When the Mercedes-Benz spokesman confirmed they believed the new 2014 S-Class was the best car in the world, I couldn’t help but shudder slightly. Mainly because our idea of exactly what makes a car “best” isn’t always the same as the standard driver, that sort of statement often results in disappointment. But more importantly, could this four-door sedan meet the hype?
First impressions of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 are positive. The new W222 is handsome and slightly understated, even though it might not be as distinctive because the slightly challenging previous W221 model. It alsoRobert Lesnik, who was enjoying what he referred to as the best job in the world because he had a wide portfolio of projects to be effective on, stating the difference between your new CLA and S-Class as proof, we had the chance to speak to the exterior design chief.
He also pointed out that Mercedes is the only car company in the world with two grilles – one with the three-pointed star around the hood, along with the other together with the large star in the grille. And while the brand new E-Class gets both options, he felt the more refined S should receive the classic grille treatment.
Interestingly, this became Robert’s first assignment at Mercedes, his design being selected 90 days after he joined the corporation in 2009, giving him another four years to generate the production version.
“This car is all about proportion,” he stated. “We wanted the specifics to be seen close up as opposed to from afar, so the defined wheel arches have gone however it has the classic long hood and rearward cabin of your RWD car.”
“After the A-Class and CLA designs, people were worried about how the S-Class would look,” he continued, “but many people have fewer expectations of the smaller cars, therefore we could push the envelope further. Whereas there have been six generations of S-Class so that we needed to be more evolutionary. We worked challenging the proportions right and hide the very fact it’s slightly longer than the earlier model. In reality, everything is built around the rear seat passengers for legroom, headroom, audio, etc. Several of these cars are chauffeur driven so we found it necessary toThe brand new S-Class undoubtedly has presence, as testified by the amount of motorists scampering out of our way while we barreled down upon them. And yet the cabin remains serene in all but fast corners.
It’s claimed to be almost 220 lb lighter and 50% stiffer than before, although the weight of your 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 is presently undisclosed. Yet it’s no featherweight. Even in Sport mode, the car leans into turns. Which is a shame because the 449hp V8 biturbo gets you moving along nicely, it remains relatively flat nevertheless, you sense the mass moving below you.
Slow down, select Comfort, as well as the Merc regains its composure. In fact, Mercedes has given it Magic Body Control, which frankly sounded rather silly until it was properly demonstrated: approaching a speed bump at respectable speed, the car’s stereoscopic cameras (first observed in the 2014 E-Class) browse the road, view the obstacle and discreetly enhance the front suspension in anticipation. If it were, well… magic, the car then glides over the hump as. It describes the effect perfectly since you feel absolutely nothing.
2014 mercedes benz S500 rear seating
2014 mercedes benz S500 center console
2014 mercedes benz S500 interior
The car has sensors like we use our ears and eyes. This new generation flagship deploys ultrasound, radar, infrared and its dual cameras to create a 360? picture of the surroundings. It can distinguish between animals and humans, even at night. It might read the road surface and adjust the air suspension since we mentioned, and also detect approaching traffic and take steps to prevent an accident if needed.
Steering assistance goes to another level. The electrical system (there’s a nice weight to it, by the way) doesn’t only exist to park the auto for you… It will gently nudge one to keep the car safely within lane demarcations. If you ignore it and so are veering into oncoming traffic, the brakes are applied on one side to return the automobile to its correct lane. It doesn’t actually say: “I can’t let you accomplish that, Dave.” But the degree ofBy offering the first glimpse of autonomous driving, the engineers have taken it a stage further. Although regulations don’t allow this inside the pure sense, the cruise control on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 are now able to follow a car or stay in a lane at a pre-determined speed and distance, while steering through turns itself. There are some safeguards to ensure the driver is giving regular inputs but we experienced the lowest-speed corner taken behind another car and coming to a halt without any input from the driver. Regarded as a safety device, it appears to be to provide the opportunity for the driver to occupy himself with many other tasks, but it’s a glimpse for the future.
The brand new 2014 S-Class is all about soothing its occupants, relieving them of the drudgery of congested driving. It can do so by utilizing more than 20 interacting systems that include parking assistance, blind spot monitoring, night vision, intelligent cruise control and intelligent headlights. Add to that a Burmester music system and you have an incredible long distance cruiser. These aren’t the S550’s greatest trick, however.
Navigating the onscreen menu, you can instruct the infinitely adjustable seats to provide you with a hot stone massage, altering the location and pressure to suit your aches. There’s also a scent diffuser in the glovebox that wafts your selected scent over a gentle breeze of ionized air, making aTherefore, not a single bulb is deployed in the new S, though it should be no surprise that you can also select the color and concentration of electric light. It houses 500 LEDs that, needless to say, last longer and require less energy.
In case the right option boxes are checked, the double-glazed cocoon brings 43.5? reclining rear seats like those who work in the first class cabin by using an airplane. They could similarly massage, heat or cool you together with, in our car, were trimmed in a “quilted” leather. It was actually diamond-shaped perforations as an alternative to full quilting but the effect was appreciated.
And Benz claims the functional and elegant cabin is virtually hand-built. Where faux is actually a no-no, it uses real leather, metals and wood throughout. It’s library-quiet and aerodynamically efficient due to a drag coefficient of .24, which beats a nicely-known Japanese hybrid.
Trunk capacity of 18cuft gives the 2014 S-Class an advantage over the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series, yet it doesn’t look awkward in proportion, even about the long wheelbase versions that can be standard in america.
As the best-selling car in the sector, along with 20,000 advance orders, it looks just as if the 2014 S-Class is guaranteed success. And there’s an AWD 4Matic version around the corner, including a V6 hybrid model to go by.
Since the demise of the ultra-luxurious Maybach brand, the S-Class is left to fill the rather small void, with rumors of the model along the lines of an S600 Pullman waiting in the wings. And while Europe will get a few other engine options, including a thrifty diesel hybrid, all models will be more efficient than the outgoing ones. Pricing is also anticipated to be next to the outgoing models.
So is this the best car in the world? Rolls Royce might claim more luxury, BMW might be more sporting, but nobody appears to have more technology. The 2014 S-Class may be the safest car worldwide, and for many people that would ensure it is the best…
2014 Mercedes-Benz S550
Layout longitudinal front engine, RWD (4Matic AWD optional)
Engine 4.7-liter V8 DOHC 32v biturbo
Transmission seven-speed automatic
Suspension four-link/air springs f, multi-link/air springs r
Brakes 13.2 discs f, 11.8 r
Wheels & Tires 18×8 , 245/50 R18
Performance
Peak power 449hp at 5250rpm
Peak torque 516 lb-ft at 1800-3500rpm
-62mph 4.8sec
Top speed 130mph
Weight TBC
Economy TBC
MSRP TBC