Although it won't make its official debut to the general public until the International Commercial Vehicle Show (IAA) this September, Mercedes-Benz today has officially unveiled their new generation Travego, and with it, an industry first:  Active Brake Assist will make its world premier on a coach.  Already utilized on select Mercedes passenger and commercial vehicles, the emergency braking system operates by offering a series of graduated warnings when the risk of a rear end collision is severe, and subsequently carries out emergency braking maneuvers if the driver fails to react. 

The Active Brake Assist system is just one of many active assistance systems found on the new Travego, with the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Lane Assistant, Continuous Braking Limiter and proximity control technologies all found on the model as well.  In fact, Active Brake Assist is actually based on one of these systems - proximity control - using its radar sensor to identify moving objects in front of the vehicle, and after taking into account the coach's distance and speed relative to these vehicles, calculating potential risk of an accident.  When this risk is acute, the aforementioned warnings and/or emergency braking maneuvers are then carried out.

In addition to its active safety features, the new generation Travego also offers an innovative passive safety system known as Front Collision Guard (FCG).  In the event of a head-on collision, FCG helps dissipate energy in a manner that both better protects the driver and helps prevent the other vehicle from riding under the bus.  The driver's position in the new Travego is changed as well (including the steering, pedals and seat), with each now being arranged on a solid frame section that can be displaced in their entirety towards the rear in the event of a severe frontal impact

And finally, the last major highlight of the new Travego (at least the last highlight that I'll detail for you) is Mercedes' PowerShift transmission.  The first automated manual transmission developed specifically for buses, the eight-speed system significantly reduces fuel consumption while improving both efficiency and safety.

There is more - a new cornering light function, a new rain/light sensor, LED lights as marker lamps over the windscreen - but I have to give you some incentive to read the press release.  For the complete details of the new Mercedes-Benz Travego, keep scrolling to see a number of photos showcasing the new coach in action (click any to enlarge), followed by the full, unabridged list of features.

Enjoy.









OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


World premiere for coaches: the new Mercedes-Benz Travego with Active Brake Assist

• Active Brake Assist actively helps avoid rear-end collisions and can save people's lives
  
  
• Front Collision Guard enhances passive safety
  
  
• PowerShift automated eight-speed manual transmission reduces fuel consumption
  
  
• Numerous innovations in the new Mercedes-Benz Travego
  
  
• Presentation at the 2008 International Commercial Vehicle Show (IAA)

Stuttgart – The new generation of the Mercedes-Benz Travego takes front stage with a world premiere: for the first time the multiple-award-winning Active Brake Assist is being used in a coach. Known as an emergency-braking assistance system, when the risk of crashing into the rear of a slower vehicle ahead is acute, after giving graduated warnings this active safety system automatically brings about emergency braking if the driver shows no reaction.

Active Brake Assist is based on the proximity control system. It utilizes proximity control's radar sensor, which with its three radar beams can recognise obstacles moving in front of the bus, within a defined range. The distance from and the speed relative to the vehicle in front are continuously registered and evaluated. If there is a risk of an accident and the traffic situation remains unchanged, first a graduated warning concept is applied and, after that, emergency braking.

Following the introduction of various active assistance systems like the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Lane Assistant, Continuous Braking Limiter, Brake Assist (BA) and proximity control, Active Brake Assist now marks a highpoint on the way to realising the vision of accident-free driving. It has successfully demonstrated its efficiency in Mercedes-Benz trucks in more than 350 million kilometres of customer operation.

The new-generation Travego also offers an innovation in the area of passive safety: the Front Collision Guard (FCG) is a unique passive-safety system to protect the driver and tour guide in a head-on crash, and also can prevent a car from riding under the bus. In the front section the bus framework consists of crash elements which dissipate energy in a specific manner in the event of an impact. In addition, the driver's position in the new Travego (including the steering. pedals and seat) is now arranged on a solid frame section which can be displaced in its entirety towards the rear in a severe frontal impact, enlarging the survival space by crucial centimetres.

Another highlight is the new Mercedes PowerShift transmission. This is the first automated manual transmission developed specifically for buses. This new eight-speed transmission significantly reduces fuel consumption and enhances safety and efficiency. The environment profits, too, because the CO2 emissions which are the subject of so much discussion are directly dependent on the level of fuel consumption.

Further new features which the driver can expect in his workplace in the Travego: the new cornering light function, the new rain/light sensor, LED lights as marker lamps over the windscreen, and an entirely new cockpit designed even more with the driver in mind.

The new-generation Travego will be presented to the general public at the 2008 International Commercial Vehicle Show (IAA) from 25 September to 2 October, 2008 in Hall 14/15.

Copyright © 2008, Daimler AG