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Interesting product decision ... offer Drive Pilot only on BEV models or ICE also?
BTW, making the service only available on 8,197 mapped routes is pretty much an admission that full Level 3 autonomy will never be universal. To truly have Level 3 the car needs to interact with a known and approved roadway ... there isn't enough on-board logic and sensing capability to figure out every road under every condition, only the human mind has that much processing power. I've always thought the ideal Level 3 application would be something like an HOV lane where the car handshakes with a traffic manager of some kind and then truly takes over. You could get over into the "Level 3 lane" in LA and go all the way to San Diego while you nap, read, exercise or whatever.
How anyone can see this as an admission of a system limitation is beyond me.
They are launching this and basically cover the German highway system from the get go.
This is a big step. After all this means that legally the driver is not at fault in case of an accident.
I suppose I don’t give drivers (and their human processing powers) the credit of being superior in their driving skills. Our daily commute is good evidence of that
In December last year, Mercedes-Benz became the first automaker to gain an "internationally valid system approval" for a Level 3 system, available in the new S-Class and its all-electric alternative EQS. This basically means drivers of those two vehicles could go completely hands-free, though they still must be ready to intervene if necessary. It seems that this technology is coming to the United States before the end of the year.
The German automaker’s CEO Ola Kallenius recently confirmed it is working with full power to bring the Level 3 autonomous tech to the US market very soon. Speaking to journalists yesterday during the company’s 2021 financial results call, Kallenius said: "It’s our objective to roll out this technology this year."
The automaker’s CEO also explained Mercedes is currently conducting tests in the United States and is also talking with the local authorities regarding the requirements that have to be met for the launch of the tech to happen. Unfortunately, he didn’t provide additional details, though admitted he wants the tech to be available on a wide scale.
On the Mercedes S-Class and EQS equipped with the Drive Pilot with Level 3 capability, the system can function in heavy, congested traffic at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour (60 kilometers per hour). If all requirements are met, the vehicle can accelerate, brake, and even change lanes without input from the driver. The function is already available on 8,197 miles (13,191 kilometers) of the German highway. In Deutschland, Mercedes will begin offering S-Class and EQS models starting later during the first half of 2022.
Audi was technically the first to reach Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities with the A8, though it abandoned its plans to make it available to customers in Europe and the US, at least for now. BMW is expected to join the party very soon with the launch of the next-generation 7 Series.
So all we would need to do is change out the $1500 steering wheel and add some $3000 programming to the existing the W223's with the driver assistance option? Sign me up
So all we would need to do is change out the $1500 steering wheel and add some $3000 programming to the existing the W223's with the driver assistance option? Sign me up
So did I understand wrongly.
I was told ( and thought I had read in past articles on this forum) that my 2021 S580 was Level 3 ready, and all that would be needed was a software upgrade when legal. Not the case?
Notice the two silver inlays on the steering wheel. Do you have those? I believe they are part of the level 3 controls along with the required LIDAR unit in the grill. Both possible bolt-on's, but is the wiring already there and related control modules?
Last edited by Sleeper Benz; Feb 28, 2022 at 03:19 PM.
Notice the two silver inlays on the steering wheel. Do you have those? I believe they are part of the level 3 controls along with the required LIDAR unit in the grill. Both possible bolt-on's, but is the wiring already there and related control modules?
no I do not. So it looks like my car will not be able to go to Level 3. I don't think I saw any 2021 S580s with those 2 silver inlays, but I can see by the picture they'd be needed. Bummer!
So even though I was told, and believe read, that my 2021 s580 was “level 3 ready” it is not. Doesn’t have the steering wheel controls, front LiDAR, microphone rain sensor, enhanced GPS, etc. Level 3 was one of the main reasons i bought the car. I got rid of a 2020 Tesla S that was Level 3 ready because the car in all other ways doesn’t measure up to the 580. Am I correct in assuming my 580 cannot be brought up to Level 3, even if I’m willing to pay for add on extras?
I would have waited to dump the Tesla and waited. Did anyone else think their 580 was “Level 3 ready?”
So even though I was told, and believe read, that my 2021 s580 was “level 3 ready” it is not. Doesn’t have the steering wheel controls, front LiDAR, microphone rain sensor, enhanced GPS, etc. Level 3 was one of the main reasons i bought the car. I got rid of a 2020 Tesla S that was Level 3 ready because the car in all other ways doesn’t measure up to the 580. Am I correct in assuming my 580 cannot be brought up to Level 3, even if I’m willing to pay for add on extras?
I would have waited to dump the Tesla and waited. Did anyone else think their 580 was “Level 3 ready?”
I don't think the Drive Pilot is honestly something I'm interested in yet. While I do use adaptive cruise fairly often, not sure I'd want to take my attention away from the road, I still prefer to be aware in case I need to take control. The Drive Pilot still seems limited in function, essentially since its only usable up to 40 mph so more useful in traffic, another situation I wouldn't want to take my eyes off of. I am plenty satisfied with the current system, that being said I also didn't have a Tesla so YMMV.
Little changes will be made to the exterior, with only the headlight DRL design camouflaged. The interior is a different story, with a cloth over the passenger side of the interior, hinting at an implementation of a passenger screen.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by js_cls
Little changes will be made to the exterior, with only the headlight DRL design camouflaged. The interior is a different story, with a cloth over the passenger side of the interior, hinting at an implementation of a passenger screen.
Perhaps the door handles will stay fixed in the extended position as part of the facelift. I guess that’s one way to fix the problem.
GT63S ePerformance 4dr, '25 Bentayga Black Ed.(wife), Wrangler and 250 MLB(kids)
Originally Posted by sam9187
Where is the S63? C'mon MB, get your act together. Release S63 already.
Highly profitable car, they are leaving a lot of $$ on the table by not offering it yet.
Strangely, British rags show GT63S e performance as coming in August and right next to it the new S63 e performance.
In the meantime , not a peep from any media of factory sources, no convincing spy pics about it, absolute silence.
I really want the S63 for my daily driver, driving AMGs mostly for the past 20 years and this is the first time I use a regular airport limo car to fulfil the daily duty.
Not going to wait any longer then December/January and will get something else, maybe a Lucid, maybe a Bentley, no real idea actually.
The ordering guide is out, orders are already in with mine among them, no hyper screen in sight on a 23 that I could detect.
facelift, which would be the earlier the hyper screen will be released won’t be until MY 2024 earliest, 2025 more likely.
I don’t see hyper screen will be added. The EQS , SUV, and EQE very clearly have the dash for hyper screen even if they don’t have it. The S Class very much doesn’t. Most I could see is a Taycan style passenger screen where wood would be and the current screen style.
I read MY25 somewhere in my travels. I'm not a concerned party; I test drove the EQS and wasn't enamored. I don't find multiple screens under a slab to look like a single screen as some say and it transforms the car into more of a tech device than luxury car. I know I won't have much agreement but that's the way I see it.
Highly profitable car, they are leaving a lot of $$ on the table by not offering it yet.
Strangely, British rags show GT63S e performance as coming in August and right next to it the new S63 e performance.
In the meantime , not a peep from any media of factory sources, no convincing spy pics about it, absolute silence.
I really want the S63 for my daily driver, driving AMGs mostly for the past 20 years and this is the first time I use a regular airport limo car to fulfil the daily duty.
Not going to wait any longer then December/January and will get something else, maybe a Lucid, maybe a Bentley, no real idea actually.
I completely agree that MB is leaving $$ on the table. I don't know what their strategy is but it makes no sense. I have not seen such secrecy before - maybe MB is taking cues from Apple to keep things secret. I should have just gotten the S580 2 years ago to replace my 2018 S63 but who would have thought MB wouldn't release the new S63
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
