Motor Authority - blog Category: S Class

Mercedes-Benz has some major changes in store for its product line over the coming years, with several key models receiving facelifts and complete name changes. We have already seen this with the new 2010 E-Class Coupe, which has replaced the CLK, and soon we will see the CL name phased out with the introduction of a facelifted model next year. The updated car will come in for the 2011 model year and go by the new name of S-Class Coupe.

The current C216 CL was first introduced at the end of 2006 but prototypes for the facelifted version have been spotted testing in Germany as early as August last year. Earlier this year we saw images of the...

Mercedes-Benz has some major changes in store for its product line over the coming years, with several key models receiving facelifts and complete name changes. We have already seen this with the new 2010 E-Class Coupe, which has replaced the CLK, and soon we will see the CL name phased out with the introduction of a facelifted model next year. The updated car will come in for the 2011 model year and go by the new name of S-Class Coupe. The current C216 CL was first introduced at the end of 2006 but prototypes for the facelifted version have been spotted testing in Germany as early as August last year. Earlier this year we saw images of the high-performance AMG model but these latest shots depict the standard model. New details include a more upright grille highlighted with a single chrome bar, as well the new headlight design and LED accents. In the rear we can clearly see full LED rear lights, a new bumper design and different shape exhaust tips. Other changes planned include new indicators in the side mirrors. Mercedes-Benz engineera are unlikely to change the CL’s powertrain lineup for the new S-Class Coupe, which means that the current assortment of V-8 and V-12 engines should remain. There could, however, be a number of modifications to the exhaust filtering systems to help improve emissions, as well as the introduction of engine stop-start and direct-injection technologies. Read More

The long-awaited 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid has been on the auto show circuit for almost 12 months now, but the green luxury cruiser is finally ready for sale. Arriving in showrooms this fall with a pricetag of $87,950, the S400 Hybrid promises a 21 % improvement in fuel economy over the base S350 model sold overseas and is the cheapest S-Class in the automaker’s American lineup.

By combining a 275 horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 gasoline engine and a 20 horsepower electric motor, the S400 Hybrid is what most would call a 'mild' hybrid. That's enough to get an EPA-rated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. That...

The long-awaited 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid has been on the auto show circuit for almost 12 months now, but the green luxury cruiser is finally ready for sale. Arriving in showrooms this fall with a pricetag of $87,950, the S400 Hybrid promises a 21 % improvement in fuel economy over the base S350 model sold overseas and is the cheapest S-Class in the automaker’s American lineup. By combining a 275 horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 gasoline engine and a 20 horsepower electric motor, the S400 Hybrid is what most would call a 'mild' hybrid. That's enough to get an EPA-rated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. That compares to 14 mpg/21 mpg city/highway fuel economy for the S550, the next model in the S-Class lineup. Lithium-ion chemistries are capable of storing about twice as much energy per pound as the nickel-metal-hydride packs used in all other hybrids, including the 2010 Toyota Prius that pretty much defines "hybrid" for Americans. The lithium-ion batteries contribute enough energy to push the car's model number up from its natural displacement of 3.5-liter (as in the S350) to the equivalent of a 4.0-liter engine. Equipped with the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission with special adjustments for the hybrid model, the car is also capable of completing the 0-62 mph dash in 7.2 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 156 mph. Fuel efficiency gains are made through a combination of technologies, including stop-start functionality, which helps to cut fuel use while standing still at traffic lights or jams. But improved efficiency isn't the only effect the hybrid system has--it can also boost performance for brief periods. By kicking in the electric motor's full 118 pound-feet of torque as the fuel-intensive acceleration phase kicks in, it speeds take-off while minimizing fuel use. Regenerative braking helps to maximize efficiency and recapture energy that would otherwise be lost. All of the operation of the hybrid system is displayed for the driver's convenience in a single display in the instrument cluster. Minus chrome letters on the trunk saying "HYBRID", you would never know this full-size S-Class sedan contained all the electric parts. Whether or not this will be a winning strategy for Mercedes remains to be seen but it is one that arch rival BMW is copying for its own 2010 ActiveHybrid 7 based on the 7-Series sedan. Look out for a road test of the new S-Class Hybrid next week on our sister site GreenCarReports.com. Read More

Attendees at next week’s 2009 Frankfurt auto show will witness a showdown between Germany’s luxury automakers, but while this is to be expected considering it’s a German event, the row between the automakers will center around their respective visions for future, ecological motoring rather than the traditional horsepower wars.

Mercedes-Benz is expected to have one of the biggest displays, with plans to unveil the previous trio of BlueZERO concept cars as well as the hydrogen-powered B-Class F-CELL. Today Mercedes revealed the plug-in hybrid version of its S-Class sedan, supplementing information leaked late last night.

Featuring similar...

Attendees at next week’s 2009 Frankfurt auto show will witness a showdown between Germany’s luxury automakers, but while this is to be expected considering it’s a German event, the row between the automakers will center around their respective visions for future, ecological motoring rather than the traditional horsepower wars. Mercedes-Benz is expected to have one of the biggest displays, with plans to unveil the previous trio of BlueZERO concept cars as well as the hydrogen-powered B-Class F-CELL. Today Mercedes revealed the plug-in hybrid version of its S-Class sedan, supplementing information leaked late last night. Featuring similar technology to its S400 Hybrid production car sibling, the new concept, which has been labeled the 2009 Mercedes-Benz Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid Concept, returns a claimed fuel economy of 73.5 mpg. Even with that frugal rating, the S500 plug-in is a performer, capable of 5.5-second runs to 62 mph and a top speed of 155 mph. According to Mercedes-Benz chief Dr. Dieter Zetsche, "The Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid is a new milestone on our path toward zero-emission mobility. It is a luxurious and safe S-Class vehicle that offers superior driving performance while at the same time consuming less fuel than current compacts. All of this shows that our top models will also be able to combine automotive fascination with responsibility for the environment." The company describes the technology as "near production," meaning it's not quite ready for prime time. The advanced powertrain combines a 3.5-liter V-6 gasoline engine with an electric motor running on lithium-ion batteries. This unique setup will allow the Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid to travel up to 18.6 miles on electricity alone. A rapid-charge setup allows the car to take a full load of electrons in just 60 minutes, but requires a 20 kilowatt source. A standard household outlet, which supplies closer to 3.3 kilowatts, takes about 4.5 hours to charge the battery. When the battery is depleted, the 60-horsepower hybrid module will activate the V-6 engine and allow it to act like a conventional hybrid. A second clutch between the electric motor and combustion engine allows them to operate together or separately. Read More

It wouldn’t be a European auto show without some outrageous creation from Brabus and for this year’s Frankfurt auto show the German tuner hasn’t disappointed. This month Brabus will unveil what it claims to be the world’s fastest and most powerful executive luxury sedan: the new SV12 R Biturbo 750 based on the facelifted 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The modified sedan has been fitted with the tuning firm’s twin-turbocharged V12 engine, which in its latest form outputs a heady 750 horsepower and 995 pound-feet of torque. The mighty mill is a prime example for the old adage that there’s no replacement for displacement.

A special crankshaft...

It wouldn’t be a European auto show without some outrageous creation from Brabus and for this year’s Frankfurt auto show the German tuner hasn’t disappointed. This month Brabus will unveil what it claims to be the world’s fastest and most powerful executive luxury sedan: the new SV12 R Biturbo 750 based on the facelifted 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The modified sedan has been fitted with the tuning firm’s twin-turbocharged V12 engine, which in its latest form outputs a heady 750 horsepower and 995 pound-feet of torque. The mighty mill is a prime example for the old adage that there’s no replacement for displacement. A special crankshaft with longer stroke, forged pistons with a larger diameter and an increased cylinder bore result in a displacement increase from standard 5.5 to now 6.3-liters. In addition, the inlet and outlet ports of both cylinder heads are optimized for improved mixture flow. Four special camshafts also contribute to that same effect. The engine is also upgraded with larger turbochargers, an optimized intercooling system and a stainless-steel exhaust system with high-flow catalysts. The ECU also gets retuned to ensure the vehicle meets EURO IV emission regulations. The end result is a 0-62 mph time of 4.0 seconds flat and a top speed of 211 mph. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a modified five-speed automatic transmission. An optional Brabus locking differential optimizes traction. Stopping power comes from a high-performance brake system with 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers and 380x36 mm vented and cross-drilled discs in front, and 355x28 mm discs and six-piston aluminum fixed calipers on the rear axle. These reside within Brabus’ Monoblock light-alloy wheels measuring up to 21 inches in diameter. Read More

Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout - APEAL - is how J.D. Power measures the 'gratification' a car owner experiences with each new model on the market. For the fifth year running Porsche took top honors, but several trends in the market show a wide range of improvements.

First up: American carmakers have closed the gap on their import counterparts. In 2007, domestics fell 27 points short of imports, while in 2008 that shrunk to 15 points. This year there's just 5 points between domestics and imports, reflecting the huge improvement in design and build quality of American vehicles.

“Consumers have a great array of appealing... Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout - APEAL - is how J.D. Power measures the 'gratification' a car owner experiences with each new model on the market. For the fifth year running Porsche took top honors, but several trends in the market show a wide range of improvements. First up: American carmakers have closed the gap on their import counterparts. In 2007, domestics fell 27 points short of imports, while in 2008 that shrunk to 15 points. This year there's just 5 points between domestics and imports, reflecting the huge improvement in design and build quality of American vehicles. “Consumers have a great array of appealing vehicles to choose from by both domestic and import brands,” said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. Underscoring the improvement of the American brands is the overall industry improvement. The average score across all models in 2009 is up 9 points from 2008 to 779. A large part of that increase is attributed to a boost in owner satisfaction with fuel economy, according to Sargent. “Although lower fuel prices and the switch to smaller vehicles have undoubtedly helped, there are also many individual vehicles that have made strong improvements in fuel economy ratings,” said Sargent. “For example, the Ford F-150, Cadillac Escalade, Volkswagen Jetta and redesigned Dodge Ram have all made major strides in owner satisfaction with fuel economy through the introduction of more efficient powertrains.” The Germans also did well - as usual - in the APEAL rankings for 2009. Beyond Porsche's first-place finish, Volkswagen took home four category awards for the CC, GTI, Passat and Tiguan. Mercedes-Benz nabbed two of its own for the S-Class and SLK-Class. The APEAL results are built on owner evaluations of more than 90 vehicle attributes, with responses gathered between February and May 2009 from more than 80,900 purchasers and lessees of new 2009 model-year cars and trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership. Read More

Mercedes Benz has some major changes in store for its product line over the coming years, with several key models receiving facelifts and complete name changes. We have already seen this with the upcoming E-Class Coupe, which has replaced the CLK, and soon we will see the CL name phased out with the introduction of a facelifted model next year. The updated car will come in for the 2011 model year and go by the new name of 'S-Class Coupe'.

The current C216 CL was first introduced at the end of 2006 but prototypes for the facelifted version have been spotted testing in Germany as early as August last year. Earlier this year we saw images of... Mercedes Benz has some major changes in store for its product line over the coming years, with several key models receiving facelifts and complete name changes. We have already seen this with the upcoming E-Class Coupe, which has replaced the CLK, and soon we will see the CL name phased out with the introduction of a facelifted model next year. The updated car will come in for the 2011 model year and go by the new name of 'S-Class Coupe'. The current C216 CL was first introduced at the end of 2006 but prototypes for the facelifted version have been spotted testing in Germany as early as August last year. Earlier this year we saw images of the high-performance AMG model but these latest shots depict the standard model. New details include a more upright grille highlighted with a single chrome bar, as well the new headlight design and LED accents. In the rear we can clearly see full LED rear lights, a new bumper design and different shape exhaust tips. Other changes planned include new indicators in the side mirrors. This computer generated rendering gives us an accurate prediction of what the final version will most likely look like. Mercedes is unlikely to change the CL’s powertrain lineup for the new S-Class Coupe, which means that the current assortment of V8 and V12 engines should remain. There could, however, be a number of modifications to the exhaust filtering systems to help improve emissions, as well as the introduction of engine stop-start and direct-injection technologies.2011 Mercedes Benz S-Class Coupe spy shots2011 Mercedes Benz S-Class Coupe preview Read More