Mercedes-Benz has released its latest flagship model, the all-new S Class (W222). Every iteration of the S Class brings with it a fearsome task of living up to the best car in the world tag that many, including Mercedes themselves, expect it to reach.
Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars said this at the car’s launch: “Rather than being about safety or aesthetics, power or efficiency, comfort or dynamism, our aspirations were ‘the best or nothing’ in every respect. No other car stands for the Mercedes-Benz brand promise more than the S-Class.â€
At launch the S Class comes with the choice of four engines, all of which meet the latest Euro 6 emission standards:
- S 400 HYBRID (225kW/370Nm 3498cc V6 + 20kW/250Nm electric motor)
- S 500 (335kW/700Nm 4663cc V8 twin turbo)
- S 350 BlueTEC (190kW/600Nm 2687cc V6 turbo diesel)
- S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID (150kW/500Nm 2143cc 4 cylinder diesel + 20kW/250Nm electric motor)
An S 500 plug-in hybrid will follow with the promise of a sub 4.0l/100km fuel consumption rating.
As you’d expect the S Class is chock full of driver aids and electronic gubbins. There’s too many to mention, but a few highlights include: ‘Road surface scan’ suspension, which reads the road ahead for bumps and prepares the suspension accordingly; ‘First class rear’ seating; two large high-res TFT displays, one for the dash cluster, the other for navigation and infotainment; climate control with an ‘active perfuming system’; and the S Class is the first car in the world to feature full LED lighting throughout.
Most of all, though, for a large luxury saloon the latest S Class looks quite good. Its proportions are sound and aside from the large front grille we think Mercedes has penned a stylish, if subdued, S Class that the dictators of the world will gladly continue to call their own.
There’s much more to learn about the S Class and you can get a good introduction with the videos, pictures and press material after the break. If you really want to get to know the new S Class then make sure you download the full press kit which has over 100 pages of information.