture the heart of Malaysians,” he added.
In preparation of the introduction of the Mitsubishi XPANDER, selected number of Mitsubishi showrooms will be upgraded to Mitsubishi Motor’s latest Visual Identity (VI) this year to maintain the company’s leading position in providing excellent aftersales customer service.
For more information on the new XPANDER or other Mitsubishi models sold in Malaysia, visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my.
The first member of the new Collections portfolio introduced by Bentley Mulliner – the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible, will make its global debut at St. Tropez, the jetset town in the south of France. With this new variant of the Continental GT family, Bentley aims to raise the bar further where luxury convertibles are concerned.
The new Continental GT Mulliner Convertible has been created to appeal to those customers wanting an even greater focus on beautiful details. Taking pride of position between the cut-crystal inspired, precision-made headlamps, Bentley Mulliner introduces a bold new Double Diamond front grille, which is further complemented by bespoke Mulliner-branded side vents that continue the unique silver-on-black diamond theme.
Diamond-in-Diamond interior
The new Double Diamond design was inspired by Bentley’s exclusive Diamond-in-Diamond interior quilting design concept, which adorns all four seats, the door casings, rear quarters and now for the first time furnishes the tonneau cover.
The Diamond-in-Diamond interior quilting was tailored to include contrast stitching in two complementary colours to accentuate the thread against the quilting. It takes almost 400,000 stitches to deliver this quilting across the cabin of the car, with each diamond containing exactly 712 individual stitches. Each one is precisely aligned to point to the centre of the diamond it creates. Developing the embroidery process to deliver this process alone took 18 months.
Grand Black walnut veneer is standard, while a new extensive range of 88 different piano-finished wood veneers is available. Customers can therefore specify a contemporary, colourised veneer finish that can be matched to the interior or exterior of the car.
Burr walnut veneer is hand-sanded and polished to produce a perfectly smooth finish before painting to match the colour of the customer’s choice. Once dry, the veneer is polished to achieve a mirror-like finish. For the new Continental GT Mulliner Convertible, eye-catching chrome details are overlaid into the piano veneer, including a Convertible silhouette in the passenger fascia and a B-motif in the door waistrails.
Handcrafted interior
The handcrafted Continental GT Convertible interior offers 8 custom-made 3-colour combinations. A new Mulliner-designed colour split defines the 8 colour ways, including a third accent colour to the interior in the form of a distinctive design line. The hand-stitched hides are embellished with unique Mulliner-branded embroidery.
An exquisitely tactile Diamond Milled Technical finish has been applied to the centre console, through Bentley’s first use of a multi-machined panel process, extending the longest-standing partnership between a watch brand and an automotive manufacturer. The centre console houses a new and exclusive Breitling for Mulliner clock with a new brushed metallic face and bejewelled hour marks.
The clock bezel and air vent surrounds are finished in chrome to complete the stunning interior jewellery. The ornate and luxurious design of the Breitling for Mulliner clock face is also applied to the Driver Display Kombi, with the precision-rendered gauges of the LED-display driver’s instrument panel using the same brushed finished and Mulliner branding, linking the analogue and digital harmoniously.
Mood lighting consisting of 7 different themes are uplifted by illuminated Mulliner tread plates and LED welcome lamps that project the famous Bentley wings to the ground from the door mirrors.
For entertainment, the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible is available with the top of the range Naim for Bentley audio system. The setup features 18 speakers and 2 Active Bass transducers driven by a 2,200‑watt, 20-channel amplifier and 8 DSP sound modes with Active Bass.
V8 or W12, sir?
The powerplants available are Bentley’s V8 and W12 powertrains. When equipped with Bentley’s 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12, acceleration from 0 – 100 km/h is claimed to be within 3.8 seconds, with a hairstyle-reshaping top speed capability of 333 km/h. The new-generation 4.0-litre, twin‑turbocharged V8 unit can also reach over 300 km/h (318 km/h is claimed) and go from standstill to 100 km/h within 4.1 seconds.
An improved 2020 Toyota Hilux will soon be launched in Malaysia and bookings are now being accepted by authorised Toyota outlets for the new model which is assembled in Malaysia.
Customers have a choice of 5 variants with the Double Cab 2.4 E A/T being a new addition. The new Double Cab 2.8 Rogue A/T replaces the current Double Cab 2.8 Black Edition, while the new Double Cab 2.4 V A/T is an upgrade from the current Double Cab 2.4 L-Edition. For those who prefer a manual transmission, the Double Cab 2.4 G and Single Cab 2.4 will still be available.
Seven colour choices are available – Bronze Mica Metallic (new colour), Crimson Spark Red Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, Phantom Brown Metallic, Medium Silver Metallic, Silver Metallic and Super White II. The Hilux Single Cab is available only in a Solid White colour.
The estimated prices start from RM98,000, with Hilux 2.8 Rogue estimated to cost RM148,880. UMW Toyota Motor is offering a RM4,000 rebate for those who are ‘early birds’ om buying the Hilux Double Cab 2.8 Rogue AT 4×4 (for sales in 2020).
New design
Various styling elements of the new Hilux have been redesigned, such as the front bumper, grille, and foglamp bezel. For the flagship Hilux Double Cab 2.8 Rogue, there’s a new bonnet moulding and skidplate while the base variants get new designs for the 17-inch and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the notable change for the flagship variant is a new interior trim design, new meter design, addition of illuminated door trim garnish and a new key cover design. The base variants get a new meter design with additional information on the Multi Information Display (MID).
Current Toyota Hilux assembled in Malaysia
Improved performance
The 1G-FTV 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine has received improvements which raise power output to 204 ps at 3,400 rpm (27 ps increase), while maximum torque is 500 Nm between 1,600 and 2,800 rpm (50 Nm increase).
Although the engine is more powerful, fuel consumption has not gone up, it is claimed. In fact, fuel efficiency has improved due to the use of a 2-stage oil pump that can optimally switch the oil pressure. Additionally, a water-cooled double-pipe type pre-EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) cooler has also been installed to optimize the EGR gas temperature.
Toyota 1G-FTV 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine
The power-assisted rack and pinion steering system for the new Hilux (except for the Single Cab variant) now has a Variable Flow Control system which has reduced demand on the power steering pump, benefitting fuel economy. At the same time, the driver will find enhanced steering feel with more natural handling in different speed ranges. The feel is said to be lighter at low speeds to make parking manoeuvres easier but becomes heavier at higher speeds to provide a more confident feel.
The new Hilux comes with an Auto Limited Slip Differential (LSD) which aids traction by using the traction control system (TRC) to control braking and engine output when one of the rear wheels start to spin. The Auto LSD system is available only when in the High range and in 2WD at speeds up to 50 km/h.
How the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) works in the Toyota Hilux
Toyota Safety Sense
Many Toyota models are now getting the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) system, a suite of integrated active systems that are intended to assist the driver avoid accidents. The TSS system for the Hilux consists of three systems: Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), with Yaw Assist. These are normally found in passenger vehicles and now Toyota is also offering them in its pick-up.
To locate a Toyota showroom, visit toyota.com.my or call the Toyota FREEPHONE 1- 800-88-TOYOTA (869682).
The statistics show that that drunk driving is the cause in only a small percentage of the total accidents and deaths. However, in recent years, there seem to have been an increasing number of accidents caused by drunk drivers which have been very serious, causing deaths of other innocent people.
Perhaps there are more such incidents but it is only the ones that cause injuries and deaths that get publicised. In America, one study found that a driver could be drunk over 80 times before getting arrested for such an offence.
There are already laws in Malaysia – and more severe penalties have been proposed by the Transport Ministry – but enforcement is still necessary. Strict enforcement is obviously a way to reduce drunk driving but the police can’t be stopping people all the time to check. Motorists would usually be stopped only if they show signs of being drunk but sadly, it is often too late and they kill someone before they are stopped.
What the manufacturers are doing
The car manufacturers have, over the years, come up with various ideas to address drunk driving. Some have developed devices that can detect if a driver has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above permissible levels and prevent the car from being started. But legal issues have probably prevented such devices from being introduced, not to mention the possibility that people may just not want to buy the car.
So the best they can do is to install systems that can detect possible drunk driving by the way the car’s movements. Weaving or departing from the lane could indicate that the driver has lost concentration due to fatigue or due to being drunk and cannot maintain proper control of the steering.
The early systems, like the ATTENTION ASSIST introduced by Mercedes-Benz ten years ago, shows a coffee cup on the instrument panel when low attention is detected. The indicator is to suggest to the driver that a break is advisable, and some systems may also suggest nearby places to stop at if a route navigation system with Points of Interest is present.
Mercedes-Benz ATTENTION ASSIST shows a coffee cup to alert the driver when the driving seems ‘unusual’.
The system continuously monitors over 70 parameters – after first determining your unique driving style. It would work as advertised for most people but could be fooled by a driver who starts off weaving crazily and the system thinks that is the ‘normal’ driving style!
Besides passive systems, there are now active systems which use cameras monitor the vehicle’s position within a lane. In the Ford Ranger, example, there is a Lane Keeping Alert which warns the driver by vibration of the steering wheel when the vehicle appears to be moving out of the lane unintentionally. Some systems may also exert a slight force on the steering wheel to move the vehicle back into the lane properly.
Such intelligent systems can help to reduce the dangers of drunk driving but not all vehicles have them. Local car companies are adding more active safety systems (like Perodua’s A.S.A. system which has automatic emergency braking) as they become cheap enough not to impact the price.
So it is still up to the driver to be responsible enough not to drive if he or she is aware of being drunk. They should understand that an accident, especially one which causes a death has major consequences. Apart from the penalties (fine and possibly jail) and injuries, there can be a serious impact on the lives of those whose loved one was killed or seriously injured. If the court decides to take the driving licence away for a certain period – or forever – that can also affect the employment situation.
Signs of being drunk
The obvious signs would be the physical ones, of course, such as walking unsteadily or being unable to unlock the car door. But people who are drunk often do not realise it or if they do, they will argue that they are ‘okay’ and can drive home.
If they manage to start the car and drive, then there are many signs that will warn of their dangerous condition. Because their judgement is impaired, they might bump into kerbs – or even hit things. In many case, they may drive slowly but brake erratically and might turn suddenly.
The most dangerous conditions are when they don’t pay attention to traffic lights, weave into other lanes and even drive on the wrong side of the road. There have been reported cases where innocent motorists have died as a result of head-on collisions by drunk drivers on the wrong side of the road. Even worse are those who are drunk and speed or ever race with others and have a very high risk of crashing.
What you can do
As mentioned earlier, a drunk driver may not always be aware so it is hard to avoid in the first place. Avoiding alcohol when out at parties or socialising would be one way. But there are often times when others ‘pressure’ you into drinking ‘just one’ – which can lead to another… and another. And then there is that ‘one for the road’ which should be avoided.
The ’hardcore’ drinkers may have a high tolerance and also be more resistant to suggestions of being drunk. But for those who realise they have had too much to drink and are responsible enough not to drive, the thing to do would be to call a taxi or be sent home by someone else. If someone is available to drive your car, then that would be helpful. Ideally, one person in the group who is a non-drinking person can be a designated driver. It is important not to accompany someone driving the car who is obviously drunk as your life will be at risk.
Accidents due to drunk driving will continue even with stricter laws and more severe penalties. So motorists need to be more responsible and those who are with them also need to help prevent friends who are drunk from driving.
♦ Nico Hulkenberg, replacing Sergio Perez who tested positive for COVID-19 and had to self-isolate, had a bad day. Just before the race was due to start, the pink BWT Racing Point car could not start and the Power Unit could not be fixed in time, he dropped out. He had performed well in qualifying and other drivers were impressed, looking forward to a challenge from him during the race.
♦ Scuderia Alpha Tauri’s Daniil Kvyat was dropped 5 places on the grid as his team decided to change the gearbox. He was relocating to the back alongside George Russell who also had a 5-place penalty for ignoring yellow flags during qualifying.
♦ The Safety Car got to work very early – even before the first lap was completed – when Alexander Albon’s car came into contact with Kevin Magnussen and the Haas F1 driver went off into the gravel. The Safety Car was out for 5 laps to manage the racers while Magnussen’s car was removed. Albon would later be given a 5-second penalty for the incident.
♦ Lap 12 saw the Safety Car coming out again after Daniil Kvyat went off the track when his car had suspension failure and hit the barrier heavily.
♦ At the halfway point in the 52-lap race, Lewis Hamilton was 2.3 seconds ahead of Valtteri Bottas who would be a buffer with Max Verstapen as he tried to close the 5-second gap further. After the Red Bull Racing driver, there was a 10-second gap to Charles Leclerc.
♦ In the closing laps, the drivers struggled with heavily worn tyres and Bottas fell to 11th after a puncture, while Kimi Raikkonen spun off – probably due to the tyres too.
♦ A puncture at the end didn’t stop Lewis Hamilton from winning the race ahead of a determined Verstappen who clocked the fastest lap of the day. With the victory at Silverstone – his seventh at the British GP – he has won more races at his home circuit that any other driver.
As in Austria and Hungary, there were no spectators watching from the stands due to strict conditions set by the organisers and authorities.Bad luck for BWT Racing Point’s Nico Hulkenberg who had engine problems just as the race was about to start so he had to drop out. But at least the team ended the day with another 2 points from Lance Stroll’s 9th placing.It wasn’t Daniil Kvyat’s day – not only did he have to start from the back due to a gearbox-change penalty but he crashed on the 12th lap due to suspension failure.Charles Leclerc continued to collect points for Ferrari with another podium finish.After his collision with Kevin Magnussen, Alexander Albon was given a 5-second penalty.
Besides its Toyota branches around Malaysia, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) is also transferring its Lexus retail operations to dealers. Although this may seem something new to Malaysians, dealers are usually the ones who manage retail outlets in other countries. It’s only in Malaysia that distributors have established their own branches to do retail as well and it goes back many decades. Back in the 1960s, only the large distributors had the money so they started the retail outlets themselves and the trend remained for a long time.
The Lexus Centre in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, has been transferred to Hiewa Auto Gallery (Lexus) Sdn Bhd. This outlet was the first official Lexus outlet in Malaysia when it was opened over 10 years ago.
By transferring retail responsibilities to dealers, UMWT will be able to increase intensity on high value-added upstream activities such as product development, marketing and dealer network support.
“It is essential for Lexus Malaysia to continue achieving high customer satisfaction standards,” said Lexus Malaysia President, Ravindran K. He gave assurance that the typically high quality of customer care that Lexus is well known for will be maintained.
“I am extremely excited about working even more closely with our dealers to achieve a shared vision for Lexus Malaysia, which is to develop the concept of ‘Best In Town’ that focuses more on one-to-one customer engagement. Although this arrangement signifies an important change for Lexus Malaysia, our customers should rest assured that our service will not be compromised but gets even better in the future” he added.
Lexus UX
Information on the Lexus network of sales and aftersales locations in Malaysia can be found at lexus.com.my.
Even though the COVID-19 situation continues, the Nissan Pavilion was opened today in Yokohama, Japan. The 10,000 sq. metre interactive centre to show off Nissan’s products and technologies, located near the company’s headquarters, will be opened until October 23, 2020.
“The Nissan Pavilion is a place where customers can see, feel, and be inspired by our near-future vision for society and mobility,” said Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida.
With its leadership in sales of electric vehicles (EVs), Nissan will naturally be focussing a lot of EVs at the Pavilion. And in a global first, EV drivers will be able to discharge power from their car’s battery pack to pay for parking while visiting the Nissan Pavilion. The payment system is just one of the many innovations customers can experience at the Pavilion, built to show how Nissan moves people to a better world.
Showcase of EV technologies
Other examples of EV technology having synergies with society will be demonstrated at Nissan Chaya Cafe, which operates on power supplied by Nissan LEAF EVs and solar energy. Visitors can also enjoy virtual experiences that allow them to feel the thrill of Formula E electric street racing or go for a ride in the all-new Nissan Ariya EV crossover.
Other innovations on show besides Nissan Energy technologies include the ProPILOT advanced driver assistance system as well as Nissan’s Invisible-to-Visible (I2V) technology, which combines information from the real and virtual worlds to assist drivers.
A Mobility Hub offers various services such as EV car-sharing and rental bicycles. Offered by Nissan and the local community, these services aim to provide increased freedom of mobility.
Nissan Energy
Nissan introduced the world’s first mass-market electric car, the zero-emission Nissan LEAF, in 2010. Since then, the company has partnered with governments and businesses around the world to expand the uses of EVs. The company’s Nissan Energy Share and Nissan Energy Storage technologies allow electricity from EV batteries to be stored, shared and repurposed, for instance by powering homes or businesses.
In Japan, Nissan has also entered agreements with local governments to use LEAF EVs as mobile batteries that can supply energy during natural disasters. In another partnership, the company is repurposing used EV batteries to power streetlights.
Race starts at 2:10 pm British time/9:10 pm Malaysian time
Following the first three rounds of the delayed 2020 Formula 1 World Championship, this weekend sees the teams at Silverstone in England. The 2020 Pirelli Formula 1 British Grand Prix will be the first of two that will be held at the 72-year old circuit, the second to be run next weekend as the Emirates Formula 1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix 2020.
After the compact, undulating layout of the Red Bull Ring in Austria and the tight twists and turns of the Hungaroring in Hungary, the wide open spaces of Silverstone – once an airfield – promises a very different kind of challenge.
A true power circuit
Silverstone is one of F1’s last remaining true power circuits, and one which the drivers like. Its fast and flowing layout with iconic corners such as Copse and the rapid changes of direction through Maggotts, Becketts and Chapel provide both a thrill and a test of nerve and skill.
Drivers experience some of the highest lateral g-forces of the season at Silverstone, with a maximum of 5g – meaning they will feel 5 times their normal weight. Therefore, with the average weight of a human head wearing a helmet being 7 kgs, the driver’s neck is being pulled side-to-side by a force of 35 kgs through some of the corners.
The drivers will experience up to 5 times their weight in some corners due to the high g-forces.
Drivers spend almost 81% of the lap distance at Silverstone driving at full-throttle and the average speed over the course of a lap is one of the highest in F1 at around 220 km/h. But Silverstone is not entirely about high speeds; the ‘Arena’ section introduced a decade ago provides the additional challenge of a sequence of technically demanding low-speed corners.
Resurfaced last year, the track has shed some of its reputation for abrasiveness and Pirelli is added spice to the two races by varying its compound choices for this weekend and the next. It is being cautious by supplying its most durable compound (C1) while the C2 and C3 will be the medium and soft, respectively. Next Sunday, the plan is to move on step softer with the C2 to C4 compounds.
Conditions are notoriously windy at Silverstone and the wind direction changes relatively frequently, too. This has a big impact on the car balance and can completely change the car’s behaviour, forcing drivers to adapt their driving style to suit. Braking points, apex speeds and throttle application can all change due to a shift in wind direction.
Sergio Perez replaced by Nico Hulkenberg
Racing Point’s Sergio Perez will not be racing as he was tested positive for COVID-19, believed to have been due to visiting his mother in Mexico who was hospitalised. So far, he shows no symptoms but the strict rules require him to self-isolate for 10 days. This means he will also miss the next round. Nico Hulkenberg will drive in his place, starting from 13th place on the grid.
Sergio Perez was tested popsitive for COVID-19 so he cannot race tomorrow as well as the following Sunday as he must self-isolate for 10 days.
As with the other rounds earlier, there will be no spectators within the circuit and the number of people allowed inside are kept to a minimum. Those who enter are tested regularly for COVID-19 and team members are required to stay within their ‘bubble’ and not mix with others, even at the hotel or other places outside the track. Things are that strict and the FIA is constantly monitoring because it does not want to have governments in other countries withdrawing permission to hold the forthcoming races because of participants not being disciplined to observe the Standard Operating Procedures.
The championship so far
Mercedes-AMG’s Lewis Hamilton, last year’s winner and the one who has won the most times at Silverstone (6), starts his home race as the leader in the Drivers Championship, 5 points ahead of team mater Valtteri Bottas. Consecutive podium finishes in Austria and Hungary put Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen in third place, 25 points behind Bottas.
Lewis Hamilton set a new lap record again and takes pole position tomorrow, with Valtteri Bottas alongside.
In the Constructors Championship, the top finishing places of its two drivers have built up the points lead which, at 121 points, is 66 ahead of Red Bull Racing with McLaren in third. However, Mercedes-AMG team boss, Toto Wolff, is not complacent. “We enjoyed very good results at the British Grand Prix in recent years, but we all know Babe Ruth’s famous quote: ‘Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games’. There’s no entitlement to a good result because you had a strong showing in the past, on the contrary: a successful race will always be the result of the hard work of every single team member and we will have to bring our A-game to stay ahead of our competitors,” he said yesterday.
Your vehicle has to be serviced regularly to keep it in optimum running condition which will give the best fuel economy and maximum performance. It’s also a condition of the warranty that you need to have the servicing done according to the schedule provided by the manufacturer.
To make regular servicing more convenient, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) is introducing Toyota Service Savers (TSS), a maintenance package which can be purchased during a new vehicle purchase. The cost of the package can be included in the financing so it becomes part of the H-P loan amount that can be repaid over a number of years.
With the TSS package, the servicing costs are covered in advance and this means just sending the vehicle in for its scheduled service and not having to pay anything upon collection (unless there are items replaced or additional work done which is not part of the requirement).
The TSS package can be used at all 85 authorized Toyota service centres in Malaysia over a period of 5 years from the time of purchase. Prices of the TSS packages depend on the model, ranging from RM3,220 for the Vios (savings of RM469 compared to paying each time) to RM6,030 for the Hilux (savings of RM922).
The packages follow the servicing requirements for the model at recommended intervals (as listed in the Owner’s Service Manual) and include the fluids and parts specified for replacement. Only Toyota Genuine Parts or Toyota-approved items and materials are used.
As an added benefit, all TSS customers are entitled to a 10% discount for selected parts and 20% discount on wheel alignment & balancing as well air-conditioner servicing packages at all authorized Toyota Service Centres. So there are additional savings as well.
For more information of the Toyota Service Savers Package, customers can contact any authorized Toyota showroom or service centre. For the nearest location, visit toyota.com.my or call the Toyota freephone line 1-800-8-TOYOTA (869682).
Mercedes-Benz will be launching its all-new S-Class (W223) next month and typical of the company when it comes to the prelude to a new model, information usually trickles out to highlight the innovations that the new model will introduce. In the case of the new S-Class, the company has released details of its enhanced PRE-SAFE system which has been constantly evolving since first being introduced in the 2003 S-Class (W220).
A new function is PRE-SAFE Impulse Side, which sees augmented measures in the pre-impact phase: when a side impact is likely, the car’s body can be raised up to 80 mm by the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension (an optional feature) within a few tenths of a second. This directs the impact forces towards particularly resistant structures in the lower area of the bodywork.
There are also new occupant protection measures which are derived from many of the innovations in the ESF2019 Experimental Safety Vehicle. Firstly, the rear occupants will have the additional protection of airbags and this is the world’s first frontal airbag for the two passengers on the outer rear seats.
ESF 2019 – the first Experimental Safety Vehicle from Mercedes-Benz that also presents concepts for the special challenges of automated driving.
Its design with an innovative, tubular structure is unique. The cylindrical structures are inflated with compressed gas and deploy a wing-shaped structure. A large, tent-like airbag then deploys between the two wings and this is inflated by the surrounding air via specially patented valves in the skin. These valves are designed so that the air cannot escape when the rear passenger is immersed in the airbag.
The comparatively small volume of the tubes allows rapid deployment of a relatively large airbag volume. This takes place with comparatively low force and a low risk of injury, as the tubular wings give way to obstacles. The airbag enhances the restraining effect of the belt system, and can support the head and neck to decrease the loads on them significantly. In combination with a beltbag and the inflatable seatbelt, the S-Class will set new standards for rear seat occupant safety.
Also new is a centrally located airbag (availability depends on country) between the driver and front passenger seat. During a severe side impact, the airbag positions itself between the driver and front passenger seat, reducing the risk of their heads making contact. It is integrated into the driver’s seatback in the middle of the car. The airbag is triggered when a severe side collision is recognised, and certain conditions are met.
There will also be new illuminated designer belt buckles (also optional) which are easy to locate. It’s a small touch which some may say is unnecessary cost, but it should make attaching the seatbelt easier.
In combination with the MBUX Interior Assistant, a camera can now be used to detect a childseat on the front passenger seat for the first time. A belt fastening message for the childseat appears in the central display before the driver moves off. Until now, and in many cars, the presence of a childseat is usually determined by a sensor in the front passenger’s seat.
Occupants will get a warning as they open the door if there is a vehicle or cyclist approaching from the rear.
The new S-Class will have the latest generation of the Driving Assistance Package with new and numerous improved functions. One of the two examples which Mercedes-Benz is revealing now is Active Blind Spot Assist to prevent opening of the door when another vehicle is coming up along the side of the car. The exit warning function now will give a warning as soon as the driver or front passenger reaches for the door. The MBUX Interior Assistant will recognise when a hand approaches the door handle and a visual warning is given by a red warning triangle in the exterior mirror and via the active ambient lighting.
In a traffic jam on the highway, at speeds not more than 60 km/h, the car adjusts its movements to the surrounding vehicles as if part of a swarm, helping the driver to create an emergency corridor by moving to one side. This will allow emergency vehicles to proceed past more easily to reach an accident site ahead.
Active Steering Assist is another example and this will assist the driver in forming an emergency corridor, and encourage other drivers to form a corridor as well. Thanks to improved environmental sensors and integration into MBUX, the parking systems give the driver even better support when manoeuvring at low speed. 12 ultrasonic sensors at the front and rear provide improved performance so the positions of road-users and objects can be registered reliably and highly precisely.
The all-new S-Class W223 will have its global debut in September 2020.
