Mercedes Safety Demo Turns Into 3-Car Crash

Weasel · 11-16-2005

The new Mercedes S class has a sophisticated radar-based braking system - when it works. A TV demonstration ended up in a 3-car pile-up when the S-class' safety radar failed.

A German television channel got a bigger scoop than they bargained for when Mercedes showed up with three of their flagship vehicles - only to crash them into each other when a safety demonstration failed.

Stern TV, who filmed the programme item slates the mistake, and compares it to the nasty falling-over tendency the early A-class Mercedes had.

In the programme, Mercedes drives 3 S-classes behind each other. The first car hits the brakes, and the two following cars brake down automatically, to avoid a crash. In theory. In practice, the first car braked, and the two others continued right into the back of each other, resulting in a 3-car pile-up at the test site.

According to a German news site, the blushing Mercedes security engineers soon discovered the problem: The test had been done in a hall which was made of steel. This confuses the radar, and the system doesn't work properly, causing more than £150,000 worth of cars to crumple into each other.

The system "works perfectly in all other circumstances", according to Mercedes. For now, though, it may be worth keeping your foot near the brake pedal.

The programme in question is showed on German RTL Television tonight.

http://www.askaprice.com/torque-arti...ation&item=669

Mr Stabby · 11-16-2005

so what their saying is, its works fine on the open road, but dont you be fucking driving in no steel tunnel, cos your gonna crash mother fucker....hmm

im so waiting for top gear to mention this...

oh for those not in the UK, top gear is a motoring tv show here, and its fucking great, one of the presenters, a Mr Jeremy Clarkson, loves to take the piss quite single handedly out of anything....and im sure this will make his day hahaha

Weasel · 11-17-2005

A steel bridge might confuse the radar also.

Mr Stabby · 11-17-2005

oh dear god that would be soooooo fucking hilarious to see....as long as no one died are had major injurys of course haha

psychoDiablo · 11-17-2005

so where's the video?

fake_15 · 11-17-2005

Doesn't look like they were going too fast.

Sytrohs87 · 11-18-2005

heh.. serves them rich mother fuckers right..

Hamana · 11-19-2005

Quote:

Originally Said by Weasel

The programme in question is showed on German RTL Television tonight.

lol yes i saw it yesterday in Stren TV... the speaker from mercedes said they will work on it.

hopefully

ablethevoice · 11-19-2005

That brings to mind something I once saw on the old Johnny Carson show. Many years ago... probably about 1969 or 70, Johnny was doing a live onstage commercial for Corning Corelle unbreakable dishes. He ranted good and long about how wonderful and china-like, yet unbreakable the Corelle dishes were, all the while handling a white Corelle coffee cup. He held it up and thumped it-"pinnnngggg!" then he deliberately dropped it- whereupon it fairly exploded into 90 million pieces. Talk about a rapid and strategic break to a filmed commercial for something besides Corelle dishware!
Or the live Alpo dog food spots he would do when he would say no dog could resist the great taste of Alpo, put the dish in front of some goofy dog and the poor mutt would take one sniff and then stare off into another dimention without the slightest interest in food (probably because they rehearsed the spot 44 times and the poor dog was on the edge of puking he was so full of Alpo.) As far as the Mercedes... well I think I'll stick to my old white Mazda 626 with a normal brake pedal, thank you.

11-16-2005	#1
Weasel Ich lasse deine Nächte zum Tag werden! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Denver Age: 36 Posts: 5,017 Rep Power: 55	Mercedes Safety Demo Turns Into 3-Car Crash The new Mercedes S class has a sophisticated radar-based braking system - when it works. A TV demonstration ended up in a 3-car pile-up when the S-class' safety radar failed. A German television channel got a bigger scoop than they bargained for when Mercedes showed up with three of their flagship vehicles - only to crash them into each other when a safety demonstration failed. Stern TV, who filmed the programme item slates the mistake, and compares it to the nasty falling-over tendency the early A-class Mercedes had. In the programme, Mercedes drives 3 S-classes behind each other. The first car hits the brakes, and the two following cars brake down automatically, to avoid a crash. In theory. In practice, the first car braked, and the two others continued right into the back of each other, resulting in a 3-car pile-up at the test site. According to a German news site, the blushing Mercedes security engineers soon discovered the problem: The test had been done in a hall which was made of steel. This confuses the radar, and the system doesn't work properly, causing more than £150,000 worth of cars to crumple into each other. The system "works perfectly in all other circumstances", according to Mercedes. For now, though, it may be worth keeping your foot near the brake pedal. The programme in question is showed on German RTL Television tonight. http://www.askaprice.com/torque-arti...ation&item=669 __________________ Almost Smart Admin Email Me or PM Me

11-16-2005	#2
Mr Stabby Turned out to be crazy weird Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK Age: 35 Posts: 8,295 Rep Power: 62	Re: Mercedes Safety Demo Turns Into 3-Car Crash so what their saying is, its works fine on the open road, but dont you be fucking driving in no steel tunnel, cos your gonna crash mother fucker....hmm im so waiting for top gear to mention this... oh for those not in the UK, top gear is a motoring tv show here, and its fucking great, one of the presenters, a Mr Jeremy Clarkson, loves to take the piss quite single handedly out of anything....and im sure this will make his day hahaha __________________

11-17-2005	#3
Weasel Ich lasse deine Nächte zum Tag werden! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Denver Age: 36 Posts: 5,017 Rep Power: 55	Re: Mercedes Safety Demo Turns Into 3-Car Crash A steel bridge might confuse the radar also. __________________ Almost Smart Admin Email Me or PM Me

11-17-2005	#4
Mr Stabby Turned out to be crazy weird Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK Age: 35 Posts: 8,295 Rep Power: 62	Re: Mercedes Safety Demo Turns Into 3-Car Crash oh dear god that would be soooooo fucking hilarious to see....as long as no one died are had major injurys of course haha __________________

11-17-2005	#5
psychoDiablo Thx for the memories Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,971 Rep Power: 201	Re: Mercedes Safety Demo Turns Into 3-Car Crash so where's the video? __________________ I wouldn't say I'm psycho only because I'm able to handle it. Now learn patience To chill is to be chillin. Chillin is cooperating with your surroundings, unknowing'st of what everything is capable of; and all the while, as it happens and after, to accept without any thought of good or bad, but mainly, just enjoying rather deeply, the moment you had to sit and think. (Not thinking.) \|-Mr.MCR-\| Will you write Will you love Will you enjoy Life when I am gone? You will. by Angelina "I have lived life as horrible as it was, and as beautiful as it has become."

11-17-2005	#6
fake_15 Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: KS Age: 40 Posts: 151 Rep Power: 35	Re: Mercedes Safety Demo Turns Into 3-Car Crash Doesn't look like they were going too fast. __________________ Mr. Garrison: How would you like to go see the school councelor? Cartman: How would you like to suck my balls? Mr. Garrison: What did you say? Cartman: I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Actually, what I said was... [picks up a megaphone] HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUCK MY BALLS?

11-18-2005	#7
Sytrohs87 goliath Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 33 Posts: 3,496 Rep Power: 71	Re: Mercedes Safety Demo Turns Into 3-Car Crash heh.. serves them rich mother fuckers right.. __________________ "I've defected." -The Mars Volta "I consider the positions of kings and rulers as that of dust motes. I observe treasures of gold and gems as so many bricks and pebbles. I look upon the finest silken robes as tattered rags. I see myriad worlds of the universe as small seeds of fruit, and the greatest lake in India as a drop of oil on my foot. I perceive the teachings of the world to be the illusion of magicians. I discern the highest conception of emancipation as a golden brocade in a dream, and view the holy path of the illuminated ones as flowers appearing in one's eyes. I see meditation as a pillar of a mountain, Nirvana as a nightmare of daytime. I look upon the judgment of right and wrong as the serpentine dance of a dragon, and the rise and fall of beliefs as but traces left by the four seasons." -Siddhartha Gautama

11-19-2005	#9
ablethevoice Vintage Human Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gulf Coast Florida Ivan and Dennis survivor! Age: 60 Posts: 4,131 Rep Power: 86	re: Mercedes demo and other onscreen bloopers That brings to mind something I once saw on the old Johnny Carson show. Many years ago... probably about 1969 or 70, Johnny was doing a live onstage commercial for Corning Corelle unbreakable dishes. He ranted good and long about how wonderful and china-like, yet unbreakable the Corelle dishes were, all the while handling a white Corelle coffee cup. He held it up and thumped it-"pinnnngggg!" then he deliberately dropped it- whereupon it fairly exploded into 90 million pieces. Talk about a rapid and strategic break to a filmed commercial for something besides Corelle dishware! Or the live Alpo dog food spots he would do when he would say no dog could resist the great taste of Alpo, put the dish in front of some goofy dog and the poor mutt would take one sniff and then stare off into another dimention without the slightest interest in food (probably because they rehearsed the spot 44 times and the poor dog was on the edge of puking he was so full of Alpo.) As far as the Mercedes... well I think I'll stick to my old white Mazda 626 with a normal brake pedal, thank you. __________________ "There Is No Religion Higher Than Truth." - Motto of the Theosophical Society "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." Albert Einstein "The difference between genius and stupidity is genius has its limits." —Albert Einstein “It's fortunate for governments that people don't think." - Adolph Hitler Sturkis akidit ("shit happens") - Latin Bent Ears Audio Laboratories - Better Music Through Chemistry MUSIC IS LIKE CANDY. IT'S ONLY GOOD WHEN YOU GET RID OF ALL THE RAPPERS. ))#####D~~~~ (_l_)

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