On the outside, the luggage compartment flaps open as if by magic. Inside, premium partitions enhance the look and the infotainment system delivers brilliant images on large monitors. The torque converter automatic transmission shifts smoothly, the 360° camera system gives the driver a perfect all-round view and LED headlamps provide fantastic illumination of the road ahead: operators, drivers and passengers all benefit from the new options that the Tourismo has to offer. And that's not to mention the new assistance systems such as Active Brake Assist 6 and Sideguard Assist 2, making touring coach trips even safer and making sure that vulnerable road users are completely protected. The Tourismo is lowered on motorways and main roads outside built-up areas. And, on request, the outside mirrors can now be omitted altogether.

Mercedes-Benz is all about safety. And with the Tourismo, you can see there is no exception. As part of the General Safety Regulation (GSR) 24 within the EU and other European countries, it has been made even safer. The focus is on accident prevention. This goes hand in hand with further support for the driver and protection for vulnerable road users.

The new Active Brake Assist 6 braking assistance system is even more effective. Key features: detects moving or stationary people and cyclists in front of the vehicle and can initiate emergency braking independently. ABA 6 is an even more reliable accident prevention measure. The system covers the entire vehicle speed range and is active in the background. In the event of emergency braking, the brake lights and turn signal lamps light up at intervals to warn following traffic.

The Sideguard Assist 2 turning assistant, fitted as standard, gives an even more precise warning if there is a risk of collision with pedestrians or cyclists. Previously merely available for the door side, it is now also available for use on the driver’s side.

Frontguard Assist is completely new. The camera and radar-based system can warn of obstacles or people directly in front of the vehicle up to a speed of 15 km/h.

Sideguard Assist 2 and Frontguard Assist combine to create a complete warning system for obstacles and people at the sides and in front of the touring coach. Together with the also prescribed reversing camera or the optional 360° camera system, the driver receives a comprehensive warning system for all aspects of their touring coach.

Traffic Sign Assist is also new. It uses a camera system and GPS to detect when the driver exceeds the maximum permissible speed. Finally, adaptive cruise control ART, Lane Assistant SPA, the tyre pressure monitoring system TPM (Tyre Pressure Monitoring) and the attention assistant AtAs system is included in the standard equipment.

With the 360° camera system, pedestrians, cyclists and stationary obstacles can also be seen in areas in which it would otherwise be difficult or impossible for the driver to notice them.

Four cameras at the front, rear and above the side windows record the vehicle's immediate surroundings and generate an immediate 360-degree panorama view. The corresponding bird’s-eye view is shown on a 10-inch monitor on the A-pillar. An ideal tool when things get tight – for example at a hotel entrance, in a car park or on a tour of the old town.

There was something else: what has happened to the striking integral mirrors, which have been part and parcel of these vehicle for generations? On request, they can be replaced by a MirrorCam. Cameras transmit what is happening to monitors inside the A-pillars. Advantages include: extended field of vision for the driver, significantly better visibility in the dark, less dirt, less manoeuvring damage. Last but not least, fuel consumption is further reduced thanks to the smaller frontal area.

The passengers' journey in the upgraded Tourismo begins at the touch of a button. The driver can now open the optionally available lift flaps to the luggage compartment from the cockpit. When entering the touring coach, passengers are welcomed with elegant partition walls featuring glass inserts.

During the journey, the 21.5-inch monitors catch the eye with their brilliant images in full HD quality. The new Coach Infotainment series infotainment system combines entertainment for passengers and information for the driver at a professional level.

To start with, they've got high-quality DAB+ digital radio reception and Bluetooth audio streaming, but what's more, an HDMI interface and USB sockets also make it possible to connect laptops. Real-time navigation based on up-to-date traffic data with 3D map for the driver is also integrated into the Coach Infotainment series.

Wear-free moving off and manoeuvring, smooth gear changes, automatic, topography-dependent adaptation of the gearshift program, disengaging when stationary – with the ZF Ecolife 2 Coachline automatic transmission with torque converter, the journey is a pleasure for drivers and passengers alike.

The six-speed unit is now available in the Tourismo together with the OM 470 engine with a power rating of 315 kW (428 hp). An ideal combination for busy city traffic, shuttle buses and trips in demanding mountainous regions.

The light from the optional, new and integrated LED main headlamps resembles daylight, which tires the eyes less than halogen light. A wider distribution and greater range of light is also achieved.

LED light also saves energy. And the light output remains almost constant throughout the entire service life of the LEDs. At the same time, the LED lamps offer a service life roughly equivalent to the vehicle's lifespan. This saves the need to change bulbs and increases vehicle availability. And it looks classy too, as you can see from the light signature.

When it’s fitted, the large Tourismo can also lower itself: at motorway speeds, the body is lowered by 20 millimetres. This reduces the frontal area and lowers fuel consumption. Previously optional, the fuel saving trick is now standard. And even more effective. Previously, the Tourismo lowered at a speed of 95 km/h. Now, it lowers when driving at 79 km/h for more than ten seconds. Also on fast intercity routes.

Previously, drivers had to enter the country code of the respective state manually when crossing borders. The new generation of tachographs now does this job automatically and in compliance with the law. The new DTCO 4.1 smart tachograph records every border crossing on the basis of new, high-precision maps and in combination with equally precise satellite localisation.

In addition, the DTCO 4.1 tachograph opens the door to numerous future services. This makes it easy to export data to fleet management systems and to document passengers boarding and alighting. On top of all this, tachograph data can be linked to leasing calculations, driver bonus systems or insurance policies.

With all these innovations, the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo sets standards in the touring coach segment – it is even safer, more comfortable, more economical and more user-friendly. New and improved elegance.