Contents Show
World premieres can be exciting and exciting. Just like back then, at the S-Class in Hamburg. An aircraft hangar had been rebuilt, invited the Elb Philharmonic and played the big show. The first ride of the luxury sedan found then not “around the corner”, but in Canada. Around Toronto. The S-Class from Mercedes-Benz, always a number better than the rest of the automotive world. And actually you couldn't improve on the “best” - actually. But how did Helmut Dietl's eternal stent say it? "A little something is always possible!"
S is even better
First ride in the new S-Class
The S400d in particular and the luxury S in the big picture
Striking headline. Moving allusions to slippery thoughts and playing with the number six. Well, of course, the S-Class had a six-cylinder before the facelift. But they were in V shape. And that's just BMW drivers know that, just a stopgap. Six cylinders? They have to be in series. In the midst of the diesel discussion brings now Mercedes-Benz probably the hottest diesel engine of all time. Maybe the last of its kind. Nice that it was a straight-six!
Six in a row
Over 2013 S-Class sedans have been sold since 300.000. And none of them had these magnificent engines, which are now moving into this, visually only gently refined, luxury sedan with the 2017 facelift. In addition to the V8 engines M176 and M177, the V8 engines with the turbochargers in the interior of the V, known from the Mercedes-AMG GT models, it is the “normal in-line sixes” that are now attracting attention. The fact that, at the height of the diesel discussions, the absolute highlight of the facelift is a 340 hp diesel engine must be understood as the irony of automotive history. Because this new and by far the most powerful generation of diesel engines of all time already meets all the requirements for future legislation in the area of emissions. The diesel, which appears as the S400d with 700 Nm, is designed for the RDE test procedure. He and his little brother in the S600d, which can hardly be described as weak with 350 Nm, got a combination of aluminum housing and steel pistons. Nanoslide coating, variable valve control, exhaust gas aftertreatment very close to the combustion chamber, multi-stage combustion process, two-stage turbocharging and multi-way exhaust gas recirculation ensure maximum efficiency and minimal emissions. Still determined according to the NEDC, 5.1 to 5.6 liters consumption should be possible. In an S-Class.
Feelings in motion
Incomprehensible. Inaudible. Incredible. The fact that you can't hear much of the mundane auto-ignition activity in an S-Class already meets expectations - but that the diesel engine is crowned the hero of daily long-distance driving, even when the engine is idling or under load. Coupled to the 9-speed automatic transmission, the 2.925 liter in-line six-cylinder engine fulfills its task with maximum points. 700 Nm and revving in diesel atypical manner ensure this luxurious feeling of the unassuming performance upper class. While the 9G-Tronic can occasionally be blamed for the jerky operation between gears 1 to 3, the newly developed six-cylinder is just a nerd. Even if the first test lap was much too short - it is clear after just a few kilometers that the best long-distance car in the world just got even better. See you next mop. Probably.
Or until the moment you do not worry about efficiency anymore.
Feelings in motion - the performance plus
In addition to the S500, which is now a 2.999 liter in-line six, there is now also an S450 (again with R6). Unfortunately, the tight schedule of the first press test drive left no room to experience the new generation of gasoline engines with six cylinders in a row. The new 48-volt electrical system, the integrated starter generator and an electric turbo still play an interesting role here. Instead, the two “Hot-V eight-cylinder” were on the program. As M176 in the S560 4matic and as S63 with the M177.
469 PS and 700 Nm are ready in the S560. And thanks to cylinder deactivation, a combined consumption of well under 9 liters should be possible. The S63, also available only as 4matic, balances 612 PS and 900 Nm in the direction of the 9 automatic transmission. The standard consumption? 8.9 liters. However, to whom this standard consumption is important is better served by the S400d.
Whom the consumption is completely cool and we just put it ahead in this segment, experienced in the S63 the almost violent work from the summit of internal combustion engines. 612 PS does not make the S-Class a handy sports car, but it feels like you're participating in the whitewater canoe competition in the cruise ship. The sheer force of the 900 Nm crumbles all concerns about the power to weight ratio. The four-wheel drive 4matic is now able to variably distribute the power and caring for the Longitude world of experience. Accompanied by the acoustic barrage of a Panzerhaubitze.
Pure relaxation
No other vehicle class, no other automobile stands more for comfortable long journeys than the S-Class from Mercedes-Benz. Comfortable seats, a good sense of space and assistance systems that make your work easier. In addition, sovereign engines and a chassis with which you not only scan the road, no, you also hide it. No other car offers so much relaxation with so much excitement about the details. It should come as no surprise that solutions sometimes come up that no one has asked for. But after the “Fit & Healthy” idea for CES 2017 it was clear that there was still something to come. Innovations are not always immediately recognizable. It depends on the everyday use.
Quote: With the help of networked comfort systems, the vehicle can promote the well-being and performance of passengers. Instead of using some (favorite) systems as sporadically as before, with the ENERGIZING comfort control system, customers can benefit even more from the comfort features of their S-Class in the future.
Phew Ambient lighting, sitting massage, scenting and visual impressions should refresh, warm, give the driver vitality, bring joy (??) or convey comfort, depending on the selected program. Well. Since the first test with the new S-Class was too short anyway, the effects of these “answers to unasked questions” have remained open for the time being. Sure, the 14 pneumatic massage cells per seat are a great thing.
Seriously. If you are driving S-Class for the first time, you are wondering how to improve this ride anyway. If you already know the S-Class, you just ask yourself: how do I finance my own S-Class? Rarely has there been a feature that has irritated me less. Good for the lease rate.
Safety of tomorrow
Intelligent Drive thanks to “Active Distance Assistants” Distronic, active steering assistants, speed limit assistants, active lane change assistants, active emergency stop assistants, traffic jam assistants and traffic sign assistants. In addition, there is an armada of pre-safe solutions that also concern people's hearing and, in the decisive case, before the airbag is triggered, emit a high-frequency tone that prompts the hearing to protect itself. Those who are only interested in the technical solutions for the areas of security will spend days studying the variants of radar and camera solutions used. For Mercedes-Benz, the benchmark is also worth striving for in this segment, but especially in the field of digital solutions, others appear even more innovative. For example, Apple CarPlay is not available wirelessly even after the facelift and touchscreens have not made it into the vehicle again. Not even in row two. But you can indulge yourself there with the best seating comfort and an airbag in the seat belt.
The “Intelligent Drive” package has now made it to a kind of “chauffeur level”. Also for self-drivers.
Driving with chauffeur
Linking the assistance systems with data from the navigation system leads to more than intelligent cruise control. It brakes before it goes into town, it decelerates in good time before you have to turn, it drives to roundabouts at a sensible speed and also reads the speed limits and adopts them. In a traffic jam, you can follow the vehicle in front for up to 30 seconds, even from a standing start, and if you want, you can let the S-Class change lanes. It is the active preparation for the role as a non-active driver. And it's the really big cinema for the long haul. No other car allows you to relax in this way. Perfect seating position, combined with the plus of safety assistance systems that make driving easier. Anyone who wants to experience the new S-Class with a chauffeur can get an impression of “being driven” today and in the driver's seat.
Welcome to S B-Class - The B-enchmark class
The press release on the new S-Class has 88 closely printed A4 pages. The new assistance systems, the new generation of engines and the many small improvements in detail alone would, if one had the time to go into everything, make the premiere of the “stuffed” S-Class an event lasting several days. So after a day there is still the chance to experience the Stuttgart-based flagship again soon for a detailed video. However, one small detail should not be omitted. The new steering wheel. Mercedes says goodbye to the independent cruise control lever on the steering column. Instead, its functions can now also be found in the redesigned steering wheel. Bad solution? No. But for veteran Daimler drivers a style break, for everyone else a little less hurdle to get used to the S-Class.
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