2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
merc1
Member Posts: 6,081
Since the new S-Class is only a few month away, its time to start a lead topic I think.
Here is what is pretty much known at this point. The car will debut at the IAA (Frankfurt Auto Show) in Sept, and should go on sale in Europe as a 2006 model in Oct 2005. The new S will debut here at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, and go on sale in either Feb or March as a 2007 model, almost seven years to the day the current car went on sale here.
There has been for years, talk of a new DOHC, 32V V8 with direct-injection. As normal practice there will be two versions of the Mercedes V8. Rumors put the smaller V8 at 4.5 to 4.7L with anywhere from 325-355hp. The larger V8, a 5.5L rated at anywhere from 380-415hp. The AMG version of the new V8 has been pegged at 6.3L and develops anywhere from 490-540hp, depending on which German website you try to translate Kw/Hp values from. Mercedes is to abandon supercharging for the next generation of AMG V8s. The new 6.3L is a naturally aspirated unit. For extra juice Mercedes is going with turbocharging because it is cheaper and supposedly better in meeting emissions. In twin-turbo form the new V8 is rumored to be good for 700hp. A new V12 is at least 3 years off so the current V12s remain. The last variation is hybrid model. Curiously at the Detroit show this year there was a S400 Hybrid on display. Mercedes has already registered the "S63" and at least one diplacement number with "hybrid" behind it. Of course there will be a 268hp S350, but we won't get that model here.
There are various other websites that have actual spy photographs up. Germancarfans.com, MBCanada.com are probably the most accurate. You can pretty much tell what the car will look like if you see the pics on these sites. It is a mix of Maybach (rear) and current S-Class (front) with the same swoosh line of the SLK (side) with some very curious fender flares, to say the least. The car is going to go in the other direction as far as sized is concerned, it will be as big as the W140 S-Class from 1992-1999, clearly larger than today's car.
Interior wise, Mercedes is having a go at the Idrive/MMI concept. I hope it is easier to use and can be bypassed for basic functions. There is also said to be a big push in interior quality, and judging the CLS and SLK interiors the S-Class should finally be right in this regard.
Anyone more info please post.
M
Here is what is pretty much known at this point. The car will debut at the IAA (Frankfurt Auto Show) in Sept, and should go on sale in Europe as a 2006 model in Oct 2005. The new S will debut here at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, and go on sale in either Feb or March as a 2007 model, almost seven years to the day the current car went on sale here.
There has been for years, talk of a new DOHC, 32V V8 with direct-injection. As normal practice there will be two versions of the Mercedes V8. Rumors put the smaller V8 at 4.5 to 4.7L with anywhere from 325-355hp. The larger V8, a 5.5L rated at anywhere from 380-415hp. The AMG version of the new V8 has been pegged at 6.3L and develops anywhere from 490-540hp, depending on which German website you try to translate Kw/Hp values from. Mercedes is to abandon supercharging for the next generation of AMG V8s. The new 6.3L is a naturally aspirated unit. For extra juice Mercedes is going with turbocharging because it is cheaper and supposedly better in meeting emissions. In twin-turbo form the new V8 is rumored to be good for 700hp. A new V12 is at least 3 years off so the current V12s remain. The last variation is hybrid model. Curiously at the Detroit show this year there was a S400 Hybrid on display. Mercedes has already registered the "S63" and at least one diplacement number with "hybrid" behind it. Of course there will be a 268hp S350, but we won't get that model here.
There are various other websites that have actual spy photographs up. Germancarfans.com, MBCanada.com are probably the most accurate. You can pretty much tell what the car will look like if you see the pics on these sites. It is a mix of Maybach (rear) and current S-Class (front) with the same swoosh line of the SLK (side) with some very curious fender flares, to say the least. The car is going to go in the other direction as far as sized is concerned, it will be as big as the W140 S-Class from 1992-1999, clearly larger than today's car.
Interior wise, Mercedes is having a go at the Idrive/MMI concept. I hope it is easier to use and can be bypassed for basic functions. There is also said to be a big push in interior quality, and judging the CLS and SLK interiors the S-Class should finally be right in this regard.
Anyone more info please post.
M
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This discussion has been closed.
Comments
If they had a hybrid at the '05 show, they may beat the LS Hybrid to market.
DrFIll
Looks huge! I don't like that side treatment though, that character line and the area where the doors/mirror meet at. Slopes down too much.
M
and it will got the first benz even the first demler chrysler hybrid made by toyota but till now the spec. of that motor is rumored
M
Also, the next CL Coupe:
M
It has got to be better then that....
As Merc said, I'm not feeling the beltline falling into the mirrors. Definitely cheapens the look. A higher, more stable beltline is more appropriate for this class of car (thus the lack of love for the MONSTER greenhouse in the Lexus LS).
The Audi A8 is best in class here. Strong and confident, not trying to do too much. The beltline maybe THE most important feature of the high-line sedans. Chrome? Chrome thickness? C-Pillar styling? Distance from character line? Depth of character line?
Looks like Lexus may have an opening here where the German's are dropping the ball in styling details.
DrFill
The Maybach-like rear end is present in every pic so far, but those fender flares seem to come and go with each new set of pics. What the hell?
M
The most photographed upcoming Mercedes in history.
M
I really like the car, unlike some of you. I think the rear end is far more elegant than the current style and I don't see how the split grille cheapens it.
I have said before: when this car debuts Maybach will more than ever seem like an extension of the S-class. I am not sure what the solution is for Maybach.
link title
M
That interior looks way too much like a BMW 7-Series, a pity.
M
The most revealing one to date:
Click Here
M
I trusted you to get my ideas to the top brass at DC, Merc1!
Sorry, I guess they didn't listen.
M
All of the translation from the German and various other language websites has the new S in 4 models, a 272hp S350, 388hp S500 (not S550), 231hp S320 CDI, and a 517hp S600. The V8 in the new "S500" appears to be the current SOHC, 24-valve engine from the current SLK/C/CLK 55 AMG models re-tuned and tweaked for 388hp. The new direct-injectioin, 32V, DOHC V8s **apparently** aren't ready yet. Subtract 4 hp from each total for U.S. market cars, which will be the S350 (268hp) and the S500 (384hp), initially. Still to come is a S450 with a next generation V8 with 340hp and a replacement for the S500, the S550 with a 410hp 5.5L next-generation V8. These will appear for the 2008 model year in the U.S. In Europe there will be two more diesels during 2007, a S420 CDI with the new 315hp 4.0L V8 and a S600 CDI with a 517hp/700lb-ft V12 diesel.
Now I guess we know why Mercedes just re-introduced the S350 model here.
Now for the design. Of course it looks better in the first pic than the second, due to a dark color hiding the most obvious feature, those wheel arches. Me no likey at all, especially those at the rear when they have to cover a portion of the doors. The interior looks identical to the BMW 7-Series, another mistake in my still early opinion. There is no way a Mercedes should look like a BMW inside or out. Mercedes has gone the Idrive/MMI with a Comand "controller" as its being called elsewhere.
A scanned article:
More pics:
This design could work, but those wheel arches are going to have to be looked at in person and they will depend on wheel size, something Mercedes' usually don't have to worry about. The rear is clearly derivative of the Maybach, but is much better looking imo.
More official "official" information/pics to come.....
M
Pics:
M
(Short wheelbase model)
M
M
The front view is great and the back flows well: an improvement over the current style IMO. The interior is elegant. I especially like the wood steering wheel and the wood on the rear of the center console.
What is the function of the large round knob in the center of the f & r consoles?
The side view feels wrong, like it belongs to another car. The flares should be smaller and less angular. They don't fit with the shape and elegance of the rest of the car.
Mercedes' version of Idrive/MMI, called the "Comand Controller".
I still have to see the car in person, those wheel arches are just too big, especially in lighter colors.
M
On the exterior, those swollen rear wheel arches have got to go, but at least the design of the car looks better in LWB form, rather than SWB. The front end styling is great, but the back looks lifted from the Maybach.
What a disappointment, at least in terms of looks. All this time spent waiting reveals a dash lifted from the BMW 7, and some very controversial styling.
Hopefully the car can make up its styling issues with good driving dynamics, reliability and refinement.
The AMG Sport Package.
M
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What do you think of this one Chris?
M
DC stylists should recognize the S-class' place is the elegant leader of the whole MB sedan group.
I agree with others that the Maybachish rear view is good: ditto the interior and the rest of the car.
http://www.discountpartcenter.com/photos/04-19-05-01-2006-Saturn-Aura.jpg
Very interesting. The only S not in silver is the new one. Hmmmmmm, could it be that those wheel arches don't look so good in silver? Yep!
M
I bet we all stop noticing the oversize wheel arches over the next year or so.
We may even come to like them!
But hey, it's better than the 7!
I think Lexus heard a door open.
Or was that a toilet flush?
I HATE living in a Haunted House! It's too noisy in here!
DrFill
M
The rest of the car is so good, IMO, that we may forget the wheel arches when we see it in the metal.
Well that is for Europe. Typical Mercedes practice means a U.S. debut in Jan at the Detroit show and a on-sale date in March-April.
M
I don't know either, but I don't see another way for them to put the screen and controls there without it looking like the 7-Series. Then again something radical probably wasn't part of the design brief on something like the S-Class.
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Side View
Rear View
Now this I like!
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