2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Better, Stronger, Faster

By Scott Oldham

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the company's flagship sedan, will debut this fall in Europe and arrive in the U.S. early in 2006. Mercedes says the car, which will be a 2007 model, emphasizes dramatic design and advanced technology.

Larger and More Powerful
Benz hasn't said much, but we do know the Mercedes 2007 S-Class will be 1.7 inches longer, almost an inch wider, and ride on a 124-inch wheelbase, about 3 inches longer than its predecessor.

These new dimensions create 1.5 inches of extra elbow room and slightly more headroom. Rear-seat passengers get an extra half inch of knee room compared to the preceding series. The trunk is bigger, too, up to nearly 20 cubic feet.

In the U.S. market, three versions will be offered: the S350, S500 and S600. Of these, two will be powered by new engines. The S350 will be powered by the same 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 that Benz debuted in the 2005 SLK350 and now uses in the E- and M-Class. Mercedes says the S500 will be powered by the first example of the company's next-generation V8-engine family, which will feature increased displacement, four-valve-per-cylinder technology, variable valve timing, a lightweight crank assembly, lower exhaust emissions and noise. It's rated at 382 hp and 383 pound-feet of torque, which Mercedes says is enough to accelerate the large sedan from zero to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.4 seconds. The 12-cylinder in the S600 also gets more power. It's up to 510 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.

Behind the new engine will be the same driver-adaptive 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic that's also used in the 2006 M-Class. And as in the M-Class, the transmission will be controlled by a small electronic shift lever on the right side of the steering column. The design is very much like the one BMW pioneered in the 2002 7 Series, you lift the stalk up for "Reverse," push down for "Drive," and push a button on the end for "Park." Once under way, manual shifting is possible with buttons on the back of the steering wheel.

New Interior
The shifter isn't the only thing Mercedes lifted from the BMW design center, the interior looks like an homage to the present 7 Series.

In the center of the dash is an 8-inch high-resolution display for a new "Cockpit Management and Data System" (COMAND), which Mercedes says is more intuitive, and the system is operated by a COMAND Controller located on the lower center console. Sounds like iDrive to us, does it sound like iDrive to you? If you're like us, and hate the big knob, Mercedes says many vehicle controls are accessible by conventional hard keys, the multifunction steering wheel and optional voice control.

Among the new extreme features list are front seats that adjust 16 ways and offer several optional choices of ventilation and ergonomic adjustability. Optional Drive Dynamic seats will feature 25 individual pneumatic chambers and four levels of pulsating massage.

More Safety
Since 2002, the S-Class has been equipped with Mercedes' Pre-Safe system. It works like this: In the seconds just before a possible impact, the front seatbelts are automatically tightened, the sunroof closes, and the seats can move to positions that provide better protection. On the new S-Class, the system has been taken further. Pre-Safe now closes the car's side windows to provide better support for the window curtain airbags, and inflate special seat cushions to provide greater lateral support for occupants and help the side airbags provide even better collision protection.

Also, Distronic cruise control that maintains a preset following distance behind the vehicle ahead will be replaced by an optional Distronic Plus system. Integrated with Pre-Safe, the radar-based system operates at nearly all speeds up to 125 mph. Distronic Plus works with a new Brake Assist Plus system to monitor traffic conditions, and if a collision is anticipated, ideal brake pressure is applied, even if the driver applies the brake pedal too lightly. Mercedes says its studies show the new system reduces rear collisions in heavy city traffic by 75 percent.

Distronic Plus also incorporates radar-based Park Assist. This system utilizes six radar sensors mounted behind the front and rear bumpers, eliminating the need for the visible "portholes" of the previous ultrasonic-based system.

Another optional technology on the 2007 S-Class will be an active infrared night-vision system. Unlike the passive systems offered by other auto companies, this active system bathes the road ahead with infrared light from two projectors mounted in the headlight assemblies. An infrared camera discreetly mounted in the windshield receives the reflected images and shows them on the high-resolution display in the instrument cluster. The result is akin to a highly detailed black-and-white video image. Mercedes is calling it an industry first, and says it can extend the driver's "visibility" to nearly 500 feet.

Will It Sell?
In 2004, Mercedes-Benz achieved an all-time sales record, and 11 consecutive years of sales growth. Meanwhile, across town, BMW has enjoyed similar success. Although its 2002 7 Series took its licks in the press, it has become the best-selling 7 Series of all time — iDrive, Bangle butt and all. Makes us think the new S-Class is a no-brainer, especially since we don't expect any big jumps in S-Class pricing with this new generation.