The ESF 2009, which Mercedes-Benz presented to a global public on the occasion of the 21st international vehicle safety conference entitled »Enhanced Safety of Vehicles Conference« in Stuttgart, is the first experimental safety vehicle from Mercedes-Benz since the year 1974. Like its historical predecessors, it features innovations in the area of safety and thus makes it possible to experience tangibly the progress that has been made. The astounding crazy ideas that have been implemented in the ESF 2009 include inflatable metal structures and a brake airbag called the »Braking Bag«

"The ESF 2009 shows that we still have a lot of good ideas and the absolute determination to lead the automotive industry in this field in the future as well", declared Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Management Board of Daimler and head of the Mercedes-Benz Cars Division. The ESF 2009 was developed and built completely in the vehicle testing workshop in Sindelfingen. Based on a Mercedes S 400 HYBRID, the experimental safety car features more than a dozen innovations in the area of vehicle safety, most of which are capable of functioning in a demonstration mode. You can see the technological highlights of the ESF 2009 in detail in the following picture gallery.

"Anyone who takes a good look at the ESF 2009 also realises that greater safety and improved energy efficiency do not necessarily contradict each other. With new ideas, we want to drive progress forward in both areas", added Dr. Thomas Weber, the member of the Daimler management board responsible for group research and development in the Mercedes-Benz Cars Division.

Author:
Björn Graunitz, Elektronik automotive

Links to the article:
www.mercedes-benz.de