"The best or nothing" promises Mercedes its customers, and if you believe the series logic, the S-class would have to be the very best one can buy for money. It's all the more difficult for engineers, designers and product planners to make the flagship a little better every few years. But the facelift model, which celebrates its premiere at the Auto China in Shanghai these days and is soon at the dealer, shows: There are always a few screws. Especially with the assistance systems and the engines Mercedes is now following.
The trend towards autonomous driving is progressing so fast "that we could actually bring new updates all the time", explained the Daimler-Manager responsible for active safety technology. Michael Hafner the other day. So instead of introducing a completely new generation of systems every few years, Daimler takes a step further with each new model. In concrete terms, in the revised S-Class, this is where the driver assistance package 4.5 celebrates its premiere. Compared to the version 4.0, which recently debuted in the E-Class, especially the distance cruise control Distronic was improved again. He no longer brakes only when he sees an obstacle in front of him. Rather, he uses the navigation and camera data and includes curves, roundabouts and junctions in his driving strategy. An example: If the S-Class with Tempo 100 rolls along the highway and onto a curve that can not be taken at this speed, the Distronic brakes just enough so that the driver can drive through the bend quite comfortably. Depending on the chosen driving mode (comfort, sport or eco) the whole thing happens more or less dynamically.
In addition to the new brake function function, the technicians have improved further details. For example, it is now enough to briefly tap the turn signal, so that the lane change assistant takes up the work and - if it is free - cuts out to the right or left. In addition, the new S-Class can be switched on and off by smartphone and an emergency stop assistant brings the car safely to a halt when the driver, for example, by a medical emergency, stops responding.
Visibly less to do had the design team. The troupe around Gordon Wagener is just about to refine the family design, accordingly, the retouching decent. The air intakes are slightly larger, the grille design will provide future information about the engine and the headlights with optional extra high beam are redrawn in detail. Inside, the most important novelty is the steering wheel, with the touchpads known from the E-Class - and without the classic cruise control lever. The proven for decades switch for cruise control has had its day, in the future the Distronic will be operated via steering wheel buttons. Premiere also celebrates the "Energizing" comfort control in the S-Class. The system, to which the Stuttgart gave a first outlook already at the CES in Las Vegas, controls air conditioning, seat adjustment as well as light (altogether ten color worlds with 64 single colors are to the choice) and music depending on mood of the driver, who chooses from six programs can. But not only to the wellness disciples Mercedes has thought, even all horsepower lovers with gasoline in the blood come in the new S-Class thanks to the revised engine offer at their expense.
New in the revved S-Class are the two three-liter inline six-cylinder diesel with 210 kW / 286 horsepower (S 350 d, 5,5 liters average consumption) and 250 kW / 340 PS (S 400 d) and the new eight-cylinder petrol engine with Active cylinder deactivation in the 560 345 (469 kW / 63 PS), which draws its power from four liters and is also available in the especially popular in China, particularly noble Maybach version. The unit also serves as the basis for the equally new Mercedes-AMG S 5,5, where he replaces the 450-liter block and brings it to 612 kW / 900 horsepower and whopping 200 Newtonmeter torque - XNUMX Newtonmeter more than the strong diesel. All new units drive with Neungang automatic and standard four-wheel drive.
But that's not enough, Mercedes has a few more iron in the engine furnace: Soon, the offer will be supplemented by a new straight-six gasoline engine with 48-Volt electrical system, integrated starter generator and electric auxiliary compressor. At the start of the R6 Otto goes in two performance levels; especially the top model should be able to record performance with the V8, but be much more economical. Also in the starting blocks: an improved plug-in version with 13,3 kWh battery and 50 kilometers of electric range. (Michael Gebhardt / SP-X)