2017 X-Class closer than expected?

       In October of 2016, Mercedes-Benz Van division presented their X-Class pickup concept to the world. We touched on the introduction in our November article: Picking up Luxury with the Mercedes X-Class explaining how the vehicle was “slated for release in late 2017, however, it is currently not going to be released in the States. The X-Class is going to start in the markets of Europe, Australia, South Africa and Latin America.”

Until Now.

       On Friday, Mercedes Vans boss Volker Mornhinweg indicated that his company is looking closely at US demand for mid-size trucks like the X-Class. Mornhinweg told reporters that the current X-Class production facility (in Argentina) won't have sufficient capacity to meet US demand. As a result, US trucks will need to be made domestically.

       X-class production stateside would mark Mercedes entry into what arguably the most competitive, territorial, and lucrative segment in the automotive market. In the US, the midsize pickup segment, where the X-Class would compete, is growing at more than 20% a year. "With the Mercedes-Benz pickup, we will close one of the last gaps in our portfolio," Dieter Zetsche, chairman and head of Mercedes-Benz, said in a statement. "Our target: We want to offer customers vehicles matching their specific needs. The X-Class will set new standards in a growing segment."

       While we wait for the X-Class to someday make its way to us here in the states, continue to enjoy the other fine Mercedes vehicles. You can check our Inventory here and contact us now to test drive and take home a Mercedes today.

Mercedes Pink Noise

Mercedes is making waves in the vehicle safety technology world. If you’ve ever been in a car accident, you know that they are tremendously loud. You may be surprised to learn that the airbag deployment is potentially the most harmful of the plethora of assaulting noises you’d hear. It’s estimated that 17% of people who are exposed to airbag deployment suffer from a degree of permanent hearing loss. Mercedes has developed a breakthrough technology - using pink noise - that makes the people inside a primary part of the safety system. This innovative system is the first to harness a natural reflex to condition the ear for the loud noise anticipated from a vehicle impact. 

 The stapedius muscle is the smallest in the body, located in the inner ear. When the stapedius muscle contracts, the connection between the ear drum and the inner ear is weakened. This means that some of the sound pressure is reflected in the ear drum rather than all of it being transmitted to the inner ear. Normally, you would need an emission of 100 decibels to contract this muscle, but you can achieve this protective muscle contraction at as low as 80 decibels by transmitting as many simultaneous frequencies as possible. This may sound intimidating, but the pink noise is inoffensive, comparable to the sound of a waterfall. If an impending collision is detected, the vehicle’s sound system plays pink noise- causing the stapedius muscle in the ears to contract- to protect your delicate inner ear.

Mercedes’ use of pink noise symbolizes a fundamental shift in the focus of safety engineering, geared more towards the people inside. One could certainly anticipate that this comprehensive system is likely the catalyst of a soon to be integral element of future vehicle safety systems.