Mercedes-Benz S-class is a rear- or all-wheel drive four-door executive class sedan (also known as the “F” segment according to the European classification), which is the “undisputed flagship” in the model range of the German machine builder ... Its main target audience is wealthy businessmen, senior politicians and the stars of the world show business who “want to get everything from life” ...
The sixth-generation three-volume vehicle, internally labeled "V222" (long wheelbase version), celebrated its world debut on May 15, 2013 at a special event in Hamburg, Germany, and its serial production started the following month.
As a result of the "next reincarnation", the flagship sedan "moved" to a modernized new platform, "tried on" an elegant appearance and a luxurious interior, and also "armed" with a huge list of advanced equipment.
In April 2017, at the international Beijing show of the auto industry, a presentation of the updated car was held, which was slightly "refreshed" externally (different bumpers, additional chrome at the stern and double grille bars) and inside (a new steering wheel with touch panels and a wider range of finishing materials) …. However, the metamorphoses were not limited to this - the four-door received a revised range of power units and a bunch of new modern electronic "gadgets".
Outside, the "sixth" Mercedes-Benz S-Class looks elegant, monumental, balanced and incredibly solid - with all its appearance it shows who is the "master of life" here. Moderately aggressive and impressive front of the car is formed by frowning headlights with full LED "stuffing", a chrome "shield" of the radiator grille and a sculpted bumper, and its tightened stern attracts the eye with sophisticated lanterns and two curly exhaust pipes.
With its rather large profile dimensions, the three-volume box has a solid, but at the same time harmonious and energetic appearance, which is characterized by a long hood, arched roofline, a distinct "outgrowth" of the trunk and expressive "splashes" of stampings on the sidewalls.
The AMG Line version outwardly “tries to be similar” to the “pumped-up versions”, and to distinguish it from the “regular S-class”, first of all, by the more aggressive front bumper.
The flagship Mercedes is 5271 mm long, of which 3165 mm is the distance between the pairs of wheels, the width reaches 1905 mm, and the height does not exceed 1496 mm.
The curb weight of the car varies from 2050 to 2125 kg, depending on the modification.
The interior of the Mercedes-Benz S-class in the "V222" body is able to make anyone sigh in surprise - it amazes the imagination with its rich architecture, pomp, impeccable ergonomics, the highest build quality and exceptionally premium finishing materials (high-quality plastics, expensive leather, natural wood, aluminum, etc.) etc.).
The dominant role inside the car is played by two large-format displays measuring 12.3 inches each, placed under a common glass - the left one is responsible for the dashboard, and the right one is responsible for multimedia functions. They are perfectly complemented by a three-spoke multi-steering wheel with a raised rim, a stylish analog clock on the center console and neatly arranged air conditioning buttons.
In the front part of the cabin there are perfectly profiled seats with developed sidewalls, verified seat geometry, soft filler under the leather upholstery, exhaustive ranges of electric adjustments and other "blessings of civilization".
By default, the sedan is content with a three-seater rear sofa (although a high floor tunnel will interfere with the middle passenger in any case), which is optionally replaced with separate seats with electric settings, ventilation, a center armrest, etc.
The luggage compartment of the sixth generation Mercedes-Benz S-class has an almost flat floor and walls, is upholstered with expensive finishing materials and demonstrates a good capacity - 510 liters. There is another volume niche under the raised floor of the car, but it does not have a spare wheel.
In the Russian market, the executive sedan is offered with four power units, which are combined with a 9-band "automatic" and 4Matic all-wheel drive system (except for the basic petrol version - it is equipped with a rear-wheel drive transmission by default) with a cylindrical center differential, which as a standard divides the thrust between the axles in the ratio "45:55":
- Mercedes-Benz under the hood S450 and S450 4Matic contains a gasoline V-shaped "six" with a working volume of 3.0 liters with a turbocharger, direct fuel injection, 24-valve timing and variable valve timing, which generates 367 horsepower at 5500-6000 rpm and 500 Nm of torque at 1800- 4500 rpm.
- On the S560 4Matic a petrol 4.0-liter V8 engine with two turbochargers, a direct "power supply" system, a 32-valve timing and variable valve timing technology is installed, producing 469 hp. at 5250-5500 rpm and 700 Nm of peak thrust at 2000-4000 rpm.
- Diesel modification S350d 4Matic Powered by a six-cylinder 2.9-liter engine with in-line architecture, bi-turbocharging, direct fuel injection, valve lift control and a 24-valve timing structure, developing 249 horsepower and 600 Nm of available potential at 1200-3200 rpm.
- For S400d 4Matic the same engine is offered as on the previous version, but in this case it produces 340 hp. at 3400-4400 rpm and 700 Nm of possible recoil at 1200-3200 rpm.
From a place to the first "hundred" the car "shoots" after 4.6-5.8 seconds (depending on the version), and its "maximum speed" does not exceed 250 km / h (such figures are forcedly limited by electronics).
Gasoline sedans "digest" 8.2-8.9 liters of fuel in mixed conditions for every 100 km of run, and diesel - 5.5-5.7 liters.
At the heart of the Mercedes-Benz S-class V222 is a seriously modernized platform of its predecessor with a longitudinally located power unit. Almost the entire front of the space structure is made of aluminum, from which the roof, doors, front fenders, hood and trunk lid are also made.
"In a circle" the car is equipped with independent suspensions (front - a two-lever, and rear - a multi-link) with pneumatic elements, a constantly working system of adaptive damping and automatically adjustable ground clearance depending on the speed.
As an option for the three-volume, the Magic Body Control hydro-spring chassis with the "Curve" mode is offered - in it, the hydraulic supports tilt the body inside the bend at an angle of up to 2.65 degrees, thereby increasing the comfort for rear passengers.
By default, the executive sedan is equipped with a rack and pinion steering complex with an electromechanical power steering and variable characteristics. All wheels of the "German" are equipped with ventilated disc brakes (on the front axle with a diameter of up to 370 mm, and at the rear - up to 360 mm), complemented by a huge number of progressive systems.
In the Russian market, the Mercedes-Benz S-class of the sixth generation (2018 model year) is sold at a price of 6 270 000 rubles - that much will have to be paid for the rear-wheel drive modification of the "S450". In the basic configuration, the four-door has: six airbags, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather trim, full LED optics, ABS, ESP, ASR, heated front seats, zone climate control, multimedia system, virtual instrument cluster, premium audio system, control technology driver fatigue, air suspension and a huge number of other modern "gadgets" ...
For the all-wheel drive version of the S450 4Matic they ask for a minimum of 6,500,000 rubles, the diesel version of the S350d 4Matic will cost from 6,550,000 rubles (for the S400d 4Matic you will need to pay another 200,000 rubles), and the top-end version of the S560 4Matic »Is offered at a price of 7,900,000 rubles.
