Protection from head-on collision

The collision with the car moving toward the vehicle occurs most often shifted sideways. This is the analysis of accidents with 70s. Such clashes are called head-on collision or OFF-set Crash. With almost half of all head-on collision of the vehicle collide with the overlap of the frontal part of 30 to 50%. In 25% of collisions blow falls on the passenger side.

Fork carrying bodywork

Due to the fact that the head-on collisions occur very often, Mercedes-Benz engineers have developed a conceptual solution as a so-called fork carrier body structure, in which the front side members form a plug to the front wall of the body towards the middle of the tunnel and thresholds. Thus, when the main crash impact force necessary on the tunnel floor and side of the vehicle, and the passenger compartment remains virtually intact. Cross-Connect spars, moreover, allows the non-deformed side of the car to take over part of the impact energy in a collision.

Mercedes E-Class is further equipped with a strong bending of the transverse support beam located in front of the front end and connecting the two spar. The side walls are removed far forward, which creates additional distribution of energy on impact. When a frontal collision cross bearing beam runs on stretching and connects both fork spar structure by redistributing to them the strain energy. The fork construction with crossmember ahead of the front wall of the body in a frontal impact goes down. Changes that occur at the same time in the middle of the front wall of the body, are not dangerous for the driver and passengers.