New Mercedes-Benz S-Class - World’s Best Car?

 

Come mid-2021, you will be able to get your grubby hands on the next generation of the top-selling luxury sedan on the planet, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

This ground-up redux, internally known as the W223, turns a corner in my eyes. The historically staid designers and engineers at Stuttgart have bled some “edge” into this latest iteration. The exterior reflects it with hints of aggressive and sporting queues, and the interior is going right down the road of futuristic technology while maintaining that air of luxurious cocoon the S-Class is known for. Overall this is a sleeker, more contemporary mien.

So, what exactly does one get for their three zillion dollars?

Fear not, the S isn’t quite that expensive.

Stateside we are looking at two models initially, both on the long-wheelbase and with 4Matic all-wheel drive. The plebeian model is the S500, sporting a 3.0-liter inline-six producing 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque.  The S580 ups the ante with a pair of turbochargers on a 4.0-liter V-8 making 496 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of twist. Both cars sport a nine-speed automatic transmission.  Europe gets a pair of diesel versions, and there will be a plug-in hybrid in about a year with 60 miles of electric-only range.

I could write a novel on the features and tech. In a show of kindness, I’ll restrict myself to some of the highlights. Available all-wheel steering tightens the turning circle by six feet, active suspension adjusts to the road surface 1000 times per second and leans into corners, and Level 3 automated driving is lurking about. Did I mention the three zillion safety features?

Hartmut Sinkwitz, the fellow responsible for the interior vibe of “digital and analog luxury”, has created an atmosphere that may cause hallucinations of piloting a spacecraft. Up to five screens, a ginormous head-up display with augmented reality, 3D displays, 250 LED light sources, and an audiophile-grade Burmester stereo system are all part of the menu.

This car is impressive!

I expect the S500 to start at $96,000.00, with versions and features heading well above the 100K mark.

Stuttgart has done well.  The new S maintains a long lineage of, dare I say, class.

Cheers!