Home | News | Road Tests New Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Continuing to set the standard in the luxury class The new Mercedes-Benz S 400 Hybrid Home > News > Mercedes-Benz 16th April, 2009 Four years after the market launch of the W 221 model series, Mercedes-Benz is presenting the new 2009 S-Class. Trailblazing innovations in the areas of comfort and drive engineering combined with state-of-the-art technology for enhanced safety consolidate the Mercedes-Benz flagship's position as the brand's innovation 'driver', and underscore its pioneering role in the automotive industry as a whole. The technology highlights include the world's first standard production hybrid drive with a lithium-ion battery in the S 400 HYBRID, which makes the top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz model the most economical petrol-engine luxury saloon. The fuel consumption of 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres corresponds to carbon dioxide emissions of just 186 grammes per kilometre. The engine range further includes eight modern petrol and diesel engines that require up to seven per cent less fuel. With an average fuel consumption of 7.6 litres of diesel, the S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY is one of the most efficient models in the luxury segment. The S-Class's traditionally exemplary standard of safety is further enhanced by a unique combination of innovative camera- and radar-based driver assistance systems which turn the luxury saloon into an "intelligent" partner on the road. These systems include Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Speed Limit Assist and the advanced Night View Assist PLUS facility. Other innovations are the ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection function and automatic crosswind stabilisation. With 270,000 units sold since its international market launch in the European Autumn of 2005, the W 221-series S-Class is the world's most successful luxury saloon, and seamlessly continues the success story of the flagship model in the Mercedes line-up. Since 1951, when the model 220 began the lineage of the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz has delivered around 3.3 million passenger cars from this model series to customers. S 400 HYBRID: the world's most economical petrol-engined luxury saloon The new S-Class once again represents the cutting edge of automotive development. Mercedes-Benz's technology leadership is demonstrated by the new S 400 HYBRID, which is the first production vehicle in the world to feature a hybrid drive with a lithium-ion battery. "The S 400 HYBRID is an important milestone on the way to emission-free mobility," notes Dr Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "Our first series production hybrid car exemplifies Mercedes-Benz's long-standing development strategy geared towards sustainability, with its clearly defined aim of producing economical and environment-friendly premium cars without compromising on safety, comfort and superior performance." The first hybrid drive in a series production car from Mercedes-Benz makes this S-Class model the most economical petrol-engined luxury saloon. The fuel consumption of 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres corresponds to carbon dioxide emissions of just 186 grammes per kilometre. This is the lowest level worldwide in this vehicle segment, confirming the new S 400 HYBRID as the "CO2 champion of the luxury class". The new S 400 HYBRID is the first car to be designed on the basis of the highly intelligent modular concept developed by Mercedes-Benz to give its customers the best hybrid solution for their requirements. The S 400 HYBRID, which assumes the role of technological trendsetter within this concept, offers all the essential features from the word go: a compact yet powerful electric motor the appurtenant power electronics a modern high-capacity lithium-ion storage battery. The compact hybrid module combines the hybrid functions of an automatic start-stop system and energy recuperation. In all, this means that the S 400 HYBRID sets a new standard in its class, making it the world's most economical luxury saloon with a petrol engine. The excellent fuel consumption and the low CO2 emissions of the S 400 HYBRID are accompanied by truly superior performance potential: the modified 3.5 litre petrol engine generates 205 kW, while the electric motor produces 15 kW and starting torque of 160 Nm. The Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID is based on the S 350, and features an extensively modified drive train. This encompasses a further development of the 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, an additional magneto-electric motor, the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission specially configured for the hybrid module, the necessary power and control electronics, the voltage converter and the high-voltage lithium-ion battery. During braking the electric motor acts as a generator, and is able to recover kinetic energy by a process known as recuperation. During this process the electric motor works together sensitively with the engine brake of the internal combustion engine and the conventional wheel brakes. The recuperated energy is stored by a compact but efficient lithium-ion battery in the engine compartment, and retrieved when required. Major advantages over conventional nickel/metal hydride batteries include a higher energy density and greater electrical efficiency combined with more compact dimensions and a low battery weight. Thanks to space-saving installation in the engine compartment, the boot capacity and generous interior dimensions remain unchanged. The hybrid module also has a convenient start-stop function. Efficient diesel and petrol engines Apart from the trailblazing hybrid of the S 400 HYBRID, the range of engines for the new S-Class comprises eight other powerful units: two diesel variants and six petrol engines with six, eight and twelve cylinders. Detailed fine-tuning of these engines has been supplemented with addition fuel economy measures as part of the BlueEFFICIENCY package. These include aerodynamic optimisation, demand-controlled fuel pumps and the fuel-efficient gearshift programme for the standard 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission. These measures have enabled Mercedes-Benz developers to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to seven per cent compared to the preceding models. By means of additional well-aimed aerodynamic measures, the Mercedes-Benz engineers have also managed to reduce wind noise, thus further enhancing the standard of ride comfort. With diesel fuel consumption of 7.6 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of 199-201 grammes per kilometre, the S 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (173 kW) likewise boasts outstanding figures for the luxury class. Mercedes-Benz achieves this exemplary efficiency with a tailor-made BlueEFFICIENCY package, which also includes closed underbody panelling and decoupling of the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission at standstill. The 3.0 litre diesel engine is also used in the S 350 CDI 4MATIC. The second diesel variant is the eight-cylinder S 450 CDI (235 kW) with a displacement of 4.0 litres. The range of petrol engines comprises the six-cylinder S 350/S 350 4MATIC (200 kW) with a displacement of 3.5 litres and the two eight cylinder units in the S 450/S 450 4MATIC (250 kW; displacement 4.7 litres) and S 500/S 500 4MATIC (285 kW; displacement 5.5 litres). The flagship model is still the S 600 with the 380 kW twelve-cylinder biturbo unit (displacement 5.5 litres), which accelerates the luxury saloon to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The Mercedes-AMG high-performance contributions to the range are the S 63 AMG with its 386 kW V8 engine (displacement 6.2 litres) and the S 65 AMG with a 450 kW twelve-cylinder engine (displacement 6.0 litres). Unique combination of driver assistance systems A world-first combination of state-of-the-art assistance and protection systems is available for the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Many of these systems are also available in the new E-Class, which has been in European Mercedes-Benz showrooms since the end of March. The new assistance systems turn the models of the E- and S-Class into "intelligent" partners for their drivers. The car is able to "see", "feel", to respond "instinctively" to detected dangers and to act "on its own initiative" in order to avoid accidents or to reduce the severity of accidents. "Similarly to the established Mercedes inventions ABS, ESP®, Brake Assist and PRE-SAFE®, the new assistance systems are also geared to the realities of how accidents occur and what consequences they entail," observes Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the board of management at Daimler AG and responsible for corporate research and the development of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "The aim in developing these systems was to prevent particularly common and serious collisions. With this concept, the S-Class not only protects its own occupants but also plays a key role in enhancing safety for other motorists," Dr. Weber adds. To this end, Mercedes-Benz also deploys cameras which scan the road far ahead of the vehicle, monitor the surrounding area and interpret typical critical situations. Such cameras are employed in the optionally available Adaptive Highbeam Assist system, for example. This system detects vehicles with their lights on which are travelling towards or ahead of the car in which the system is fitted and controls the headlamps such as to ensure the largest possible range without dazzling other drivers. The Sindelfingen-based engineers have also enhanced Night View Assist, which is now equipped with a special pedestrian detection function: as soon as the system detects pedestrians ahead of the car, they are highlighted on the display to make them more readily noticeable. Lane Keeping Assist is another system that "looks ahead" for even safer driving. The system's computer is able to recognise lane markings by evaluating the contrasting images of the road surface and the markings. If the vehicle leaves the lane identified by the Assist function unintentionally, the driver is warned by short vibrations of the steering wheel. Unlike conventional systems of this kind, the Mercedes system is able to evaluate the driver's activities as well, and can reliably ascertain whether the car is leaving its lane intentionally or not. There is therefore no warning if the driver accelerates before overtaking or joining a motorway, brakes heavily or enters a bend, for example. The images supplied by the windscreen camera are also used by the new, optional Speed Limit Assist system, which identifies speed limit signs in passing and shows the relevant speed limit in the central display (standard for S 600). Drowsiness detection on the basis of more than 70 parameters With the drowsiness detection system ATTENTION ASSIST, the new 2009 model S-Class has a very sensitive feel for the attention level of its driver, and warns them in good time when they becomes drowsy. This innovative technology continuously monitors more than 70 different parameters. Once the high-resolution steering angle sensor recognises the steering behaviour that typically indicates the onset of drowsiness, a warning signal is sounded and "ATTENTION ASSIST. Break!" appears in the instrument cluster. Mercedes-Benz has also improved the long and medium-range radar used by Brake Assist PLUS and DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control. Both systems assist the driver during emergency braking. If the driver is distracted and fails to recognise the immediate danger of a rear-end collision, the PRE-SAFE®Brake is able to intervene and brake the vehicle independently. The new generation of the system offers even greater safety: if the driver fails to react even after receiving a visual and acoustic warning, the PRE-SAFE®Brake is able to activate the maximum braking pressure around 0.6 seconds before an accident which is identified by the system as being unavoidable - an emergency braking action that significantly mitigates the severity of the impact. Detailed fine-tuning has also given the new 2009 S-Class better driving dynamics and agility. This is in large measure due to the new Direct-Steer system, where the ratio varies with the steering angle. New: Active Body Control (ABC) compensates crosswinds Mercedes-Benz developers have also added a crosswind stabilisation function (standard for S 600) to Active Body Control (ABC). For this purpose ABC uses the yaw rates and lateral acceleration sensors of the Electronic Stability Programme ESP® to vary the wheel load distribution via the ABC spring struts, depending on the direction and intensity of the crosswind. This enables the effects of crosswinds to be compensated, or reduced to a minimum in the case of strong gusts. The Torque Vectoring Brake provides the new 2009 S-Class with added safety in critical conditions and even greater agility by specifically braking the inner rear wheel in bends so as to enable precise cornering by the saloon without compromising on driving dynamics. State-of-the-art multimedia technology In line with its self-assured character and its claim to be a technological trendsetter, the new 2009 S-Class also sets standards where onboard infotainment is concerned. As a world first, on request Mercedes-Benz will equip its flagship model with the new SPLITVIEW technology for the COMAND control and display system centrally located in the centre console. This innovative display concept allows the driver and front passenger to view different content simultaneously on one and the same screen. While the driver uses the map-based navigation system, for example, the front passenger can be watching the latest film on DVD. Mercedes-Benz has also extended the standard control and display system COMAND with additional functions, for example an SD memory card slot. Other new features include a modified Bluetooth® interface, which provides for a wireless link between a mobile phone and the standard onboard hands-free system, and a USB interface. These enable customers to export saved data and import them into any other S-Class. It is also possible to transfer navigation data. As an optional extra Mercedes-Benz also offers a Media Interface – a universal interface in the glove compartment for mobile audio devices such as an iPod® and USB stick (standard for S 400 HYBRID and S 600). Self-Catering Holiday Accommodation in Denmark, WA ..... more The optionally available COMAND APS (standard for S 400 HYBRID and S 600) is additionally equipped with a nation-wide navigation system whose data are stored on a 40 GB hard disc. This allows particularly fast route calculation. The high level of navigating convenience is also aided by the detailed three-dimensional city map mode. Musical entertainment is provided by a radio, a CD/DVD player with MP3 function, an equaliser with speed-dependent volume control and the Music Register with a 7.2 GB hard disc which stores around 2500 digital music files in MP3, AAC or WMA format. The system recognises music files played on CD, DVD or from the Music Register using its stored Gracenote® database, and shows the title, album and performer in the colour display. The new Music Search function enables S-Class drivers and passengers to search SD memory cards, USB sticks, CDs and DVDs for specific music titles and performers. COMAND APS also includes the latest-generation LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system, which operates the navigation, telephone and audio devices by whole-word commands. This has the advantage that the driver no longer has to spell out their commands. Mercedes-Benz has also increased the range of rear-seat entertainment functions in the new 2009 S-Class. Passengers in the rear now have a remote control unit which enables all the audio and telematics functions of COMAND to be operated, plus access to external devices via the Media Interface. Mercedes-Benz also offers a rear-seat entertainment package with two eight-inch displays on the rear surfaces of the front seat head restraints, two wireless headphones and a separate CD/DVD player with connections for external audio and video devices. The "Logic7" surround sound system developed by Mercedes-Benz together with the audio specialists harman/kardon® delivers outstanding performance with three-dimensional sound as a natural 360 degree musical experience for all passengers. Design: a muscular, self-assured presence The modified design reflects the effortless superiority and power of the S-Class Saloon. It is characterised by the more pronounced arrow-shape of the radiator grille, plus a new front bumper with a discreet light-catching contour and a chrome strip below the cooling air intakes. In future the exhaust tailpipes of all S-Class variants will be visibly integrated into the rear bumper. The headlamps have bi-xenon technology as standard. An even more dynamic look is ensured by the LED Light package with its striking LED arrays for daytime driving lights, indicators and marker lights (standard for S 400 HYBRID and S 600). These lend an unmistakable day-and-night design to the front end. The rear end is characterised by tail lights in an innovative LED design. Here too, a total of 52 LEDs in the form of a double-C form an unmistakable light signature. Mercedes-Benz also makes more use of light as a styling element in the interior. In future customers who specify the optional ambient lighting (standard for S 400 HYBRID and S 600) have a choice between three lighting moods: solar (amber), neutral (white) and polar (ice-blue). The 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be in European Mercedes-Benz showrooms from June 2009. Australian customers will be able to take delivery of the new 2009 S-Class in late September this year. Australian models, pricing and specifications will be announced closer to this luxury model’s local release. Hear Chris Goodsell Talk Motoring On Radio & Internet ..... more More Mercedes-Benz News ..... here About | Car Clubs | Home | News | Road Ramblings | Road Tests | Subscribe | Top Drive ©   2009   All rights reserved.   Next Car Pty. Ltd.