Mercedes ESF S400 Hybrid Concept 2009 World's Safest Mercedes-Benz S-class

Mercedes ESF S400 Hybrid Concept 2009 is the first Experimental Safety
Vehicle that the German automaker have built since 1974. Although it
looks like an ordinary S-class, the new ESF S400 Hybrid Concept is
packed with some of the most innovative technologies and over a dozen
safety innovations.

Hailed as the world's safest Mercedes-Benz S-class, the new ESF 2009
features an inflatable metal structure with side impact bars that would
saves space and increase crash protection when blown by pressures
between 10 and 20 bar. Other than that, the new vehicle is expected to
run on reflective tyres, full emergency braking systems fitted to the
floor and an airbag built into the seatbelt.

But other than these features, the new Mercedes ESF S400 Hybrid Concept
2009 proves smart when it senses an imminent collision; it raises the
chassis by 80mm to compensate the dive, moves the occupants towards the
middle of the car in case of an impact and inflates the brake bag to
cause road friction in order to slow the vehicle down.

The ESF2009 clearly illustrates the comprehensive approach of
Mercedes-Benz with its numerous innovations for more passive and active
safety, said Ulrich Mellinhoff, Head of Mercedes safety development.

One day all these could be the common place for mainstream cars…