BY JUSTIN HILLIARD | 3rd Aug 2018
CAR-MAKERS have always found themselves in a race to the bottom of sorts, introducing new technology on luxury models before it eventually filter down to entry-level offerings. One such pioneer in this race is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which is a model that often claims world firsts among its extensive features list.
Fast forward to 2014 and the Stuttgart-based brand offered its S-Class flagship in two-door form for the first time since 1996. Four years later, it is time for this generation’s Coupe and Cabriolet to have a mid-life facelift, which usher in significant upgrades to powertrains.
However, being a facelift rather than a new-generation model, the fresh S-Class Coupe and Cabriolet are shorter on world firsts than usual, but does that matter? Surely it is a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’? More importantly, do wholesale changes to their V8 engines upset the already successful formula? We put the pair through their paces to find out.