This system makes parking and manoeuvring with a realistic all-round view possible with the help of four networked cameras. The vehicle and its surroundings can be shown in a bird's-eye view on the COMAND Online display, and obstacles below the window line are also visible to the driver.

The system also provides the following assistance:

The assistance system maintains the vehicle at the desired speed and automatically controls the distance between it and the vehicle in front. Additionally, the newly-integrated STEER CONTROL function helps the driver to stay in lane. The system takes the strain off the driver, particularly in traffic jams and stop-and-go traffic, because it autonomously brakes the vehicle and - within certain speed ranges - causes the vehicle to accelerate again.

The braking system increases driving comfort and safety.On one hand it helps to perform critical braking manoeuvres with the basic function of the ABS anti-lock braking system while convenience functions make coping with daily driving situations easier on the other.

By priming the brakes the brake linings are already applied should the driver takes his foot abruptly off the accelerator. The valuable time won as a result shortens the brakes' response time and can thus reduce the stopping distance.

The HOLD function relieves the driver when stopping at traffic lights or in stop-and-go traffic by preventing unintentional rolling back of the vehicle. If the brake pedal is firmly depressed for a short time, it then maintains the braking pressure, allowing the driver to take his foot off the brake. The function switches itself off again automatically as the car moves off.

The system also intervenes to support the driver on uphill gradients, thereby helping to make the journey more relaxed. The Hill-Start Assist function prevents the vehicle from rolling back when moving from the brake to the accelerator pedal

And finally, the brake drying function provides a further boost to safety: In wet conditions, short braking impulses, unnoticeable to the driver, ensure that the water film which forms on the brake discs in wet conditions is removed and the response time of the brakes can be considerably shortened.

Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC and a reversing camera makes finding a parking space (either parallel to the kerb or in car parks) and parking in it easier. It automatically steers the vehicle into parking spaces and spares the driver the steering and braking actions.

If Active Parking Assist is not used, the PARKTRONIC electronic parking aid monitors the front and rear of the vehicle during manoeuvring and warns the driver if it detects a potential collision.

The Active Lane Keeping Assist system permanently monitors the road markings. The driver is warned by a discreet vibration of the steering wheel and an audible signal as soon as he unintentionally leaves the identified lane.

Should solid lines be crossed in an uncontrolled manner, this can be countered by an active braking intervention, so that the vehicle is returned to the lane it was in.

Active Lane Keeping Assist can now also recognise potentially dangerous oncoming traffic and vehicles in the neighbouring lane and, if required, guide the vehicle back into its lane with targeted braking interventions.

Active Blind Spot Assist uses radar and monitors the blind spot areas to the left, right, side and rear of the vehicle at speeds of between 30 and 250 km/h.

If a vehicle is detected within the monitored range, a warning symbol is displayed in the driver's exterior mirror. Should the driver overlook the warning and start to change lanes, the ESP® system can intervene actively and guide the vehicle back into the lane.

In particular on long trips and when driving at night this system can increase driving safety. Based on the driver's actions ATTENTION ASSIST recognises typical signs of fatigue and severe inattentiveness and issues visual and audible warnings of impending microsleep.

The system analyses the driver's driving style at speeds between 60 and 200 km/h, and issues an audible and visual warning as soon as it detects a deviation from the established way of driving.

In an emergency braking situation BAS PLUS Brake Assist with Cross Traffic Assist can help shorten the stopping distance. The system provides the brake pressure necessary for the situation in the event of danger, as soon as the driver brakes.

Additionally, BAS PLUS Brake Assist with Cross Traffic Assist is, for the first time, able to recognise traffic and pedestrians crossing ahead and can subsequently boost the braking power applied by the driver.

The system can recognise an emergency stop by the driver and increases the brake pressure within fractions of a second to shorten the stopping distance. To do so, Brake Assist interprets the speed at which the brake pedal is depressed.

The anti-lock braking system (ABS) simultaneously meters the braking power up to the slip threshold so that the vehicle remains steerable. As soon as the driver releases the brake pedal, the automatic brake boosting is turned off again.

The system warns the driver visually and audibly of insufficient distance to the vehicle travelling ahead or of stationary objects. If COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST detects a dangerous situation it can assist the driver's braking action to ideally prevent a rear-end collision.

The ESP®-based system provides more stability and handling safety in particular when accelerating on bends. If the ESP® sensors register a tendency to understeer, it can reduce this tendency with a targeted brake intervention on the inside wheels.

Depending on the ambient light Headlamp Assist automatically switches the dipped-beam on or off. In particular under fast changing light conditions the system can thus enhance driving safety and relieve the burden on the driver, e.g. when driving through tunnels or in multi-storey car parks.

For the best possible visibility on country roads and motorways, on bends and in foggy conditions, the LED Intelligent Light System automatically adapts to the lighting and driving conditions. Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus allows continuous long-range illumination of the road ahead without dazzle.

One highlight is the Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus. The system provides automatic highbeam control with gentle transitions and adaptive headlamp range adjustment for dipped-beam light. And the really ingenious feature: part of the main beam cones are blanked out for oncoming traffic or vehicles ahead. But the side of the road remains illuminated by the main beam, without any road users being dazzled. Maximum vision also ensures maximum safety.

Other lighting modes providing a very high degree of safety in conditions of poor visibility are the country mode, motorway mode, enhanced fog light function as well as the cornering light function and the active light function.

While the night time accounts for only 20 per cent of all traffic volume, 40 per cent of all fatal accidents happen during that time. This system puts the driver in a position to see people or animals at an earlier stage. They are clearly shown on the multifunction display of the instrument cluster.

A camera working together with two LED infrared headlamps projects objects that might otherwise go unseen onto the display in the instrument cluster. This shows a greyscale picture of the scene ahead of the vehicle, which has sharp resolution and is pleasant on the eyes, in which people and animals that have been registered are highlighted. Additionally, if the spotlight function is switched on, the front headlamp will flash at any person spotted on the passenger's side of the road.

In the early phase of a frontal collision the safety belts pull the occupants deeper into the seat. At the moment of peak loads the retracted distance is released again in a controlled manner. This allows PRE-SAFE® Impulse to significantly reduce the risk of injury.

This function works on the front seats through the three-point safety belt system. The major difference between this and conventional systems is that the power pulling in the seat belt can be maintained for a significantly longer period of time than was hitherto usual.

Illuminated seat belt buckle extenders make seat belt fastening easier for rear passengers, and can tension the seat belts in critical situations to increase occupant protection. The beltbag, a type of inflatable belt strap, reduces the loads on the chest during a crash.

In a dangerous situation the PRE-SAFE® system causes the seat belt buckle extender to move down from its neutral position. The tension created in the seat belts holds the passengers in place in a critical driving situation and readies them for possible impact. If a crash does occur, the seat belt buckle extender returns to its higher position to aid rescue of the occupants and the tension in the seat belts is relaxed.

The outer-rear seats are also fitted with a beltbag. This specially-designed belt is woven from a single piece of material and fitted with a tear seam. It is arranged in such a way that the bag area unfurls itself when triggered and can be filled. The beltbag can reduced the pressure on the thorax.

The elements of the package:

The system is able to identify critical handling situations in advance and initiate preventive measures for occupant protection in the event of an impending accident. These include e.g. the reversible belt tensioning or the automatic closing of any open windows.

The system comprises the following functions:

In strong, gusty crosswind the system can help the driver to remain in the lane. Targeted brake interventions significantly reduce the vehicle's lateral offset. This enhances the driver's sense of security and helps prevent undue reactions.

The system is able to recognise speed limits, "no-entry" and "no-overtaking" signs and their cancellation, and show them in the instrument cluster. If the appropriate signs are posted, the system issues a visual and audible warning when the driver enters a street contrary to road traffic regulations against the specified direction of travel.

The camera on the inside of the front windscreen continues to capture signed speed limits, including those on gantry signs or in roadworks, for example. The data are compared with the data held in the navigation system and can be displayed both in the instrument cluster and in the map view.

No overtaking signs and their discontinuation signs are registered and displayed. In addition, for no-entry signs, a visual and audible warning signal is shown/played in the instrument cluster – an effective contribution towards avoiding serious accidents caused by wrong-way drivers.