May 16, 2013: Mercedes-Benz unveiled its new S-class flagship yesterday. The new top-of-the-line model from Stuttgart is billed as the technological spearhead of automotive development.
"Rather than being about safety or aesthetics, power or efficiency, comfort or dynamism, our aspirations were 'the best or nothing' in every respect. No other car stands for the Mercedes-Benz brand promise more than the S-class," said Dr Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
The new Mercedes flagship is charged with the task of replacing not one but two different model lines. On the one hand, it has been developed to fill the role of the previous generation S-class on sale since 2007. On the other, it has been conceived to occupy the very same territory vacated by Mercedes-Benz’s discontinued Maybach brand and its 57 and 62 limousines.
Reflecting the importance that Mercedes boss, Dieter Zetsche, has placed on it, the new car is planned support no less than five different models: short wheelbase saloon, long wheelbase saloon, extra-long wheelbase saloon, coupé and cabriolet.
Stylistically, the new S-class, developed under the internal codename W222, is more evolutionary than revolutionary, representing a clear progression of the outgoing model rather than a complete departure of what went before it.
It shows obvious heritage in many elements, but the surfacing treatment is contemporary enough to give it modern appeal. Mercedes design boss, Gorden Wagener describes the car as having “more noble visual character” than its predecessor.
Continuing a trend that has seen all recent Mercedes-Benz models significantly undercut their predecessors in terms of aerodynamic efficiency, the big saloon is claimed to boast an impressively low drag coefficient of just 0.24.
The car has a traditional grille with added chrome, increased width and greater prominence than on any recent Mercedes model. Other design features of note include larger headlamps with more expressive internal graphics and up to 56 individual LEDs, a heavily structured front bumper, more contoured bonnet, less prominent wheel arch flares, and a signature dropping line along the flanks that runs from the trailing edge of the headlamps to a lower point above the rear wheel arches.
The underpinnings, like many elements of the new S-class, are a development of those used by its predecessor, albeit with numerous revisions, most notably in the area of electronics that sees the new car adopt some interesting new safety features.
These include an illuminated belt buckle extender and airbags within the belt straps for the rear passengers. Models equipped with the optional reclining rear seat also receive an airbag within the seat cushion; it's designed to prevent the occupant sliding forward in the case of an accident.
Many of the changes and developments have been made in an effort to improve rear-seat luxury, as the Asian market for traditional luxury saloons is becoming increasingly important. Interior space is greater than the previous generation and equipment like seatbelt holsters that rise electronically serve to boost what Mercedes-Benz calls the "essence of luxury".
Considerable lengths have also been taken to ensure that interior noise has been reduced, with structural and suspension components being specifically designed and manufactured to reduce noise, vibration and harshness. Damping foil and sound-deadening materials are used throughout the car to further quieten the cabin, while door and window sealing systems have been upgraded to cut wind and road noise.
In long wheelbase guise, the new S-class uses the same 3165mm wheelbase as its predecessor. Dimensionally, the new car is 21mm longer, 29mm wider and 11mm higher than before at 5246mm, 1899mm and 1491mm. The inclusion of new rear seats, which come with an optional reclining function, has lead to a 30-litre reduction in boot space at 530 litres.
Mercedes has increased the amount of lightweight materials used in the construction of the new S-class in a bid to shed weight; the entire outer skin, including the roof, is now made out of aluminium, while the internal structure uses a higher percentage of hot formed multi-gauge steel in a move that sees a reduction in kerb weight among some models.
Heading the long list of technological advances incorporated on the new S-class is Mercedes-Benz’s so-called Magic Body Control (MBC) system. Available as an option, it uses cameras mounted within the windscreen to scan the road and detect surface irregularities before automatically adjusting the damping characteristics to reduce body movements, better control roll and pitch and generally improve overall ride comfort.
Other innovations include a pair of dash-mounted 12.3-inch TFT screens. One displays instrumentation; the other functions as a sat-nav, multimedia and settings screen. Further improving interior comfort is the new 'Thermotronic' climate control system, which can filter out viruses, dust and spores.
Myriad advanced options are also available, such as a 'Comfort' package that allows the seats to mimic a hot-stone massage, night vision, adaptive cruise control, a range-topping 24-speaker sound system and a built-in atomiser that diffuses scents into the cabin.
GREG KABLE, AUTOCAR UK