| Mercedes-Benz And Your Safety |
21 May |
Volvo has long been attributed with being the number one automobile manufacturer when it comes to vehicular safety and rightly so. As an inventor of crumple zones and safety cages to protect passengers, Volvo set the tone for worldwide auto building for the next several generations. Indeed, the auto industry owes much to Volvos many safety contributions. Not to be lost in all of this is the work that Mercedes-Benz has been doing to improve passenger safety too. Taking the Volvo concept one step further, Mercedes now incorporates several technological advances with their vehicles in order to provide the safest riding experience available. Lets take a look at Mercedes PRE-SAFE system and how it can protect you and your passengers.
I must admit that the first time I heard about Mercedes new safety system I had thought that it was something that was still years away from becoming available. How wrong I was! The PRE-SAFE system, as it is called, is a terrific way to enhance passenger safety and one that should be adopted by other automakers. Yes, I am sure that it isnt a cheap system but as it is with so many technological advances the price is bound to drop and the system or something like it will become widely available across the board.
Introduced with select Mercedes models in 2003, the PRE-SAFE system automatically kicks in moments before a collision. All it takes is a panic stop or a skid and the system is set in motion; here is what occupants can expect moments before a crash occurs:
Snug in place. Passenger seat belts automatically tighten to prepare occupants for a crash.
Snug in place, part two. Along with the seat belts, air cushions on the sides of the seats inflate to keep people in position.
Seat movements. Headrests and seats automatically move to predetermined positions that provide optimum protection for occupants.
Close it up. Windows automatically shut to offer the best support for side-curtain air bags and cars equipped with a moon roof will find that it has closed up in the event of a rollover.
Since its introduction, PRE-SAFE has been expanded to additional Mercedes models and the original technology is constantly being tweaked and improved upon.
New technology being developed by Mercedes includes the development of a radar sensor to track vehicles running a red light and slamming into your car. Once this technology has been readied, it will take the PRE-SAFE system one step further and offer occupants one more way to avoid serious injury.
So, is Volvo behind in the development of crash preparation technology? Not a chance. Volvo released its Whiplash Protection Seating System in 2000 that prepares passengers for a rear hit by adjusting the seating position to minimize impact. In addition, the company is working on a radar system that can detect when a driver drifts out of his lane. This feature will also utilize an electronic eye to keep an eye on blind spots not seen through the side mirrors.
Ultimately, a defensive driver is the best driver, but there are times when situations are completely out of your control. Mercedes PRE-SAFE system is certain to be a big help and is likely to reduce serious injuries and even prevent some deaths. Technology at its best!
Tags: Air Bags, Air Cushions, Auto Industry, Automakers, Automobile Manufacturer, Crumple Zones, Headrests, Inventor, Mercedes Benz, Mercedes Models, Moon Roof, Occupants, Optimum Protection, Passenger Safety, Passenger Seat Belts, Safety Cages, Safety System, Technological Advances, Vehicular Safety, Volvo ConceptRelated posts
read comments (0)| Check out the new Toyota Venza at Bell Road Toyota |
31 Jan |
Check out the new Toyota Venza at Bell Road Toyota this fall
Whichever label you want to give it, the new Toyota Venza looks like a winner.
Think of the Venza as a station wagon and you’ll probably get the point. Of course, it doesn’t look exactly like any station wagon we’ve seen before. Unveiled at Detroit’s North American International Auto show in January, Venza drew lots of attention. Among vehicles currently available, it reminds us most of the Ford Edge crossover.
There’s a lot of the Lexus RX350 in this Toyota, too, though the Venza is pressed down closer to the ground, and sleeker. Its front end is taller, but definitely molded in the theme of Toyota’s current Camry sedan. The Venza’s rear glass has a nice, long rake, and its taillights wrap around the rear fenders onto the hatch. Its standard wheels measure 19 inches in diameter, while 20-inch spoked alloys are optional. In sum, the Venza is one of the more handsome, interesting vehicles Toyota has launched in some time.
A look at its dimensions brings the crossover label into perspective. At 109.3 inches and 189 inches, respectively, the Venza’s wheelbase and overall length match both Bell Road Toyota’s Camry sedan and Highlander sport-utility within fractions of an inch. In other words, the Venza’s footprint on the pavement matches both Camry and Highlander closely. Yet with an overall height of 63.4 inches, the Venza slots right in the middle of the Camry and Highlander. It’s ride height falls somewhere in the middle, too.
The 2009 Venza seats five, like the Camry, rather than seven like the Highlander. Its rocker height, or the lip around the bottom of its passenger doors, is low, making it easy to lift feet inside, yet the hip point for seated occupants is higher than the typical sedan’s. The combination should deliver a mix many buyers seek: easy ingress and egress, with a higher seating position for a better view around tall vehicles on the road.
The 2009 Venza should reach showrooms with the traditional model year changeover in early fall 2008. It will be built at Toyota’s assembly plant in Georgetown, Kentucky.
Tags: Alloys, American International Auto Show, Bell Road, Camry, Ford Edge, Highlander, Ingress And Egress, International Auto Show, Lexus Rx350, North American International Auto, North American International Auto Show, Occupants, Passenger Doors, Rake, Rear Fenders, Rear Glass, Seating Position, Station Wagon, Toyota Camry, WheelbaseRelated posts
