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At Mercedes they have never been modest with the slogan “Best or Nothing”. But Swiss car buyers also say: if luxury, then Benz. By the end of September 2020, 149 old S-Classes had been redeemed, although the successor is already in the starting blocks. Audi A8, BMW 7 Series or Porsche Panamera couldn’t keep up.
In December, the new generation will be launched in dealerships and Mercedes will show which technologies and equipment are good and expensive. The limo becomes a mobile data center, it can drive a little, whisper silently and envelops us in deep pillows. There are even down pillows on the headrests.
High-tech is in the interior
Outside the government, inside “wow!”: Music plays on a huge Tesla-style vertical touchscreen, drives the navigation system and up to 800 settings can be selected. 19 motors each adjust the seats, the Nobel Töner Burmester’s superior sound system comes with 1750 watts and 31 speakers and vibrates the backrests with it. Ten massage programs in 27 languages can be started, 250 LEDs shine from the casing, and many things can also be operated from behind using a tablet. If there are new features, they are loaded into the car once or twice a year via the cellular network. And for an additional cost, the long version of the world’s first front airbag for the rear seats catches passengers in the event of an accident.
Engines: 3.0 R6 turbo petrol engine, 367 and 435 hp (270 and 320 kW) plus 48-volt system with 22 hp (16 kW) for boost and recovery, 3.0 R6 turbo diesel with 286 or 330 hp (210 or 243 kW), 9-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive
Driving performance: 0-100 km / h in 4.9-6.4 s, 250 km / h faster
Mass: L / W / H = 5.18 / 1.95 / 1.50 m, 2020–2438 kg, luggage compartment 405–550 l (depending on equipment)
Consumption: Factory from 8.0 to 10.1 l / 100 km, 209 to 230 g CO2 / km, F – G energy
Price: from CHF 123’100 or CHF 130’800 (long version)
Competitors: Audi A8, BMW 7er, Lexus LS, Maserati Quattroporte, Porsche Panamera, ua
All cameras and sensors in and on the car are networked together. Absurd effort? No, the new S-Class is a preview of what many cheaper Benz models will have in the coming years. For example, an internal camera that observes us: looking back, the rear window curtain opens. A greeting and the radio will turn off. It also alerts us when we are inattentive and then starts the “hello-awake” program with fresh air, perfume and loud music. Or put tired passengers to sleep with a massage.
This Benz thinks with you
Sometimes it becomes almost too much: digital tools can, for example, 3D. That’s why the S-Class is annoying before departure, our sitting position is wrong and the camera cannot calculate our eye position for the 3D image. You are crazy? We sit comfortably and stay that way. The touchscreen can do it all, but it’s deep enough to be safe to use while driving. And then the S-Class also gets involved in driving.
Because the sat nav thinks for you. If a route is set and all driving aids, including lane keeping and cruise control, are activated, the four-seater brakes automatically before roundabouts or before turning, turns off the throttle in curves and climbs into them when the speed limit. This needs confidence: Does the car know how narrow the road is and that 80km / h might be a bit too much for the curve? Interesting feature for frequent drivers and professional drivers, but they still stress us out on the first test lap. Plus point: instead of dragging the car into the lane with annoying panic braking as before, the lane holder now steers smoothly backwards.
Power up to 510 hp
You can of course drive alone, as if floating and thanks to the agile rear axle steering as if you were sitting in a mid-range sedan. The spearhead is, yes, the turbodiesel: an in-line six with 286 (350 d) or 330 hp (400 d), smooth running as silk, relatively low fuel consumption and ample torque. At the start there are also two three-liter turbo petrol engines (367 or 435 hp) with an additional 22 hp electric motor and a 48-volt system for braking energy recovery – all with all-wheel drive except the base diesel . Eight cylinders will suitably follow, as will the top model 580 e.
Its plug-in hybrid combines the 150hp electric motor and 435hp petrol engine for a system output of 510hp, runs up to 100km electrically thanks to a 28.6 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery and is full again in 30 minutes with the quick charger. He drives like a Stromer on his test drive and, as long as he has energy, refuses to start the petrol engine. It only works with brute acceleration on the German autobahn. With this S-Class, anyone who always connects will only see the gas station attendant on long journeys.
And how much does all high technology cost? At least 123,100 francs for the 5.18-meter version and 130,800 francs for the 5.29-meter version. Many gimmicks are simply not on board. But the rich list of options is unlikely to deter Swiss customers.
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