2018 Mercedes S-Class Steers Closer to Full Autonomy

Daimler AG is updating its flagship S-Class sedan with more advanced sensors and mapping technology, which the carmaker expects to provide a “major step” toward fully autonomous driving.

The 2018 model will be publicly unveiled later this month at the Shanghai auto show. Sales in Europe and the U.S. will begin this autumn.

The current S-Class already can accelerate, brake and steer on its own under a variety of operating conditions. The redesigned car improves these capabilities with more sophisticated camera and radar sensors and by using map and GPS data to navigate through turns, roundabouts, intersections, toll booths and highway exits, according to the carmaker.

The S-Class also is adding the vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and remote-controlled parking systems that Mercedes launched last year on the E-Class sedan. The V2V feature allows similarly equipped Mercedes vehicles to share information with each other to help detect potential hazards, such as icy conditions or harsh braking, as the trailing vehicle approaches them.

All driver-assistance functions will be controlled from the steering wheel. The status of the various systems can be viewed on a new head-up display.