Collection Gift Guide: S is for Spectacular
12/01/2005
2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The ninth-generation Mercedes-Benz
S-Class—introduced as a 2007 model—has a tough act to follow: The model it
replaces bows out as the best-selling luxury sedan model of all time, with sales
nearing 500,000 since its 1998 debut. And there is no question that executives
at one of the world’s oldest automakers could use another home run. Concerns
about overall production quality have slightly tarnished the three-pointed star,
and neither the Maybach nor the McLaren SLR—both halo vehicles intended to
enhance the company’s image—has generated much enthusiasm or sales. It bodes
well that Chrysler’s miracle worker Dieter Zetsche now holds the reins of parent
company DaimlerChrysler and Mercedes-Benz, but it will take a successful launch
of the new flagship S-Class to demonstrate that the company is again on
track.
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(Click to enlarge image.)There are no guarantees. Down in Munich, BMW bungled—some would say Bangled—the design of its latest 7 Series with dramatic new exterior styling that many considered ungainly. Some wondered if Mercedes would learn from BMW’s missteps, and the new S-Class’s aggressive redesign has raised eyebrows. Hans-Dieter Futschik, the design director for passenger cars, says that the previous S-Class was almost too pretty—he wanted a more “dominant, muscular stance.” The iconic Mercedes grille now has an upright prominence, and outsize wheel arches lend a broad-shouldered effect. The rear deck lid bears a resemblance to the “Bangle bulge” that proved so controversial on the big BMW, but Futschik dismisses any direct comparison to the 7 Series, explaining that the raised deck balances the car’s brawny theme and provides increased trunk capacity. Dimensionally larger in every aspect, the new S-Class stretches its wheelbase 3.1 inches to a total of 124.6 inches, and overall length gains 1.7 inches to 205 inches. The car is also 1.1 inches taller and .7 inches wider.
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The flagship from Mercedes-Benz is bigger than ever, but the angular design and
sharp steering make it feel smaller. (Click image to enlarge.) The car’s design works. A silver S600 shimmering under the Italian sun conveyed a sense of power and elegance as it awaited a drive from Milan to Lake Como. There are hints of Maybach—especially when viewed from the rear—but the S-Class has a more dynamic presence. Even aggressive Italian drivers moved to the autostrada’s right lane as the S600 appeared in their rearview mirrors, and normally surly Swiss border guards supplemented their curt waves with the glimmer of smiles.
Though its exterior might be uncharacteristically brutish, its interior offers a modern, accommodating sense of familiarity for those who are accustomed to driving a Mercedes-Benz. The appealing contours of the wood-trimmed dash wrap around to the top edges of the door; at night, the soft glow of an ambient light strip highlights their curves. Optional dynamic, multicontour seats feature adjustable internal air chambers that shape various areas of the seat to your body; they also sense g forces and pump up side bolsters for added support. As we swept through a set of high-speed alpine S-curves, the sensation of seat cushions moving in rhythm with the car’s motion was comforting. Another option—variable pressure massage—constantly inflates and deflates seven air chambers to lessen muscle fatigue. Rear passengers have their own controls for seat adjustment and the entertainment system.
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Flared fenders are a new design element for the S-Class. (Click image to enlarge.)BMW’s 7 Series also confused and annoyed many potential customers with its overly complicated iDrive driver management system. Mercedes-Benz pioneered the use of an integrated multifunction control system with its COMAND, which has also taken its share of criticism for difficult operation. Like the 7 Series, the new S-Class sports a stubby gearshift lever on the steering column and an iDrive-like control knob on the center console. But while the knob does operate various aspects of the COMAND system à la the dreaded iDrive, drivers can independently access many basic functions for the audio system, seats, navigation, and integrated telephone through a set of main control buttons on the console. Further, improvements such as a high-definition screen that sits higher in the dash and graphics that scroll easily have transformed COMAND into a surprisingly intuitive, quick, and user-friendly tool.
The S-Class features a new range of more powerful engines that includes a 335
hp 4.6-liter 4-valve V-8 (S450), a 382 hp 5.5-liter V-8 (S500), and a gloriously
powerful 510 hp bi-turbo 5.5-liter V-12 (S600). The latter moves the sedan from
zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The V-8s mate to the excellent 7-speed
driver-adaptive automatic transmission, while the V-12, with 612 ft lbs of
torque, needs only a 5-speed automatic to do its work. Cruising along the
autostrada at 100 mph in the S600, the interior remained whisper quiet until the
slight application of pressure to the throttle—the V-12 responded with a low
growl and quickly took us to 130 mph without breaking stride. The powertrains
provide the silky smooth responsiveness you expect—but don’t always get—in a
large premium sedan.
The V-8 cars are equipped with the Airmatic air suspension, while the S600
ups the ante with the enhanced Active Body Control (A-B-C) suspension; V-8s ride
on standard 18-inch wheels, and the V-12 on 19-inchers. These big cars boast
amazing handling. Greatly improved steering response and a tight turning radius
mean that the S-Class scampered along a set of downhill hairpin curves near St.
Moritz as adroitly as the much smaller C55 AMG.
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Rear seat passengers travel in style. (Click image to enlarge.)Based on initial impressions, Mercedes-Benz can expect an encore of the outgoing S-Class’ success. The first 2007 S500 will arrive Stateside in February and will be joined by the S450 and S600 a month later. Both V-8 and V-12 AMG variants will follow, along with all-wheel-drive 4Matic versions. Prices have not been set, but will likely start near $80,000 and top out around $130,000.
Mercedes-Benz, 800.367.6372, www.mbusa.com