Dune driving with Mercedes-Benz as it tests off-road systems

The reason Mercedes’ engineers were driving up and down and across the dunes was to work on the car’s brake control systems. As you slow with the brake pedal, the car’s electronic brain juggles the input of the traction control, electronic stability control, antilock brakes, and a downhill speed governor that keep you going where you want, as opposed to careening down a slope at speed.

After a passenger ride through a particularly tricky section, it was my turn to have a go….