Everyone looks up to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class; that’s probably a tradition in the automotive industry for decades, but does the new ‘S’ continue this trait?
Every new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is an event that occurs almost once every decade – and that itself makes the world wait with bated breath to see what the next iteration of the car will be like. It’s more about the S-Class having turned out to be the epitome in technology and design as well as being a pointer towards what its future could be like. It’s no wonder then, that the S-Class has widely been accepted with that very coveted tag line of being the best car in the world.
The world received the W222 S-Class late in 2013 and it has finally made its way to India. In fact, it was one of the first launches of the new year and has taken luxury dreams to an entirely new level with technology within its sheet metal body that is unmatched as of now. At the heart of the new S-Class is a 4,663cc, V8 petrol engine that puts out 460 horses between 5250 and 5500rpm. Torque figures are massive too – 700Nm from as low as 1800rpm and staying peaked till 3500rpm. Despite the S weighing in at 2200kg, those figures make for some impressive performance which, coupled with the car’s suspension setup, make for a big car that is actually pretty rewarding to drive as well. Of course, the S-Class is still predominantly known more for its luxury than its performance and in those terms, this new version takes things to a new level – both functionally and visually as well. The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the first production car in the world to use LEDs for its complete lighting solutions – from the headlights and taillights, turn indicators to the ambient lights in the cabin! The interior lighting in itself is a marvellous sight to behold with its 7 customisable colour options to set the mood. The instrument cluster is a complete digital panel as well and the design harks back to luxury cars of yore, but also swings in a very modern twist at the same time. Probably what is one of the most exciting features of the S-Class’ very plush interiors is the lounge seats at the back and the very funky hot stone massage functions integrated into the seats that really help relax the body. There’s the complete hook up to your iPhone for controlling almost every function of importance within the S-Class, from the entertainment system to air conditioning and the massage.
While the S-Class in India is pretty loaded in terms of features, both standard and as part of the optional upgrade packages, there are a few that haven’t been made available to customers here just yet for reasons beyond the control of Mercedes-Benz India. Efforts are on to get the really exciting stuff in the international S-Class such as the very talked-about Magic Body Control to the Indian car as well, but till then the package offered here is as good as it gets – and that’s still a lot better than almost everything sold here! All things considered – with the new design, interiors, luxury and technology in the new S-Class it still manages to very effectively retain its tag of being the best car in the world!
Fast facts
Mercedes-Benz S500
Engine: 4663cc V8 petrol
Power: 459PS @ 5250-5500rpm
Torque: 700PS @ 1800-3500rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Kerb weight: 2200kg
Key Features: Mood lighting in 7 colours, Full-LCD instrument cluster, Hot-stone massage seats
Price: Rs 1.57 crore (ex-showroom Delhi)
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