I’m in a Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4MATIC at Melbourne’s Sandown Raceway, hurtling towards a pair of lights at 60 km/h. The light on the left flashes and I slam on the brakes, swerving towards it as the GLA shudders to a stop.

The shot of adrenaline is akin to a near miss in a traffic collision, but we’re perfectly safe thanks to the anti-lock braking system (ABS) in the GLA and the controlled setting of the Mercedes-Benz Accelerate driving event. Accelerate is a half-day driving program that puts participants in the driver’s seat to experience all the performance, safety and technology of Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG vehicles in a controlled environment.

The program, as chief driving instructor Pete Hackett explains, is designed to not only showcase the Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG vehicle range, but also teach drivers about themselves and how they respond in dangerous or demanding situations. It’s open to owners and non-owners, as is the ladies-only MB4Women driving event modelled on the Accelerate format.

‘Quiet achievers’ in safety innovations

Once my heart rate returns to normal, it’s time to learn more about the ‘quiet achievers’ in driver assistance technology. Sure, you’re probably familiar with the acronyms such as ABS and ESP (electronic stability program). You might even have a vague idea of what they do. But it’s not until you find yourself without them in a potentially hazardous situation that you can fully appreciate the suite of innovations keeping us safe on the roads.

The brake-and-swerve exercise in the GLA has been designed to simulate an emergency lane change and demonstrate how the ABS restores traction to the tyres and prevents the wheels from locking up. Then, we jump in an E 350 saloon that is sporting a pair of plastic coverings on its back wheels to demonstrate how the ESP will prevent the car from spinning out in slippery conditions.

Our next drill for this section of the program is an exercise in traction control in the hulking GLS 400 d SUV, one of only a few in the country that has been produced with an additional off-road package. We take off for Sandown’s off-road circuit of steep rocky inclines and appropriately muddy puddles and the instructor switches the GLS into OFFROAD+ mode. 

OFFROAD+ raises the suspension to improve ground clearance and distributes power to the wheels with the most traction to keep us moving, quite comfortably, through the muddy terrain.

The steepest incline of the circuit offers the perfect opportunity for the GLS to show off – climbing the hill steadily and pausing only when we’ve reached a particularly gravity-defying angle. As we hang off the side of a mountain (or so it feels for certain passengers with a flair for dramatics) the instructor explains how the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system and optional E-Active Body Control system are working together to maintain traction and suppress pitching and lifting.

After all that swerving, drifting and off-roading, it’s a relief to sink into the Nappa leather seats of the seventh-generation S-Class for a chauffeured spin around the racetrack.

In the fast lane

Of course, Accelerate is the name of the game here, and there are plenty of chances to do just that in the AMG hot lap segment of the program.

Unless you’re a professional racing driver or a regular on the German Autobahn, life (and the speed limit) has probably afforded precious few opportunities to really put your pedal to the metal.

So it’s a unique feeling to get behind the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé and watch the speedometer climb to 150 km/h. Each of us has the opportunity to put the high-performance vehicle through its paces with an instructor riding shotgun and coaching us on how to take on Sandown’s corners at high speeds.

It takes about 500 metres and some gentle encouragement from instructor Matt for me to shake off 15 years of crawling through city peak hour traffic and really floor it. Of course, the C 63 S is far quicker to respond – the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine can take the car from 0 to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds.

Once I start to get comfortable behind the wheel, Matt begins to instruct me on the best braking points and when to get on the throttle to move smoothly through each corner. Every lap feels faster and more in control until it’s over and Matt takes the wheel again, showing us a professional take on Sandown’s turns.

Speed dating behind the wheel

Once we’re back on flat sealed roads, there’s a quick break for lunch and then we’re out onto the racetrack for the final component of the day – test driving a fleet of Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-EQ passenger vehicles.

For brand fans wanting to take the latest models for a spin outside the showroom, this is where the Accelerate program really shines. No fancy tricks or simulated situations, just an opportunity to speed date your way through some of the most popular vehicles to find a favourite or two.

We cycle through the plush E 350 cabriolet (top down, of course), the powerful GLE 450 SUV, the all-electric EQC and the sporty Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 Coupé, the latter delivering a standout lap thanks to its dynamic handling and surprisingly spacious interior.

All too quickly, our time on the track is over and it’s back to the real world (and real speed limits). But whether the goal is to go fast, drive better, or simply get behind the wheel of some incredible vehicles, the Accelerate experience will stay with you long beyond your final hot lap.

Learn more about Mercedes-Benz driving events here.

By Jo Davy