Key Reason to Buy: C-Class Gains Top Marks in US Safety Test

The respected Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States has named the Mercedes-Benz C-Class one of its Top Safety Picks for 2009 - the best reason to buy in terms of safety. The C-Class achieved good ratings in all the safety criteria which were examined.

Each year, the experts at the IIHS rate new vehicle models based on stringent safety criteria, thereby providing an important tool to help buyers make a decision. In the latest assessments, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class was subjected to front and side crash tests. The safety specialists in the US also evaluated protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. For all three criteria, the C-Class was awarded top marks.

This result is confirmation that the C-Class safety concept, optimised based on the analysis of real-life accidents, also performs extremely well in standardised rating crash tests. With seven airbags, belt tensioners, belt force limiters and NECK PRO crash-responsive head restraints fitted as standard, the Saloon offers its occupants an extremely high level of protection should an accident occur. The body structure has been designed to ensure that, in the event of a frontal collision, the impact forces are distributed over a wide area and on four independently acting impact levels, meaning that the passenger compartment remains largely undamaged. Around 70 percent of all the bodyshell panels are made from state-of-the-art, high-strength steel alloys that minimise weight and maximise safety.

Furthermore, the C-Class is the world's only car in this market segment to feature an anticipatory occupant protection system in the shape of PRE-SAFE as an option. This Mercedes-Benz innovation uses the time between detection of a potential accident situation and a possible collision to initiate preventive protective measures, thus reducing the loads exerted on the occupants in the event of a crash by up to 40 percent.

By rating the C-Class a Top Safety Pick 2009, the IIHS has confirmed the vehicle's extremely good performance in crash tests conforming to Euro NCAP (the European New Car Assessment Programme) in which the C-Class was awarded five stars, making it one of the safest cars on the market.

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Mercedes-Benz dealers in Thailand again reaffirm the Mercedes-Benz vehicles' position as the market leader for safety technology and trendsetting innovation.

Eco-Friendly Transportation of the Future

With so many advancements in technology, it's no wonder that methods of eco-friendly transportation are improving year after year. From fuel cells to magnet power to hybrids and on and on, here's a look at eco-friendly transportation of now and in the future:

Vehicles

While hybrid vehicles have become more popular thanks to rapidly increasing gas prices over the last few years, there are other eco-friendly vehicle options being researched and tested. Some options you may hear about in the next few years include compressed natural gas or CNG, also called "BioGas", ethanol, other biofuels and liquid petroleum gas. Electric vehicles are also making a comeback, with Chevrolet recently announcing their new "Volt". In Europe, so-called "Smart Cars" are becoming popular. With their small, yet functional size and superior fuel efficiency, "Smart Cars" are a good choice for smaller European roads.

Trains

Many of today's newest trains are powered by magnet technology. Today's "green train" uses a permanent magnet motor, which is a modern engine technology that enables increased propulsion chain efficiency. This type of motor results in lesser operating costs as well as far reduced environmental impact. In addition, the "green trains" have an assistance system in place that reduces traction energy.

Buses

New buses are being tested in areas of the US that use biofuels instead of diesel fuel. Even in New Delhi, India, they are trying to replace old pollution hog buses with more eco-friendly buses that use compressed natural gas. New Delhi hopes to have 6000 of these buses in use in the next few years in order to combat the cities ever increasing pollution problems.

Air

Airplanes are also getting a makeover, not just because it's an environmentally friendly thing to do, but because it will save costs over time. In 2007, Boeing unveiled an eco-friendly plane model called the "787 Dreamliner", which Boeing claims uses 20 percent less fuel, produces 20 percent lower emissions and also decreases maintenance costs by 30 percent from typical aircraft such as the 747.

Whether it's by airplane, bus, train or car, earth friendly transportation looks like it's here to stay.

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