Game-Changing Tech Coming To Mercedes’ Cheapest And Most Expensive Models
Mercedes-Benz has outlined the company’s next couple of years, and they’re going to be filled with new models. They’ll span the whole line-up from the CLA-Class up to the S-Class. Those new models are going to be packed with high-tech features such as hands-free driver assists that go beyond what’s currently available. Perhaps most surprising is that some of this technology will be launching in one of the German automaker’s most modest machines.
Look Ma, No Hands
Mercedes has been a leader in developing autonomous driving tech. For instance the S-Class is currently available in a couple of states with limited Level 3 autonomous driving capability, and it’s the only car in America with that feature. For reference, Level 3 assitance permits the driver to actually stop paying attention to the road until the car says the driver needs to take over. It’s remarkable, but being limited to two states and restricted to speeds of 40 mph means it hasn’t made waves in the market. A related technology, though, could make a bigger difference in the luxury car space.
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Mercedes refers to this new feature as “Level 2++” driver assist. As such, it’s not fully autonomous at any time and still requires the driver’s full attention. It’s more like GM’s Super Cruise or Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free systems. Unlike those systems, the Mercedes one won’t be restricted to highway use. Mercedes says cars with the system will be able to do full point-to-point journeys fully hands-free. We take that to mean it can drive through city streets and enter and exit highways all without the driver touching the wheel or pedals. Nearly as impressive as that feat is the fact that this won’t just be a flagship car feature. Mercedes said that the system will come to the all-new CLA-Class in both China and the United States, which will be one of the brand’s most affordable options. Naturally, it will probably also come to other new models as they launch, but the CLA, which launches this year, will be one of the first.
Fancy Steering And Computers Are Coming, Too
Other new technologies coming to Mercedes models include steer-by-wire and advanced computers with water cooling. Mercedes didn’t give especially deep details about either of these features, nor which models would adopt them first. We expect the steer-by-wire system will be similar to those in the Tesla Cybertruck and some upcoming Toyota products. Each relies on redundant steer-by-wire components as backups in the event the main system breaks or loses power, rather than a mechanical backup. The technology offers interesting possibilities for packaging steering components, as well as being able to vary steering ratios significantly.
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Water-cooled computers also sound complicated and wild, but it’s probably more mundane than you might think. Home computer enthusiasts will know that water-cooling is actually extremely common, and simple all-in-one kits are available that require effectively no special skills or know-how to install. This move is probably necessary to provide effective cooling in tight packages for the ever more powerful computers being added to cars.
