07-07-2005
Generation-change at the pinnacle of automotive engineering: Mercedes-Benz presents the new S-Class. The new luxury saloon will be appearing in the showrooms of company-owned outlets and authorised dealerships as of autumn 2005.
For more than five decades, the letter "S" in the model designation of Mercedes cars has signified a special aura, intelligent technology and the highest quality. The new S-Class not only continues this tradition, but lends a new meaning to it. It is a technological pacemaker with its pioneering innovations for more safety, comfort and practicality, and like its predecessors it will influence the automotive development of the future. The saloon exudes this poise and assurance even at first glance. Its design emphasises the confident, powerful and elegant character of the new S-Class, which makes every journey an experience.
Dimensions: larger, more comfortable and even more luxurious
The new flagship model by Mercedes-Benz is larger than its predecessor in every respect. There is a choice of two body lengths - 5076 or 5206 millimetres – which is 33 and 43 millimetres, respectively, more than the previous S-Class. The wheelbase has increased by 70/80 millimetres to 3035 and 3165 millimetres, respectively. The body is also 16 millimetres wider and 29 millimetres higher than before.
These new dimensions create the conditions for an interior concept which provides every single passenger with first-class comfort. Interior parameters such as shoulder-room and elbow-room have increased by up to 39 millimetres, while headroom has again improved by up to five millimetres. Rear seat passengers in the long-wheelbase version benefit from a greater distance between the seats (+ 10 mm) and more knee-room (+ 11 mm) compared to the preceding series. The capacity of the boot has increased by 60 litres to 560 litres (VDA measuring method).
Operating concept: colour displays, direct-selection switches and COMAND controller
That is also assured by the newly developed and thoroughly tested operating concept. This is based on findings from extensive ergonomic and perceptive psychology studies, and also takes into account the results of acceptance tests with Mercedes customers around the world.
The major characteristic of the intelligent operating concept in the new S-Class is rapid access to functions which are used particularly frequently. The system is therefore specifically designed for redundancy: depending on his preferred habits, the driver is able to control functions such as the radio, TV-receiver, CD/DVD changer, telephone and navigation system either using conventional switches, via buttons on the multifunction steering wheel or with the help of the improved COMAND system. The direct-selection switches in the centre console are so ergonomically positioned that the driver is able to operate them conveniently and without looking down. It is also possible to operate the standard automatic climate control system in two different ways: via COMAND or using an attractively styled array of switches beneath the air vents.
The steering wheel and instrument cluster are the primary areas in the new operating concept.
Another new feature which improves operating convenience and allows a modern cockpit design is DIRECT SELECT – electronic control of the standard 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission by nudging an attractively styled lever on the right of the steering column. Thanks to this technology, Mercedes engineers were able to dispense with the usual selector lever on the centre console and redesign the tunnel covering.
The innovative "Cockpit Management and Data System" - COMAND for short – has likewise been redesigned and now offers even more features. In addition to the familiar telematics and audio units, various vehicle functions which previously required individual switches have now been integrated into the system. The central operating unit is the new COMAND controller on the transmission tunnel. It is used to select the main and sub-menus with which the required functions are activated. If a car phone is fitted ex factory, the padded handrest behind the controller can be flipped up to reveal the telephone keypad.
The COMAND system in the new S-Class includes a radio, CD/DVD player and a port for computer memory cards (PCMCIA cards) as standard. On request Mercedes-Benz will equip COMAND with a Europe-wide navigation system whose data are now stored on a hard drive. This allows even faster route calculation than before.
Comfort: new seats with a massage function and air suspension as standard
Mercedes customers are able to adapt the newly developed seats in the new S-Class to suit their personal comfort requirements. Electrically adjustable, 16-way front seats with lumbar supports are standard equipment. There is also an optional choice of luxury seats with heating and ventilation, multicontour seats (front and rear) and dynamic multicontour seats (front) whose squab and backrest contours adapt to the relevant driving situation to provide the best possible lateral support at all times.
The suspension with its standard, improved AIRMATIC air suspension system also makes a major contribution to the excellent ride comfort in the new S-Class. At the touch of a button the driver is able to choose between a comfort-oriented or more sporty configuration. Beyond 120 km/h and in Sport mode, the suspension is automatically lowered by up to 20 millimetres to improve the handling dynamics, aerodynamics and fuel consumption even further.
The Active Body Control suspension system (optional, standard equipment in the S 600) is a further milestone in suspension engineering which has been improved even further for the new S-Class.
Performance: over 26 percent more output from the new V8 engine
Three of the four engines available for the new S-Class are new developments by Mercedes-Benz. They generate up to 26 percent more output and up to 15 percent more torque. In addition to the 3.5-litre V6 engine with 200 kW/272 hp, a new eight-cylinder unit developing 285 kW/388 hp and a muscular 530 Newton metres of torque from a mere 2800 rpm upwards will already be available at the time of the market launch in autumn 2005. It accelerates the S 500 from standstill to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds.
From the first quarter of 2006 Mercedes-Benz will be extending the range of engines for the S-Class with the new V6 CDI engine, which has a particulate filter as standard in certain countries. This direct-injection unit has an output of 170 kW/231 hp and generates a maximum torque of 540 Newton metres from 1600 rpm. This means that the new S 320 CDI betters the preceding model by 13 percent in output and eight percent in torque.
The output of the twelve-cylinder engine in the top-of-the-range S 600 (available from the first quarter of 2006) has increased to 380 kW/517 hp, while torque has increased by just under four percent to a remarkable 830 Newton metres from 1900 rpm.
As standard equipment, the V6 and V8 engines for the new S-Class are combined with the unique seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC.
Text and photos courtesy of DaimlerChrysler AG
