As luxury automakers vie to roll out the most breakthrough features, Mercedes-Benz may have found one of the most obscure yet for the new E-Class midsize sedan, USA Today reported.

The audio system even emits a carefully designed sound when a collision is imminent to cause occupants' eardrums to tense, reducing the likelihood of ear injury from the noise of a collision.

The 10th generation of the venerable Mercedes-Benz E-Class plays heavy on a sleek new look and breakthrough technologies. It was unveiled at a swanky party Sunday night as a prelude to the North American International Auto Show.

The midsize luxury sedan is longer than the previous model, with a muscular front end and single-piece taillight.

For the U.S., the car will go on sale this summer with a turbocharged 2-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine with 241 horsepower, with more engine choices to follow. A plug-in hybrid is expected down the road, and a plug-in port was visible on the car's rear.

The car excels when it comes to gizmos. There are touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel, which can be swiped like a smartphone to control the infotainment system without having to take hands off the steering wheel. The infotainment system also can be controlled with voice commands or a touch pad with a controller that recognizes handwriting in the center console. Not only are the seats and steering wheel heated, but the armrests and center console as well. But where the new E-Class could really stand out is its self-driving system.

A "Driver Assistance Package Plus" will accelerate, brake, steer and change lanes for you. It works in conjunction with "Drive Pilot," which follows traffic at speeds up to 130 miles per hour as the "Steering Pilot" reads the surroundings and reacts accordingly. Click on the turn signal and the car will change lanes for you if the lane is clear.

Photo: usatoday.com