DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control helps the driver to maintain a specified (timed) distance from the vehicle in front when travelling at speeds of 0 to 200 km/h.

Active Lane Keeping Assist continuously identifies lane markings on the road. Should the vehicle drift over a line or marking in an uncontrolled manner, Active Lane Keeping Assist can respond by initiating active independent braking.

The ATTENTION ASSIST function is particularly helpful on long journeys and when driving at night; the system warns the driver if it detects signs of failing attention and increasing weariness.

Between 80 and 180 km/h, ATTENTION ASSIST warns the driver visually and audibly as soon as it detects any signs of drowsiness or inattention. The background: sensors analyse driving behaviour and can detect any changes compared with the previously determined individual driver profile.

Using an integrated camera, the Speed Limit Assist system (available only in conjunction with Audio 50 APS or COMAND Online) can identify road signs and show the permitted maximum speed on the central display. This can reduce the danger of overlooking a speed limit, particularly on stretches of road with frequently changing traffic signs or along routes with road works. In order to verify the data retrieved via optical sensors and the following display, the system compares the values registered with the digital road maps of the navigation system.

The tail lights and brake lights plus the third brake light employ LEDs and emphasise the sporty design. During emergency braking the adaptive brake light warns following traffic of the danger via a flashing brake light.

The dynamic LED High Performance headlamps in conjunction with an LED daytime running lamp strip in the bumper cover are innovative aspects of the vehicle light array. The novel, unmistakable design of the LED high performance headlamps underscores the dynamism of the vehicle design, lending the front a particularly high value appeal.

In the dark, the headlamps are unmistakable on account of the C-shaped LED side-marker lamps. The LED technology, used by Mercedes-Benz for the CLS for the very first time, combines maximum radiance with minimal energy consumption and a long lifetime. What’s more, the light produced by the LED high-performance headlamps is very easy on the eyes, as its colour temperature of 5500 Kelvin renders it closer to daylight than the light produced by xenon headlamps.

Night View Assist Plus improves visibility in the dark without making use of the main-beam headlamps.

A camera scans the road illuminated by an anti-dazzle infrared headlamp and transmits a grey-scale image to the multifunction display. This helps the driver to identify obstacles, insufficiently lit road users and the course of unlit roads more effectively and at an earlier stage.

In addition, pedestrians identified by the system can be highlighted and seen more clearly thanks to the pedestrian recognition function.

Lane Keeping Assist can detect a traffic lane based on the road markings and, if the car is about to leave its lane unintentionally, warn the driver by making the steering wheel vibrate gently. If the indicator is operated beforehand or the steering wheel is consciously turned, the system assumes that the lane change is intentional and does not issue a warning.

The Blind Spot Assist system uses two radar sensors in the rear bumper to monitor the blind spot at speeds above 30 km/h and can warn the driver against dangerous lane changes if another road user is detected in the critical area to the right or left of the vehicle.

The preventive PRE-SAFE® occupant protection system can recognise critical driving situations and, if necessary, pre-emptively activate reversible safety systems to help reduce the risk of injury to the vehicle occupants.

This is based on PRE-SAFE® continuously evaluating sensor data from systems such as ESP® and BAS and identifying driving situations such as oversteer/understeer and emergency stops.

If the system identifies a typical critical driving situation, the motor-driven belt tensioners can be activated, the electrically adjustable front-passenger seat (only in conjunction with the Memory package) moved to a better position for impact, and the side windows and sliding sunroof (optional) automatically closed – all within fractions of a second.

Standard equipment with the CLS includes two-stage front airbags for driver/front passenger, a driver kneebag, front sidebags, pelvisbags and windowbags. Rear door sidebags are optionally available.

In the event of a major side-on collision detected by the control unit, the sidebags and windowbags are activated simultaneously on the impact side. The windowbags are released like an inflatable curtain between the A and C-pillars, providing additional head protection for passengers in the front and rear. The front airbags are deployed in two stages according to the projected force of a potential frontal collision.

Belt tensioners on the front and rear seats pull the seat belts taut against the body in the event of a frontal or rear-end collision. The belt force limiters (adaptive in the front) increase occupant safety in a frontal collision, since they can ensure that the tension is released in a controlled manner once a certain limit has been reached.

A rollover sensor in the airbag control device activates all the belt tensioners and both windowbags during certain types of lateral roll-over accidents. In addition, all the side windows are closed.

Activated in the event of a rear-end collision, NECK-PRO head restraints are adjustable for the driver and front passenger and can reduce the risk of sustaining a whiplash injury. If a collision occurs, they provide head support and reduce the load on the spine at an early stage by employing a spring mechanism to thrust the head restraints forward and upwards. The restraints can be returned manually to the original position after activation.