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By EWAN
KENNEDY
26 October 2009
There has never been a better time to buy a Mercedes-Benz and the
latest S-Class which has just been announced is offering
tremendous value for money.
Though the global financial crisis seems to be slowly dissipating,
there are still nervous buyers out there. Mercedes-Benz has
decided to attract them to its showrooms not by reducing prices,
but by adding a lot of extra equipment to the specification sheets
and charging significantly less than the added value to put you
into the driver’s seat.
The styling of the four-year old Mercedes-Benz S-Class was so good
that it has taken very little to freshen it up for this midlife
makeover. Changes have been restricted to styling of the
headlights and taillights as well as to the shape of the bumpers
and the door mirrors. The taillights are particularly interesting,
featuring LED illumination in an interesting ‘double-C’
design. And the outside mirror redesign isn't just to improve
their appearance, it also has aerodynamic benefits.
Daytime running lights are now standard on all models.
Despite these apparently minor alterations to the overall shape,
the Mercedes-Benz stylists have managed to give it quite a
different look. The car now looks wider and slightly bolder than
previously. The shape also reflects the latest in styling themes
as seen in the recently released all-new E-Class and the revised
C-Class.
In the cabin the designers have left the overall theme as before,
but have increased the size of the timber highlights. They have
also added a range of additional hues to the options of the
leather trim.
The most fascinating thing, though, is the use of interior
lighting in the new Mercedes S-Class. Three different ambient
light themes are offered; Neutral, is a non-intrusive white;
Solar, an amber shade that was our favourite thanks to a look
that's almost like Australia on a warm summer’s evening; and
Polar, an icy-blue that gives a cooler feel.
Additional features vary from model to model in what is an
extensive range of S-Class saloons, may we suggest a trip to your
local Mercedes dealer for the exact specifications on the model
you are considering.
Various driver assist systems make life safer. As examples,
Attention Assist looks for inattention and/or erratic driver
behavior and warns the offender behind the wheel to improve
themselves. Lane Keeping Assist warns if the car is about to stray
over lane markings and/or the centreline. High-beam Assist lets
you leave the headlights on high beam all the time, and
automatically dips them when the S-Class ‘sees’ another car
either in front or behind.
Then there's Automatic Parking that puts the Mercedes into its
spot with a minimum of driver input. A rear vision camera is part
of the package.
The engine and transmissions remain as in the just superseded
model, except that Mercedes now calls the 3.2-litre turbo-diesel
the S350 CDI, instead of the more accurate S320 as in the older
car. The petrol engine has a capacity of either 3.5 litres if
it’s a V6. Our favourite powerplant is the 5.5-litre V8 in the
S500.
Cocooned in the superb seats of a Mercedes S-Class and shielded
from the outside world by the latest technology that minimises
automotive noise and vibration, there's the real feeling of being
in a mobile lounge room. Give it a try sometime, though it's
probably best not to do so unless you have at least $215,000 to
spare...
The complete 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class range, with prices
(excluding dealer and government charges) is:
S350 3.5-litre petrol: $214,900
S350 CDI BlueEfficiency 3.0-litre turbo-diesel: $214,900
S350L 3.5-litre petrol: $232,900
S500 5.5-litre petrol: $289,900
S500L 5.5-litre petrol: $307,900
S63 AMG 6.3-litre petrol: $380,900
S600L 5.5-litre petrol: $402,900
S65 AMG L 6.0-litre petrol: $482,900
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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