Mercedes-Benz brings new S-Class to Motorclassica

MERCEDES-BENZ will give high rollers a sneak-peek at its new-generation S-Class flagship in Melbourne later this month when its tears the covers from the first local example of its range-topping limousine on the eve of its public unveiling at the fourth Australian International Concours D’Elegance at Motorclassica from October 25 to 27.

Set to officially launch in Australia one month after its Motorclassica debut in S350, S500 and S63 AMG guises, with pricing broadly similar to outgoing models, the technology-packed S-Class will sit alongside a host of classic cars from collections around the world at Motorclassica in Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building.

The synergies are obvious, says Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia Pacific senior manager of corporate communications David McCarthy.

“We saw Motorclassica as ideal because it’s about prestige cars and passionate owners,” he said, adding that owners of classic cars on display would be given an early look at the car on the evening of October 23 ahead of the public debut on October 24.

Mercedes-Benz Cars AP managing director Horst Von Sanden said Motorclassica attracted vehicles at the pinnacle of design.

“We can think of no better occasion to host the unveiling of the all new Mercedes-Benz S-Class in Australia,” he said.

“Motorclassica is a truly unique event within Australasia and presents the perfect opportunity for motoring enthusiasts to take pleasure in witnessing both the classic and contemporary Mercedes-Benz vehicles.”

Motorclassica director Paul Mathers said the unveiling of Mercedes-Benz’s newest and most technically advanced model would further strengthen the public interest in the event.

“It is a great honour, and we are delighted that Mercedes-Benz has chosen Motorclassica to unveil the all new S-Class to the Australian media, the automotive industry and the public,” he said.

The restyled sedan – which replaces every incandescent globe with a low-energy LED light – will arrive with three separate variants, including the diesel-engined S350 BlueTec, the V8-engined S500 and firebrand S63 AMG.

However, the petrol-electric hybrid model is not destined for Australia.

The S350 BlueTec uses a 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 producing 190kW of power and 620Nm of torque, while using only 5.5 litres per 100km of fuel and producing 146grams per kilometre of carbon dioxide.

The S500 is powered by a 4.7-litre V8 producing a healthy 335kW of power and 700Nm of torque, but using only 8.6L/100km and emitting 199g/km. It is also the fastest of the non-AMG-badged cars, sprinting from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds.

The S63 AMG draws power from a hand-made bi-turbo and direct-injected Euro 6 5.5-litre V8 engine (dubbed M157 in-house) producing 430kW of power at 5500rpm and an earth-shattering 900Nm of torque as low as 2250rpm.

The first three S-Class models precede the arrival of another trio of variants – the long-wheelbase S600L and S400 short- and long-wheelbase models – by mid-2014.

The new S-Class resets the benchmarks for driver-assist technologies. This generation of the limousine includes a pair of forward-looking cameras to scan the road ahead for bumps and adjust the air suspension on the fly.

It is also a more connected car, with a satellite navigation system integrating with Google Maps to provide real-world images of a destination rather than a pixellated, blocky render.

Inside, buyers can expect the usual swathe of leather and wood trim, and even a perfume dispenser that automatically fills the cabin with a pleasant scent.

The rear seatbelts include an integrated airbag that inflates in a crash, spreading the area over which the forces are spread and minimising injury to the wearer.

Mercedes-Benz’s current S-Class range starts from $213,428 for the entry-level S350 BlueTec powered by a 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 that averages a combined 7.0 litres per 100 kilometres.