The W221 Mercedes-Benz S-Class range, which made its Australian debut in February 2006, has been updated with a range of new standard features and even keener pricing.
It is impossible to take even a casual glance at this latest iteration of the inimitable S-Class without recognising it at once as a Mercedes-Benz and secondly as the gracious and luxurious descendant of a long line of predecessors.
Exterior changes include striking new LED headlight and taillight designs, which give the car an even more dramatic road presence. The standard alloy wheels on the S350 variants are handsome five-spoke 18-inchers, but the 19s from the S500 and even the standout five-spoke 20-inch AMG wheels are optional.
Look closely and you'll see a new black panel behind the lower section of the grille. That's where the radar sits. It is a neat symbol for the technological advancement of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
In addition to the usual range of elegant colours on offer, a radical new matt finish paintwork is now available at extra cost, for buyers keen to obtain a unique stealth fighter look. This option would combine especially well with the 20-inch AMG wheels!
No fewer than six engine choices are available, including petrol and diesel V6s, V8s and a twin-turbocharged V12. While peak power outputs range from 173 kW from the 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY through to 450 kW from the S 65 AMG, high performance is a feature of every variant.
Prices for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class range from $214,900 for the S 350 to $482,900 for the top line S 65 AMG L - excluding dealer delivery and all on road costs. The new luxury saloon will be in the showrooms of Mercedes-Benz's own-retail outlets and authorised Australian dealerships from October 2009.
The 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, as its name suggests, combines remarkable fuel efficiency with strong torque and effortless acceleration. So smooth is this turbodiesel engine and so eager to attain higher rpm, that most drivers will mistake it for a petrol unit. But overall fuel efficiency of 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres gives this substantial luxury limousine the kind of economy traditionally found in small and medium four-cylinder petrol-engined cars: call it the best of both worlds. Carbon emissions are just 202 grams per kilometre. BlueEFFICIENCY measures include closed underbody panelling and decoupling of the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission when at standstill.
Fuel economy has been improved across the S-Class range, even though the engines themselves have not been changed. Improvements of up to 7 per cent in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions have been achieved by a combination of measures, which reflect Daimler engineers' painstaking attention to detail. These include the choice of tyres with improved rolling resistance and revisions to the 7G automatic transmission.
The range of petrol engines comprises the six-cylinder S 350 (200 kW) with a displacement of 3.5 litres and the eight-cylinder unit in the S 500 (285 kW; displacement 5.5 litres). The flagship model is still the S 600 with the 380 kW twelve-cylinder biturbo unit, which accelerates the luxury saloon to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds.
The Mercedes-AMG high-performance contributions to the range are the S 63 AMG with its 386 kW V8 engine (displacement 6.2 litres) and the S 65 AMG with a 450 kW twelve-cylinder engine (displacement 6.0 litres).
The multifunction steering wheel of the S-Class has been modified by the Mercedes-Benz designers: the rim and airbag module are now lined with soft nappa leather as standard.
Mercedes-Benz makes use of light as a styling element in the interior. In future the ambient lighting will provide customers with a choice between three lighting moods: solar (amber), neutral (white) and polar (ice-blue).
In line with its serene character and claim to be a technological trendsetter, the 2009 S-Class also sets standards where onboard infotainment is concerned. As a world first Mercedes-Benz will equip its flagship model with the new SPLITVIEW technology for the COMAND APS control and display system centrally located in the centre console.
This innovative display concept allows the driver and front passenger to view different content simultaneously on one and the same screen. While the driver, for example, uses the map-based navigation system, the front passenger can be watching a latest-release film on DVD.
Musical entertainment is provided by a radio, a 6-disc CD/DVD player with MP3 function, an equalizer with speed-dependent volume control and the MUSIC REGISTER with a 7.2 GB hard disc which stores around 2500 digital music files in the MP3, AAC or WMA format.
The modified design of the 2009 S-Class reflects the effortless superiority and power of the S-Class Saloon. It is characterised by the more pronounced arrow-shape of the radiator grille, plus a new front bumper with a discreet light-catching contour and a chrome strip below the cooling air intakes. The headlamps have bi xenon technology as standard.
An even more dynamic look is ensured by the LED Light package with its striking LED arrays for daytime driving lights, indicators and driving lights. The rear end is characterised by tail lights in a new design, with horizontal, white light rather than the previous inserts in the vehicle colour.
Superb roadability may be taken for granted regardless of which engine the buyer chooses. The steering delivers magnificent road feel while (through its linking of electrical assistance with a hydraulic pump) aiding the search for maximum fuel efficiency.
The high safety standard typical of the S-Class is further improved by a unique combination of new camera and radar based driver assistance systems, with innovations such as ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection and Adaptive Highbeam Assist.
The S-Class also meets the highest expectations with respect to driving dynamics and agility. This is in part due to Direct-Steer, with a steering ratio that varies with the steering angle, and modified Active Body Control (ABC) with crosswind stabilisation (optional for the eight-cylinder model, standard for S 63 AMG, S 600 & S 65 AMG). For this purpose ABC uses the yaw rates and lateral acceleration sensors of the Electronic Stability Program ESP? to vary the wheel load distribution via the ABC spring struts within milliseconds, depending on the direction and intensity of the crosswind. This enables the effects of crosswinds to be largely compensated.
Likes
Bonus of all-wheel drive, five-star safety, good value
Dislikes
Gawky styling inside and out, lack of seventh seat
