When making their selections for the TOPauto 2006 prize awarded by Motor-Informations-Dienst (mid), 140 automotive journalists from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland picked Distronic Plus by DaimlerChrysler and Continental Automotive Systems as a winner in the Innovation category.

Frankfurt, Germany, January 17, 2006. In conjunction with a new automotive and innovation prize awarded by journalists from the German-language automotive press, DaimlerChrysler and Continental Automotive Systems received the second prize in the Innovation category for their Distronic Plus in the new S-Class. More than 140 automotive journalists from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland selected the best cars in seven different categories and nominated the most significant technological innovations for model year 2006. Continental’s Adaptive Cruise Control or ACC system in the new S-Class features expanded functionalities and offers significant improvements in driving comfort and driving safety.

Here you can download the press release as a Word document (59 KB).

Here you can download or order the picture...

“We’re tremendously pleased that the jury chose Distronic Plus for the TOPauto 2006 prize,” said Dr. Ralf Cramer, Head of the Electronic Brake and Safety Systems business unit at Continental Automotive Systems. “The Distronic Plus system in the new S-Class effectively integrates all brake and safety functions in a single unit. With this integrated system we are contributing to significantly increased vehicle safety and enhanced functionality. It nicely confirms Continental’s concept of uniting active and passive safety in the vehicle. Our innovative strength in vehicle safety and driving comfort is not only a key aspect of our concepts and designs; it’s also evident in the vehicles themselves and in the success of mass production,” said Dr. Cramer. “We are convinced that these next generation safety systems will gain wide acceptance in the market.”

Distronic Plus: The enhanced ACC system in the new Mercedes S-Class

Distronic Plus is the latest enhancement of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) technology by Continental Automotive Systems. As the first driver assistance system in the world that also evaluates information from a vehicle’s surroundings, ACC had its debut in the 1999 Mercedes S-Class. The new Full Range ACC, the DaimlerChrysler Distronic Plus, is even more effective than the first generation thanks to an additional 24-gigahertz radar for close range.

ACC maintains the necessary safety distance to the vehicle in front. Once the driver sets the desired speed, everything else is almost automatic. When a vehicle shows up ahead, ACC automatically reduces the speed or brakes automatically. If a stopped vehicle ahead starts to move again, Full Range ACC reports it to the driver, who only has to give the signal to take off by stepping on the accelerator or pressing a button and the car starts driving again with reliable Adaptive Cruise Control. This makes ACC useful in city and stop-and-go traffic and significantly relieves the strain on the driver.

“Adaptive Cruise Control systems not only improve driving comfort, as documented by tests measuring fatigue on long drives,” explained Michael Schamberger, who heads the Driver Assistance Systems profit center at Continental Automotive Systems. “Distronic Plus recognizes differences in the distance to the car ahead earlier than the driver and makes the driver aware of potentially dangerous situations by automatically throttling the engine, applying the brakes, or giving acoustic signals. Automatic brake intervention by the ACC system also has the advantage that the car has already started to brake when the driver steps on the brake in a risk situation. This makes ACC an important safety component.”

Comfort and safety: Continental products and systems in the S-Class

In addition to Distronic Plus, Continental Automotive Systems supplies a large number of products and systems for the Mercedes S-Class. An example is the high-tech brake system ESP MK25E5, which uses additional pressure sensors and analog features, i.e. infinitely variable cut-off and block valves, to dose brake pressures with extreme sensitivity and effectiveness. Alongside Brake Assist Plus, this Adaptive Brake or ABR system includes functions such as Hill Start Assist and automatic wet brake disc drying in wet weather. The electric parking brake improves comfort and safety at the same time, while the design of the tandem master cylinder and brake booster reduces the risk of foot and leg injuries in the event of a head-on collision.

Continental Automotive Systems also supplies control units for electronic seat adjustment and remote trunk lid operation, electronic ignition and starter switches for keyless use of the vehicle, and a gateway control to route electronic commands on the vehicle’s data highway.

The Continental Corporation is a leading supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers. In 2004, the corporation realized sales of € 12.6 billion. At present, it has a worldwide workforce of more than 81,000.

As a worldwide leading technology partner to the automotive industry, the Automotive Systems division of Continental AG integrates extensive know-how in the fields of driving safety, powertrain and comfort. In 2004, the division achieved sales of approx. € 5 billion with a workforce of more than 22,500. Automotive Systems incorporates Continental Teves and Continental Temic. Continental Teves develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake, stability and chassis control systems, as well as electronic air spring systems and sensors. Continental Temic is a specialist in chassis electronics, engine management and transmission control units, as well as electric drives and comfort electronics.