As you may or may not know this year marks the 125th year anniversary of Mercedes-Benz.

This moment in Auto-motive history should really be celebrated being that Mercedes-Benz has pioneered a wide range of car safety features that are now standards. So in my mind I see this moment as the 125th anniversary of auto-motive safety. Some of the features first to be introduced by Mercedes Benz would be Traction Control. Traction control is used to maintain the stability and control the car while driving. This is done by preventing wheel spend on pull off or on slippery surfaces. MB was the first to offer airbags in 1980.This made the auto maker the first to include those airbags as standard safety equipment on its cars. MB also initiated the use of pre-tension detectors to seat belts. It was first seen on the 1981 MB S-Class. This featured the tightening of the belts instantaneously to prevent the impact against the seat belt when the crash occurs.

These plus the anti-lock brakes, collapsible steering column, brake assist, automatic fuel shut-off and more array of safety features were initiated by Mercedes-Benz first. Because of these, it is the only auto maker that allows its competitors to use those features for the sake of improving automotive safety. In fact, crumple zones another Mercedes Benz first and anti-lock brake is now used on all vehicles.

To celebrate their 125th year anniversary Mercedes-Benz has launch the F125 concept car. In the F125 Mercedes-Benz rigorously follows its vision of emission-free driving with hydrogen power, underlining the potential of H2 as an energy source for the future. While Mercedes-Benz research vehicles have always looked ahead and have been years ahead of the competition by roughly seven to eight years – the F125 As the latest technological vision goes a whole step further, by more than two generations to the year 2025 and beyond.

“With the F125 We want to show that large, comfortable and safe saloon cars have an excellent future, partly because they are able to operate with no emissions. The legend that is the S-Class will continue into the future thanks to intelligent solutions that always have the customer’s needs in mind,” says Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. “The new research vehicle illustrates and underlines this claim to leadership with innovative ideas and traditional Mercedes strengths in the areas of design, safety, comfort and performance.”

My only hope for future Mercedes Benz’ cars is that they don’t continue with gold-wings doors, their not best for parking lots and/or short people. 

wsj.com opinion on the f125