S-Class

2014 Mercedes S-Class Crash Test Photos

Words Jim Davis | June 04, 2013
2014 S-Class made lighter and 50 percent more rigid with new aluminum shell compared to prior model
Words Jim Davis June 04, 2013

Ever since its May 15 world debut and even before, we’ve been bringing you information, technical specs, and spy photos on the all new 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.  But even with all the news we’ve delivered, this is the first time we have its crash test photos.  The photos came our way thanks to our good friends at MBPassion and show the 2014 S-Class in both a a front impact and side impact test scenarios.

We are not questioning whether or not the Mercedes flagship will receive a 5-star rating, there is no doubt that it’s safest car on the road.  But we are curious to see the results and what the differences are from the old S-Class to the new. After all, the new S-Class is built with a third generation improved aluminum shell that offers 50 percent better torsional stiffness than the prior model and features a passenger cell made out of high strength steel as well as specially placed structural foam at specific points for passenger protection.

But, it is not just the passengers the 2014 S-Class aims to protect.  With the 2014 model, Mercedes has made an effort to ensure the safety of pedestrians as well with recognition programs in the Pre-Safe Brake, Night View Assist Plus and the new Stereo Multi Purpose Camera.  There will always be unavoidable cases.  But, lucky for the not so lucky pedestrian, when one of those unavoidable cases happens to them, Mercedes has made every effort to minimize injuries.  Using an Active Bonnet, specially designed sensors and algorithms to raise the bonnet by around 80 mm, the load exerted on a pedestrian if they hit their head on the bonnet is greatly reduced.

But even with the new design features developed to keep S-Class passengers, pedestrians and other vehicles safer in a crash, the goal of the S-Class is to avoid accidents in the first place.

HT: Shrawan