June 4, 1974: Daimler-Benz introduces the latest version of the Experimental Safety Vehicle, the ESF 24, at the Fifth International ESV Conference in London. After three years of intensive development work this brings the ESV (Experimental Safety Vehicle) program to a close.
Mercedes-Benz's experimental safety vehicles from the 1970s expressed what was on the mind of the automotive world during that period - for what people were calling for in the USA, Mercedes-Benz's biggest market, was maximum passenger safety. A vehicle from this series, the ESF 22 from 1974, now has a place in the Mercedes-Benz Museum as an important historical document; this car was based on the S-Class of 1972.
Mercedes S-Class Crashtests
This S-Class (W140) offset crash test looks good. It's an early W140 prototype with "Karrosseriesickte" (like W126 and W116) and "Heckversion B", neither of which made it into production.
ADAC via Sebastian Nast
ADAC via Christian Schröder
The S-Class (300SE, W140) versus the VW Golf III with 50 km/h.
AMS via Sebastian Nast
The S-Class (W140) versus the GM/Opel Corsa. In which car would you like to sit?
Daimler
The W220 S-Class is crashed against a steel beam, frontal view.
The W220 S-Class crashes against a simulated tree, top view.
Standard side impact crash test configuration in a W220 S-Class, but with elevated speed to test structural safety and occupant loading.
A pointed ram is crashed into the lower passenger side. It tests fuel system integrity among other things.
A demanding side-impact crash test, the mobile barrier moves at a crab angle. In the crash test according to US standards, for instance, a mobile barrier is used that moves like a crab (NHTSA barrier): the lateral speed component has the same effect as if the car itself moved forward.
A W220 S-Class crash test with child seats in the rear.
A 500SE S-Class (W126) does well in the frontal offset crash test with
40% overlap and 55 km/h (or ~35 MPH).
It's the first vehicle specifically designed to withstand offset crashes,
and uses a forked front end structure to distribute the collision
energy across the front of the hardcore passenger safety cage. It works.
accidents + crashes
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Ihr guter Stern auf allen Strassen. Mercedes-Benz |