The Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009 might look like a brightly stickered S-Class limousine, but it could actually prove the maker's most important concept for years. That's because it is stuffed full of some of the most advanced, futuristic safety technology Mercedes can dream up, and Yahoo! Cars went to Stuttgart for a hands-on demonstration.

Fundamentally, Mercedes has taken its Pre-Safe safety system to the next level. Already available on some Mercs, Pre-Safe detects an imminent frontal collision and applies the brakes and tightens up the seatbelts automatically to lessen the damage. But now, Pre-Safe is linked to all sorts of innovative safety features throughout the car - including an airbag under the front wheels that deploys and acts, literally, as an anchor as it scrapes along the road, shortening stopping distances dramatically.

 

Then there are the hollow 'inflatable metal' side impact bars that instantly fill with high pressure gas when a side impact is detected, resisting crumpling yet remaining light when not in use. Linked to that are active seat bolsters, which give occupants a 'nudge' just before impact, sending them a few precious millimetres away from the side of the car, along with a stiff central airbag that unfolds between the front seat passengers to stop them hitting their heads together.

Rear seat passengers get a 'Belt Bag', effectively an airbag built into the seat belt that reduces chest injuries and there's also a new, safer type of modular child seat offering greater head protection for kids. In addition, a new type of airbag that can measure the height, weight and seating position of occupants and deploy the airbag to a certain volume for maximum safety features, too.

 

 

And cars of the future will soon be able to communicate with each other over the Internet, which has the dual benefit of enabling further crash prevention and also reducing traffic congestion in real-time. The main problem Mercedes has, as well as the cost factor, is making sure there are no software glitches that would make these systems deploy themselves - leaving a very annoyed owner with a written-off car. However, things like the Belt Bags and head collision prevention bags are, according to the maker, close to production.