Test drive Mercedes S 500 4Matic W223: Special class

For seven generations, the Mercedes S-Class has been setting benchmarks within the luxurious class. Now, as soon as once more, the Mercedes S-Class breaks the patterns with the brand new head-up show and new Tesla-style ergonomics. However one that’s way more intuitive. Take a look at drive with Mercedes S 500 4Matic.

Picture: Adrian Cobzașu

Does anybody purchase a Mercedes only for its engine? Solely in few circumstances, says Markus Schafer, chief working officer of Mercedes-Benz Automobiles. Individuals primarily purchase the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for the posh it provides. It’s although not an opulent luxurious, however a purposeful one. As for instance, the brand new head-up show with augmented actuality (3,558.10 euros).

In navigation mode, blue arrows are projected on the asphalt with the path to comply with. They’re situated precisely the place you’ll flip subsequent. This can be very helpful, particularly when you find yourself in an advanced intersection that connects a number of roads. Is is so as a result of the arrows present up as if on the highway at about 6-7 meters in entrance of you. They present you precisely the trail it is advisable to comply with. As well as, the head-up show has a bigger space, the equal of a 77-inch diagonal. All data displayed is extraordinarily seen.

Take a look at drive Mercedes S 500 4Matic – The brand new MBUX system is extraordinarily intuitive

The second factor that catches your eye is the 12.8-inch portrait OLED display screen of the second-generation MBUX system. It matches completely within the middle console. Moreover, it doesn’t seem like a laptop computer display screen, purchased aftermarket and later mounted, as within the Tesla Mannequin S.

It’s true that the diagonal is barely smaller than that of the Tesla show. The ergonomics will not be as radical because the Mannequin S both. However as a substitute, the controls are so nicely organized that I by no means acquired the sensation that some bodily controls vanished only for the sake of present tendencies.

Solely the shortage of the amount knob, that one with + and – now replaces, nearer to the passenger than to the driving force, is bothering. The display screen is tilted at an optimum angle to the vertical. It is extremely simple to entry. Apart from, whatever the menu accessed, the air-con controls are at all times displayed on the backside of the display screen.

There isn’t any controller, however no annoying touchpad from different Mercedes fashions both and every thing is operated from the display screen. After all, there’s nonetheless voice management, that the driving force can activate by urgent a button on the brand new AMG steering wheel with two double arms or by the phrase “Hey Mercedes”. The system can now perceive two successive phrases like “It’s too scorching and please name Carla”.

Gesture management has additionally advanced and is now smarter. Thus, for those who order the MBUX Inside Assistant system (642,60 euros), the automobile understands a number of gestures you make. In case you transfer your hand up or down beneath the middle rearview mirror, the studying mild activates or off. Or for those who attain up in entrance of the rearview mirror and transfer it again twice, the ceiling blind and the panoramic sunroof open one after the other.

Take a look at drive Mercedes S 500 4Matic: Interactive ambient mild

The third novelty is the ambient mild with 64 shades. It’s now 10 occasions stronger than previously. Moreover, in broad daylight, you may see it as intense as within the nighttime.

As well as, ambient mild is now interactive. The sunshine strip that crosses the dashboard from one finish to the opposite not solely spectacularly illuminates the dashboard. It additionally emits a pink impulse on the left facet if an impediment seems within the left blind spot. And the identical pink impulse triggers if, whenever you cease, you need to open the door and a bicycle owner approaches from behind. Briefly, the ambient lighting connects to help techniques.

Additionally utterly new are the elective Digital Mild headlights (2,249.10 euros), whereas the Multibeam LED headlights are customary. This revolutionary headlamp know-how permits new features, e.g. the projection of information traces or warning symbols onto the highway forward. DIGITAL LIGHT has a lightweight module with three extraordinarily highly effective LEDs in every headlamp. 1.3 million micro-mirrors refract and direct their mild. The decision is due to this fact greater than 2.6 million pixels per car.

Take a look at drive model:  two Govt seats with First Class console

We had the lengthy model for the take a look at drive, a clients’ favourite. As for the rear, there are a number of choices for configuring the seats. You’ll be able to select a 3-seat structure or a First Class bench with two seats and a Enterprise middle console mixed with two kinds of seats: Consolation (backrest inclination between 19 and 37 levels) or Govt (inclination backrest between 19 and 43.5 levels). The take a look at automobile had probably the most luxurious configuration: two-seat bench and Enterprise middle console with Govt seats.

What do Govt seats with an angle of inclination between 19 and 43.5 levels imply? It implies that they’ll virtually flip right into a mattress, with leg assist. And with the Chauffeur bundle (1154.30 euros), the fitting entrance passenger seat can transfer ahead. There’s additionally a footrest beneath it.

Within the rear, you may order all of the amenities for the seats in addition to within the entrance. For instance, the Energizing Consolation bundle, heating (inclusive for the headrest), therapeutic massage, air flow but additionally the MBUX Excessive Finish rear system (3558,10 euros). The latter permits passengers to manage the infotainment system from rear. Govt seats function an anti-submarine airbag, in order that the rear occupants don’t slip beneath the seat in the event that they lie down in case of a crash. Optionally, because it was on the take a look at drive automobile, there was additionally an airbag built-in within the seat belt  (702,10 euros).

And naturally, within the S-Class, security shouldn’t be elective, all help techniques are customary.

If there’s something to criticize, it’s the new retractable door handles. Not for his or her value of 1,428 euros, however for the truth that they’re inflexible to function.

As a substitute, the Burmester Excessive Finish 4D Encompass audio system is price each penny. Even when it prices a small fortune: 7.913,50 euros. It has a bass speaker within the backrest of the rear seats and the sound may be optimized for every particular person within the automobile, relying on the seat they occupy. And the readability of the sound is sensational.

Take a look at drive Mercedes S 500 4Matic – Softer suspension within the Consolation mode, integral steering is a should

And now, let’s hit the highway! There are not any suspension choices because the S 500 4Matic comes customary with adaptive air suspension. The driving modes are an identical to these of the earlier technology – Eco, Consolation, Sport, Sport + and Particular person – however now on Consolation the suspension is barely even softer than earlier than.

The Maybach model may also function an excellent softer Maybach mode that can in all probability supply the same stage of consolation because the Rolls-Royce. On the similar time, the suspension is extraordinarily quiet and, due to the adaptive shock absorbers, you don’t even notice that it truly works.

Sadly, the configuration of the take a look at automobile with the elective 21-inch wheels (2,499 euros) is inappropriate. That’s as a result of it impacts the consolation when crossing quick bumps. Definitely, the S 500 4Matic provides a a lot better compromise with customary 19-inch wheels. As a substitute, on lengthy bumps, the S-Class floats on asphalt in Consolation mode.

The final noise stage is low and, at 180 km/h, you may have a good dialog. In Sport mode, the suspension clearly hardens and the exact and direct sufficient steering for a luxurious limousine turns into heavier.

As a substitute of investing cash in giant 21-inch wheels, the choice for the integral steering (1,547 euros) is extra worthy. It includes a steering angle of 4.5 or 10 levels. Sadly, the take a look at automobile didn’t have the integral path which makes the turning circle fairly giant, one thing regular for a limousine over 5 meters lengthy, with a wheelbase of over 3 meters.

The S-Class is protected and fairly sporty for its dimension and on the restrict, the intervention of the ESP system is discreet and the response is understeering. As with different Mercedes fashions, the 4Matic all-wheel drive system is designed for max security and never for driving pleasure. It thus favors understeering conduct. It’s to be appreciated that the brand new technology shouldn’t be heavier, though the consolation and security gear have multiplied.

Do you’re feeling there are 2 cylinder much less? No. However the automobile is extra financial

What concerning the engine? Are 6 cylinders sufficient? On this case sure, as a result of the brand new 6-inline cylinder unit will get the help of an built-in  starter generator of twenty-two HP and 250 Nm, but additionally that of a small electrically operated compressor.

Mainly, it’s a double cost. At low speeds, till the massive turbine engages, the overpressure is created by an electrically operated Borg Warner compressor. In simply 300 ms, it rises all the way in which to 70,000 rpm. Then, the built-in generator starter is liable for hybrid features resembling vitality restoration or assist of the warmth engine to accelerations.

Thus, whenever you press the accelerator pedal, the engine response is sort of instantaneous. The turbo-lag is now historical past and the generator helps the accelerations for a short while. From 1,800 rpm, all 520 Nm of the warmth engine can be found along with the 250 Nm of the starter. So we have now no purpose to remorse the 700 Nm of the 4-liter V8 engine within the former S 560 as a result of the brand new delicate hybrid system resolutely pushes whenever you press the accelerator pedal.

The distinction is that  you don’t really feel that the acceleration is as quick as with a V8 as a result of it’s extra linear, particularly at low speeds. As a substitute of the explosion of a basic V8 that takes place after a small turbo hole, right here the response is completely progressive and linear and due to this you get the impression that the 6-cylinder delicate hybrid system doesn’t supply the efficiency of a V8.

However the figures present virtually excellent equality, the previous S 560 with 4-liter V8 and 469 hp being quicker by solely 0.1 seconds.

As a substitute, the brand new delicate hybrid engine is way more economical and for those who go economically you will get an unlikely 7.2 l/100 km and a median of 9.8 l/100 km in regular driving. From this standpoint, the in-line 6-cylinder engine is clearly extra environment friendly than the previous V8.