.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
 |
 |
| Issue 15/98
July 15th 98 |
Issue 29/98
July 17th 98 |
| Presentation Mercedes S-Class from "Auto Motor
und Sport" written by Birgit Priemer
Little Wonder Not only the stylistic change of the S-Class from a bulky to an elegant luxury sedan is amazing. Also remarkably seem the technological innovations with which the Mercedes rolls to the start of sale at the end of October. |
Photo:
DaimlerChrysler
| Imagine there's a new Mercedes S-Class and noone recognizes
it: "I photographed a disguised car" a number of hobby-prototype-photographers
told the editorial office in the last weeks, "I think it's the new E-Class."
It isn't. The prototypes which lastly only had few disguises in the areas of the headlamps and the rear lights were on test drives day and night on different continents. They embody the successor of the car which no other before in the history of the Daimler-Benz group had been heaped scorn on - the S-Class, in this form on the market since 1991. Too big, too bulky and too heavy, the responsibles didn't want to have been told that a second time although the mighty W140 far from the narrow European roads especially on the Asian and American markets sold well as a representative car. To save the - at least in Germany - tarnished image the Daimler-Benz board of management threw the switch for a more graceful successor in the phase of the new modesty in the beginning of the 1990`s. The model developed under the code W220 looks more like an elegant cruiser than as a flagship besides the newly brought into discussion by VW luxury-liners from Rolls-Royce and Bugatti. No wonder because the role of the flagship at Mercedes shall be taken by the Maybach which was first presented at the Tokyo Motor Show 1997. It should fill easily the role of the respectable luxury sedan with its length of 5,77 metres. With the new the S-Class confusions with another model of the upper middle-class can't be excluded, because the designers of chief of styling Bruno Sacco attached great importance to an elegant, filigree flow of lines which intentionally gives a finer, coupe-like gracefulness to the four-door. |
 |
|
The most important innovations of the S-Class Graphics:
Auto Motor und Sport
(Description above car, starting on the left) (Description below car, starting on the left) Larger interior space Standard air-suspension Separate air-condition control for the rear Lightweight-concept for weight reduction Window- and sidebags in all doors Inductive drive-authorization system Active ventilated comfort seat with massage feature Electronic cockpit management system Five-speed automatic with Tiptronic-function Multifunction steering-wheel New instrument cluster with central display Cylinder shut-off (S500 and up) Distance-control cruise-control |
| Never before the S-Class had the effect of being so lithe
and lissom as today. The weight (minus 300 kilograms) and dimensions are
a fair bit smaller than with the predecessor - the prestigious five-metre-border
wasn't remained under despite according speculations in the run-up.
Less is more in this case, because length and wheelbase shrank about 7.5 cm, the height about 4.1 cm and the width about 2.9 cm the interior length grew, even if only about 1.7 cm. With the long-wheelbase version which will come onto the market also at the end of October, ((exact date for Germany is October 24th)) too, its at least 3.7 cm more - a growth which above all comes from a better room economy. Even if the space offered nearly stayed the same - the world of the S-Class has completely changed. Whoever studies the list at the sight of the technological innovations with illustrious names like "Keyless-go", "Distronic" and "Command" feels reminded on the life of Captain Kirk on the bridge of the spaceship Enterprise: Everything functions automatically or with the greatest of ease. Altogether the interior on the first photos has the effect being much more futuristic than with the predecessor. High-quality, carefully processed materials shall contribute to the S-Class belonging to the best in the market in terms of quality offered in this class - a criterion other new Mercedes models like SLK, CLK and A-Class haven't reached fully in the desired degree. To the technological innovations counts an inductive drive- and access-system, shortly called Keyless-go", which saves the tiresome search for the ignition key, because there isn't one anymore. Keyless-go takes this role through a chip-card the driver only has to carry in the briefcase in the jacket. If he approaches to the car closer than two to three metres it will be unlocked automatically. If he moves away ((from the car)) the doors do lock themselves. The S-Class isn't started with a key anymore but with a little button which is placed on the gear change scheme of the automatic transmission (("Auto Motor and Sport" seriously errs here: The button is placed on top of the gear change lever, this also easily can be seen on the official interior photos)). For the ease of the driver the five-speed automatic transmission only is equipped with the settings P (parking), N (neutral) and D (drive), in return the gears can be individually chosen by hand on a new tiptronic-level. |
 |
Significantly smaller than the predecessor: S-Class
The S-Class not only measures less in length, width and height. The wheelbase shrank significantly. But the interior space offered is said to have remained alike. The weight reduction - depending on the trim-level - comes to up to 300 kilograms. Graphics: Auto Motor und Sport Translation by MBEP webmaster |
| The driver hardly no more has to lend a hand to the telephone,
because it - at least as an option - works with voice operation. Together
with the one from the radio the remote control is integrated into the new
multifunction steering-wheel following the BMW-example, whilst car radio,
navigation system and TV-receiver with large colour monitor are united
in the so-called "Command" electronic cockpit-
management-system in the centre console. The instruments are, now grouped in a so-called central-display, at first are dark. Only when the driver switches the ignition on begins - like with Cadillac or Lexus - the backlighting of the completely new developed instrument cluster. Mercedes traditionalists also have to get used to a new comfort seat which is equipped with an internal ventilation by electric fans as well as a special massage opportunity of the tired muscles. Seat heating and electrical seat-adjustment plus a separate air-condition do help the well-being of the back-seat passengers. The strip of wood above the large TV-screen in which the buttons for functions like the warning flasher have been summarized belongs to the flashy innovations. The buttons for the electric window lifts are now positioned in the door console close to the electric seat adjustments. Last but not least an air-suspension - as it once was existent in the models 300SE and 600 - shall provide an optimal level of comfort (("AMS" again errs, there were several other MB models with air-suspension, but why should a highly-paid professional writer have any profound knowledge?)). The serial fitting with these gas cushions will be combined with the adaptive damping-system ADS which automatically adopts the effect of the shock-absorbers to the actual road surface. To avoid S-Class drivers do come too close to others in road traffic the distance-controlling cruise-control "Distronic" with the help of a sensor in the front grille cares for the necessary security distance to the car ahead by calculated braking and after that accelerating again to the desired speed. Parking is eased by the electronic parking aid "Parctronic" whose sensors as before are integrated into the bumpers. The standard fittings of the new model plays - as usual with Mercedes - an especially important role. Besides the in the meantime natural front airbags for driver and ((front)) passenger sidebags in all four doors and two windowbags complete the protection for all passengers in case of an accident. The crash-security shall not suffer from the weight savings of the S-Class. High-strength panels, additional crash-elements as well as longer deformation distances shall take care of a greater security-potential than with the predecessor. Progresses Mercedes is said to have achieved under aspects of environmental policy, because the fuel consumption - depending on the model - was reduced between 13 and 17 per cent. The new generation of V-engines in lightweight construction and double-ignition - which will exist in three variants at the start of sale at the end of October - contributes to that: six-cylinder S320 with 224hp, S430 with 279hp and S500 with strong V-8-engine. The big eight-cylinder will have cylinder-shut-off to save fuel under partial-load circumstances, but only as an option. Mercedes assumes that not all customers attaches importance to that. But the ((fuel)) consumption can be reduced by another seven per cent by the use of this technique which is the reason why the cylinder- shut-off also will be used with the completely new developed V-12-engine. The 5.8-litre-engine with 400hp from the end of 1999 on completes the range together with a four-litre- V8-engine with common-rail technique and 238hp which shall get along with eight litres every 100 km ((29.405 mpg US, 35.3175 mpg UK)). Modesty in view of dimensions, weight and fuel consumption give hope that Mercedes also will be modest with the prices. That, too, would be a little wonder. End of article - translation by MBEP webmaster As usual remarks in ((blabla)) but (blabla) belongs to original text |
 |
| New S-Class Mercedes makes it possible: Enter and be chauffeured! Photo:AutoBild |
| S-Class Instead of Mass from
"AutoBild" 29/98
Topical means topical because these pages are highly topical. Therefore here the planned VW-article (Passat Plus, Bora station wagon...) had to give space for a still more topical theme: The new Mercedes S-Class. The first official photos show what Mercedes imagines under a luxury diet. |
Photo: DaimlerChrysler
| Exactly one second we follow hard on the heels of the
car in front. Not for a second time but a second distance. The computer
calculates 36 metres at 130 km/h. For security. Already now another car
cheekily places itself in the gap at the moment I wanted to insert a cassette ((into the cassette player)). Not paying attention for a moment. What could have happened? But the S-Class detected the fear of an accident before us. Its electronic automatically brakes the luxury sedan and then again builds up the "second distance" to the rest of the traffic. "Distronic" the developers from Mercedes-Benz call their youngest baby, a combination from Tempomat ((cruise-control)) and distance-radar and it will make the S-Class a bit more secure again when it will be presented this autumn. Beautiful new world. No dear readers, we don't want to confuse you: We haven't test driven the new S-Class yet. Only tested the Distronic which Mercedes presented for approval in an E-Class and offers in the S-Class from autumn. The intelligent luxury-option shows where the journey leads to: The new S-Class shall no longer fascinate through its pure size but through a firework of impressive technology. Through more S-Class instead of mass. More than 30 innovations, Mercedes promises, shall improve security and comfort in the flagship onto a new level. "With that we newly define the top of automobile production" says Daimler-chairman Jürgen Hubbert. |
 |
The show-off of the predecessor
is dead and buried - and with it the expensive and heavy double-glazing Photo: DaimlerChrysler |
| No easy task, but an absolute duty for Mercedes. The
new S-Class newly has to show where the top is.
The predecessor didn't succeed with that. Against the too big W140 BMW, Audi and Jaguar lastly mightily gained ground. Too heavy, not enough payload in the beginning and too many quality problems - such flaws for a long time did scratched on the image of the star. A false start like with A-Class and Smart would be inexcusable because the S-Class is the Mercedes. Here the Stuttgarters have to put on wheels for what customers and the competition do most fervently stretch for: The optimum in design, technology, comfort and quality. A S-Class must not be embarrassing, but a desirably attractive car. This manages the W 220 (so the factory-code) through a luxury-diet, through wise limitation. It will be 29 millimetres smaller than the predecessor, 41 mm lower and 75 shorter. With 5,04 metres the luxury-liner still surpasses the magic five-metre-hurdle but we don't see it anymore. A stretched, sinewy design, with the long coupe-roof of the E-Class and a fresh blink. More slim than cupboard. The form doesn't lie: The new S-Class weighs up to 300 kilograms less depending on the options because of hood- and chassis-components made out of aluminium and a mix of high-strength steels. |
 |
| 1 "Distronic" keeps secure distance to car in front Graphics:
AutoBild 7 Tiptronic-function of the five-speed automatic
trans
2 Operation buttons in the steering-wheel for radio and telephone 8 Climate in the front to be adjusted independently 3 Instrument cluster in new light-technique 9 Comfort-seats with ventilation and massage-backrest 4 Colour monitor for navigation and TV-receiver 10 Window-lifts in the door 5 Buttons for car telephone 11 Electrical seat adjustment in the door panel 6 "Keyless-go" button for the start of the engine without key 12 Window-bags from front to rear roof pillar |
| One could blame the old fortress for much, but in terms
of comfort and security the S-Class was top.
Mercedes wants to improve both despite the strong diet. When crashed up to eight airbags inflate (two in front, four at the side, plus two big window-bags from front to rear). The luxury-Mercedes glides on an air suspension as standard which automatically adopts the effect of the shock-absorbers to the road surface (adaptive damping system ADS). ESP and "Brake-Assist" of course already belong to the base version S 320 ((as standard)). In the beginning under the hood do wait no big surprises: 231 to 320 HP in the new 5,0-Litre-V8, at the end of the next year follow a 5,8-Litre-V12 (circa 400 HP) and a small S280 (see table). With much more excitement we look forward to the new Common-Rail-Diesels which do not come before autumn 1999: A 2,7-Litre CDI (circa 170 HP) and a 4,0-Litre CDI (238 HP). A prototype of this V8 already delighted on a test drive in the E-Class. |
 |
Unmistakably S-Class, but still completely new.
Additional turn signals are located in the outer mirrors Photo: DaimlerChrysler |
| A long way off ? No, it already begins when the new S-Class
is at the dealers from the end of October
on. Was Mercedes earlier considered to be a conservative marque, the new S-Class causes a high-tech experience as we haven't known it until now: S like science-fiction. Examples? If the driver approaches to the Mercedes from the side and encloses the door handle, the doors unlock immediately. The mystery lies in the chip-card, which one even can keep in the jacket's pocket (Mercedes calls this option "Keyless-go"). And the other way round: Does one leave the car, all doors close automatically. The start is also keyless. A push on the button on top of the gear change lever - and the engine whispers. In the new instrument cluster the displays appear like a hologram, nearly three-dimensional from a black cave, similar to the Lexus from Toyota. Never before a Mercedes was as comfortable as the new S-Class. Even the ((driver's)) back can be ventilated and massaged whilst driving. The legs in the meantime rest clutch- and accelerator-less, the "Distronic" drives, brakes and changes gears, makes the journey on the motorway to a relaxation journey ((To point it out clearly: Of course the new S-Class still has accelerator-, brake- and - with the non-automatic-transmission-versions - clutch-pedal, but the functions of the Distronic are performed without need of the driver to operate any of these pedals)). One only has to steer. In the meantime the display in the centre console keeps contact to the outside world by radio, telephone, TV and satellite-navigation. All that goes well together - the new S-Class appears to be a Mercedes from another star. |
| The new coupe comes at the end of `99 |
| Model | HP | DM price ca. | Presentation |
| S320 | 231 | 115.000 | October `98 |
| S430 | 279 | 135.000 | October `98 |
| S500 | 320 | 147.000 | October `98 |
| S500 long | 320 | 151.000 | October `98 |
| S280 | 193 | 99.000 | End of ´99 |
| S600 | 400 | 213.000 | End of ´99 |
| S270 CDI | 170 | Not fixed now | End of ´99 |
| S400 CDI | 238 | Not fixed now | End of ´99 |
| S430 CL | 279 | Not fixed now | End of ´99 |
| S500 CL | 320 | Not fixed now | End of ´99 |
| Table: AutoBild Photo: AutoExpress | |
 |
To article New S-Class Coupe C215 for 1999 |
| The big coupe will be a stunningly
beautiful
luxury creation. Slimmer and lighter the CL comes at the end of 1999: With elegant roof, four-eye-face and engines starting with 4.3-litres. Planned: A V12-coupe |
| All four photos below: DaimlerChrysler | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Important not bulky. The
Mercedes represents but without attracting optical attention.
|
S- or E-Class? The long
roof gives the swing to the Mercedes which was missing.
|
Pure comfort: Whilst the
Distronic drives, changes gears and brakes, ventilated massage-seats care for a pleasant seating climate.
|
The Distronic, here in a
test car of the E-Class, drives, brakes and changes gears automatically and always keeps the right distance ((to the car in front)). Possible by radar. The chosen speed and the distance later on will be displayed in the cockpit of the S-Class. |
| ms/joe
End of article - translation by MBEP webmaster As usual remarks in ((blabla)), but (blabla) and blabla belongs to original text |
| Although taking utmost care when translating and trying
to keep as close as possible to the original text
there are some German-specific wordplays which simply can't be translated into the English language. |
Last revised technically: Oct. 25th '99...Visits
since July 22nd '98 ..... |
[Sign
Guestbook]
[View Guestbook] |
.........
IF YOU LIKE TO INCLUDE ANY MATERIAL FROM THIS SITE
INTO YOURS PLEASE ASK BEFORE
This is a private, non-commercial home page. For detailed disclaimer click here