(Stern News) Mercedes-Benz has been demonstrating its new radar-based "intelligent" cruise control system, as fitted in the new S-Class - but it has not proved very clever.

Setting up a three-car convoy for German TV, the Mercedes team were to hit the brakes in the first car and then experience the automatic braking of the second and third cars behind. However, the second car failed to brake, shunting into the back for the first, and then the third car ploughed into the rear of the second.

It is thought that the steel construction of the hall in which filming took place had confused the radar beams. The pile-up will be shown on German TV tonight. (Stern News)

click here for the video (About 2 mins in for 1st crash, 5 mins in for pile-up)

Maybe some of our German speaking members can translate, although I think I know what the test driver was saying after the 1st crash