Storm of the Century? Mercedes-Benz Has More Than 100 Years of All-Wheel Drive Experience

MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Weather Channel estimates that 100 million people will be impacted by today's snow storm with more than two dozen states experiencing winter's worst.  Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz owners will benefit from more than 100 years of all-wheel drive development.  Nine Mercedes-Benz models are available with the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system: 4MATIC is standard on all five families of Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicles: the G-, GL-, GLK-, R- and M-Class, as well as the CL550 coupe and available on certain C-, E- and S- Class sedans.

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More Than 100 Years of All-Wheel Drive

Paul Daimler, the son of the company's founder, came up with the first designs featuring all-wheel drive as long ago as 1903. In 1907, the "Dernburg-Wagen", as it was known, was produced for driving in Africa. Although built on the basis of a truck, it was designed as a passenger car, making it the forefather of today's cars with 4MATIC drive.

All-Wheel Drive Paired With Electronic Safety and Traction Systems

A number of the safety and traction systems available on Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles are integrated electronically, making common use of sensors, notably for wheel speed:

4MATIC all-wheel drive: 4MATIC four-wheel traction control applies the brakes to any of the four drive wheels whenever the wheel speed sensors indicate the wheel is going faster (slipping) than the others.  This brake action works hand in hand with front, center and rear "open" differentials of the Mercedes-Benz all-wheel-drive systems to control torque distribution to the four wheels.  As a result, Mercedes-Benz has one of the few systems that will get the vehicle going even when three wheels are slipping.

Traction control:  Applies one of the brakes momentarily during acceleration whenever the wheel speed sensors indicate that a drive wheel is going faster (slipping) than the others.  The system can also reduce the throttle electronically if necessary to restore traction.

ESP (Electronic Stability Program):  Applies one or more of the brakes momentarily to any wheel to correct oversteer or understeer, based on signals from several sensors, including those for steering angle, vehicle yaw and wheel speed.  Designed to restore vehicle stability in the event of incipient skids, ESP works under all conditions:  during acceleration, coasting or braking.  Pioneered by Mercedes-Benz, ESP is standard on all of its models.

SOURCE Mercedes-Benz USA