The process of parking a car has gone largely unchanged since the invention of the automobile, and the same problems that existed over 100 years ago remain today, mainly the goal of not to damage your vehicle. Automated parking may appear to solve this issue, removing the probability of human error. It seems like the future, so it would only make sense that the world's most forward-thinking car would adapt the system first.
Over four decades, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class established itself as the world's standard for innovation, always introducing innovative technology that would later become mainstream. Self-parking is the type of technology that the S-Class would seemingly be the first to introduce. However, it was first mastered by the dull, yet very clever, Toyota Prius.
Early Systems
One of the earliest examples of self-parking systems actually originated in the 1930s with a so-called "fifth wheel" system. As the name suggests, the system used an additional wheel mounted in the truck that would deploy downwards, lifting the rear set of wheels and essentially acting as a pendulum to parallel park the car. It was a very innovative feature, but as you'd imagine, it had its fair share of drawbacks, such as cost, and taking up physical space. Needless to say, this feature didn't quite catch on.
A second, more high-tech attempt at self-parking debuted in 1989, when Volkswagen unveiled the Futura concept car that had automated parking. This was a far more conventional system, using computers to guide the vehicle into its spot. It also used four-wheel steering to make the process just a bit easier. This system was unfortunately never adapted for commercial use, likely due to the fact that it was intended to be proof of concept rather than a system intended for production.
Innovations of the S-Class
There is a good reason why the Mercedes S-Class is a car known for innovation. Over the decades, Mercedes has gone to great lengths to make the flagship S-Class the best car on the planet, and that meant being technologically ahead of the competition.
Over multiple generations, the S-Class has a claim to be the first car to implement technologies that have become common in the automotive industry. It's the first car to feature anti-lock brakes, brake assist, electronic stability control, a turbocharged diesel engine, adaptive cruise control, and even night vision.
| W140 Mercedes S-Class | |
|---|---|
| Production Years | 1992-1999 |
| Engines | I6,V8, V12 |
| Power | 148–402 hp |
While the usability of night vision may be questionable, features that make a car safer and easier to use are always welcome changes. Due to this, the S-Class, and in turn Mercedes-Benz, have established themseves as industry innovators. However, one technological innovation the S-Class can’t claim to have is automatic parking. 20 years ago, this seemed like the ultimate luxury, removing the stress of having to squeeze into narrow parallel parking spots or navigate tight underground car parks.
The Mercedes S-Class had its fair share of innovations in the parking technologies department. Early W140 S-Class models were equipped with two retractable poles at the rear of the car, which would deploy when reversing to give the driver a clear understanding of the vehicle's proximity to a wall. This system would later be replaced with more conventional backup sensors that would beep more aggressively the closer the car approached an object, something we’re still very familiar with.
Who Really Parked First?
| 2nd Gen Toyota Prius | |
|---|---|
| Production Years | 2003-2009 |
| Engines | Hybrid 1.5 Inline-four cylinder |
| Power | 143 hp (76 hp from gas, 67 electric) |
The natural next step was self-parking cars, something Mercedes cannot claim to have brought to the market first. Instead, it was that other innovative automotive giant, Toyota, with one of its most revolutionary models, the second-gen Toyota Prius.
We all know how the system works: you find a space, select it and, using cameras and sensors, the car will assess if it can fit into the space. Once all the requirements of the car's computer have been met, the car will slowly but surely park itself.
In the early 2000s, it was magic, a truly novel piece of technology that eliminates the stress of parking in tighter spots. This is a system you would expect the S-Class to wow auto journalists with in the early 2000s, adding to the S-Class' futuristic mystic.
Toyota’s Intelligent Parking Assist System (IPAS) was introduced as an option in 2003 for Japanese-market Prius models. This made sense as the Prius was a huge innovator in its own right, being one of the first hybrid models to be successfully commercially sold. The feature reportedly cost 230 000 Yen back in 2003 (about $1,500), an expensive option for an affordable vehicle such as the Prius.
Sources: Motor Trend, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
