Mercedes has been seriously embarrased be a massive brake failure that has cost them 3 cars and more than $500,000.

German auto technology it appears, is not cracked up to be as good as Mercedes make out.  The new Mercedes S class has a sophisticated radar-based braking system when it works. But unfortunatly for Mecedes a recent demonstration in front of a German TV crew failed miserable ending up in a 3 car pile up.

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The German television channel got there  scoop when the 3 demonstrator Mercedes  crashed into each other when the safety demonstration failed. Stern TV, who filmed the programme compares the failurev to the nasty falling-over tendency the early A-class Mercedes had.

In the demonstration Mercedes drives 3 S-classes behind each other. The first car hits the brakes, and the two following cars brake down automatically, to avoid a crash. In theory. In practice, the first car braked, and the two others continued right into the back of each other, resulting in a 3-car pile-up at the test site.

Mercedes security engineers soon discovered the problem: The test had been done in a hall which was made of steel. This confuses the radar, and the system doesn’t work properly, causing more than $500,000 worth of cars to crumple into each other.

The system “works perfectly in all other circumstances”, according to Mercedes. For now, though, it may be worth keeping your foot near the brake pedal.