Press Release
Page 1: Overview
Page 2: Model range I
Page 3: Model range II
Page 4: Technology
Page 5: 4MATIC passenger cars
Page 6: Technical Specifications
Powerful six-cylinder diesel engine with high-tech features
A glance at the technical refinements which characterise the 3.0-litre engine explains the impressive performance data. The high-tech features of this compact V6 power plant include third-generation common rail direct injection. The combination of an injection pressure of up to 1600 bar and particularly fast-acting piezo-electric injectors ensures efficient mixture formation. Further highlights of the 320 CDI engine include electrically controlled intake port shut-off, intake air throttling, a VNT (Variable Nozzle Turbine) turbocharger with electrically adjustable guide vanes and exhaust gas recirculation with a control valve. Like all Mercedes-Benz diesel passenger cars, the S 320 CDI 4MATIC is equipped as standard with a maintenance-free particulate filter system.
7G-TRONIC automatic transmission with Sport program as standard
Power transfer in all S-Class 4MATIC models is handled by the 7G-TRONIC auto-matic transmission with steering-column DIRECT SELECT gear selector and steer-ing-wheel gearshift buttons. This combination ensures that optimum use can be made of the impressive performance and torque capabilities in every driving situation. Furthermore, the all-wheel-drive models have identical gear spacing and ratios, which has a positive effect on the performance and fuel consumption figures.
An all-new development for all S-Class V6 and V8 petrol models is the 7G-TRONIC Sport transmission. The S/C/M button on the centre console can be used to activate the manual "M" driving mode, allowing the seven gears to be shifted using the two steering-wheel shift buttons – downshifts are performed by pulling briefly on the left button while the right button is used for shifting up. In "M" mode, the system's electronics reliably maintain the last gear selected, even at full throttle. It is thus possible to make optimum use of the high pulling power of the V6 and V8 engines. However, fully depressing the accelerator (kickdown mode) causes the transmission to shift down in order to deliver maximum acceleration. 7G-TRONIC Sport reduces shift times by up to 30 percent in manual mode.
PRE-SAFE® as standard, Brake Assist PLUS as an optional extra
The unique PRE-SAFE® occupant protection system also forms part of the standard equipment of the S-Class all-wheel-drive models. PRE-SAFE® recognises a potential accident situation in its early stages: if the braking deceleration exceeds a certain level or there is a risk of skidding, the system tightens the front seat belts and pumps air into the chambers of the multicontour seats so that they envelop and support the driver and other vehicle occupants.
Available as an option, Brake Assist PLUS (BAS PLUS) uses radar to register vehicles ahead and warns the driver if the distance is too small or if he or she is approaching the vehicle ahead too quickly. If a collision is imminent, the system instantly calculates the ideal braking assistance, which is immediately supplied even if the driver applies the brakes too gently. This makes it possible to reduce substantially the number of rear-end collisions. The combination of the new Brake Assist PLUS and PRE-SAFE® makes it possible to provide a higher level of occupant protection. Mercedes-Benz is the first and only automaker in the world to offer such a comprehensive safety system, which goes into action as soon as an accident risk is detected.
PRE-SAFE® Brake uses the latest radar technology
For the first time in the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz is complementing this multiple-award-winning anticipatory protection system with the newly developed PRE-SAFE® Brake. This works in combination with Brake Assist PLUS (BAS PLUS), which not only gives the driver visual and audible warnings that he or she is in imminent danger of running into the vehicle ahead, but also automatically calcu-lates the brake pressure required to prevent an accident. This braking assistance is available as soon as the brake pedal is operated. If the driver does not react to the BAS PLUS warnings, the PRE-SAFE® Brake system triggers automatic partial braking if an acute accident risk is detected and decelerates the S-Class with about 40 percent of the maximum braking force. The automatic partial braking provides the driver with another clear signal of the need to take action. If the driver then immediately applies the brakes, the maximum braking force is avail-able and it may be possible – depending on the situation – to avert the accident at the last moment. If an accident is unavoidable, the PRE-SAFE® Brake system re-duces the impact severity and, in turn, the risk of injury to the vehicle occupants.
As with Brake Assist PLUS, the new PRE-SAFE® Brake system also utilises state-of-the-art radar technology to scan the situation in front of the car and detect a potential accident. Two short-range radar sensors with a range of 30 metres and a scanning angle of 80° are located behind the front bumper fascia on the S-Class. The additional long-range radar in the radiator grille has a range of 150 metres. Mercedes-Benz offers BAS PLUS and the PRE-SAFE® Brake system in conjunction with the optional DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control system.
DISTRONIC PLUS: even operates in stop-go traffic
The radar-based DISTRONIC PLUS system works in a speed range from 0 to 200 km/h and makes driving even more comfortable. In stop-go traffic, DISTRONIC PLUS keeps the S Class at the right distance from the vehicle ahead, automatically brakes the car to a standstill if necessary and accelerates it back to the pre-programmed speed following intervention by the driver. In this way the assistance system reduces the driver's workload and provides considerable benefits with regard to driver-fitness safety.
The Brake Assist PLUS and DISTRONIC PLUS equipment package also includes a radar-based Parking Assist system. The system provides early warning if there is danger of a collision when manoeuvring backwards and forwards.
Night view assist: infrared headlamps for greater safety after dark
Night view assist represents another contribution by Mercedes-Benz to reducing the risk of accidents at night. This system uses infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye and therefore does not dazzle oncoming traffic. Two infrared headlamps illuminate the road, significantly extending the driver's range of vision when on low beam. An infrared camera mounted on the inside of the windscreen picks up the reflected image of the road ahead and displays this in the instrument cluster.
Comprehensive and stylish standard equipment and appointments
Many high-tech systems which increase safety and comfort are standard in the S-Class 4MATIC models. They include the ADAPTIVE BRAKE system, second-generation PRE-SAFE®, AIRMATIC air suspension with the Adaptive Damping System, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, the COMAND system with a DVD player, the DIRECT SELECT gearshift and automatic climate control.
Highlights of the standard equipment list include:
- Adaptive driver and front-passenger airbags
- Adaptive brake light
- AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System
- 7G-TRONIC Sport automatic transmission
- Brake Assist
- ADAPTIVE BRAKE
- COMAND system with CD/DVD player and PCMCIA slot
- Diesel particulate filter
- DIRECT SELECT gearshift
- ESP®
- Electric parking brake
- Belt force limiters on front and outer rear seats
- Belt tensioners on all seats
- Automatic climate control
- 17-inch seven-spoke light-alloy wheels
- Multifunction steering wheel
- NECK-PRO head restraints
- Speed-sensitive power steering
- Two-stage rain sensor
- Tyre pressure loss warning system
- Front and rear outer seatbelts with automatic comfort-fit feature
- Sidebags front and rear
- Doorhold
- Front seats with lumbar supports and electric adjustment for height and fore/aft position
- Windowbags
- PRE-SAFE®
The specification of the S 450 4MATIC V8 Saloon includes the following additional features:
- Tinted, sound-insulating, infrared-reflecting laminated glass all round
- 17-inch five-spoke light-alloy wheels
The S 500 4MATIC includes the following additional top-level features:
- Automatically dimming rear-view mirror and driver's side exterior mirror
- Leather upholstery
- Memory package for front seats, steering column and exterior mirrors
- Metallic paintwork
- Heated front seats
The long-wheelbase version of the S-Class includes the following additional features as standard:
- Leather upholstery
- Roller blind for rear window, electrically operated
- Tilting/sliding glass sunroof, electric, with PRE-SAFE® function
- Front passenger seat also electrically adjustable from the rear
- Rear bench seat with electrically adjustable outer seats; outer seats and outer head restraints with PRE-SAFE® positioning function
- Heated front and rear seats
AMG bodystyling and AMG light-alloy wheels for an even more dynamic character
Two optional packages from Mercedes-AMG – AMG bodystyling and AMG light-alloy wheels – are also available for the S-Class 4MATIC models. The AMG equipment features give these potent yet elegant top-of-the-line Mercedes models an even greater air of power and authority.
AMG bodystyling, consisting of front and rear aprons and side skirts, is designed in the typical AMG mould: at the front, the restyled bumper with large air intakes, black honeycomb grille and chrome-rimmed fog lamps all add to the sporty theme and give the "made by AMG" S-Class an even wider and lower-slung appearance. The distinctively styled side skirts continue the lines of the front apron and provide a link between it and the rear apron. At the rear, the styling comes to a powerful conclusion in the striking bumper design, with further highlights provided by two large, oval, chromed AMG tailpipes (not for the S 320 CDI 4MATIC).
The sporty theme continues with the new 19 and 20-inch AMG light-alloy wheels, which are available in two different 5-spoke designs. The high-sheen 19-inch 8.5 x 19 AMG wheels are equipped with 255/40 R 19 wide-base tyres while the titanium-silver-painted 20-inch 8.5 x 20 AMG light-alloy wheels are fitted with 255/35 R 20 tyres. As well as filling the wheel arches perfectly and being decidedly sporty in appearance, the AMG alloy wheels also provide further enhanced handling charac-teristics. AMG bodystyling and the handsome AMG light-alloy wheels are available for all the 4MATIC models and both wheelbase versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
designo: individually tailored range of colours, leather and select woods
The designo range allows Mercedes-Benz customers with particularly demanding tastes to create a highly individual S-Class 4MATIC by choosing from a comprehen-sive collection of paint finishes, leather colours and trim elements. It is a measure of the exclusivity of the designo range that Mercedes-Benz is the only car maker in the world to offer customers a choice of trim elements made from real stone (designo Star Galaxy and designo Labrador blue pearl in the case of the S-Class). Special designo interior appointments packages allow the S-Class to be enhanced with specially selected combinations of designo leather upholstery and designo trim elements. Two different packages are available:
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The designo Edition I equipment package puts the accent on contrast: the very soft pastel yellow designo aniline leather on the seats and armrests combines with trim parts in deep-black high-gloss piano lacquer and the Alcantara roof lining in anthracite to create unusual highlights in a predominantly black interior.
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designo Edition II creates a tasteful lounge atmosphere. This classic combination consists of designo aniline leather upholstery in armagnac, high-class trim parts in designo natural maple grain and the Alcantara roof lining in anthracite.
In both packages, the seats feature distinctive ten-rib vertical fluting, double top-stitching and designo metal badges in the front and rear backrests. The designo equipment packages also include black velour floor mats with edging in black designo leather and designo metal badges.
Both designo equipment packages are available for all S-Class 4MATIC models in both wheelbase lengths.
