New Mercedes S-Class: Guests from the Future (TEST DRIVE)
As always, this car shows us the technology that will be used in conventional cars in 10-15 years.
In 1903, Wilhelm Maybach created a car for Daimler that had never been seen before. It's called the Mercedes Simplex 60 and is much faster, smarter and more comfortable than anything on the market. In fact, this is the first premium car in history. 117 years later, we drive its direct descendant, the seventh generation of the S-Class.
NATURALLY SIMPLEX LOOKS AT THE NEW SONDERKLASSE just like a steam locomotive looks like a modern maglev train. But in the long series of models in between, we can easily trace the gradual evolution of luxury in Mercedes. For example, in the rather rare 300SE Lang of the early 60s.
This is a car from the era when Mercedes luxury models were advertised like this: designed by engineers without worrying about costs.
Of course, this has not happened for a long time. In this company, as elsewhere, accountants have the main word. But the S-Class is still what Daimler is showing its future. He shows us what technology will be in mass cars in 5, 10 or 15 years.
EXACTLY S-CLASS TIME first introduced ABS, electronic stability control, radar cruise control, LED lights. But what will the new generation, designated W223, add to this list?
First of all, this S-Class has managed to achieve something that its predecessors have not had since the 70s - it is modest in appearance. Rubens' forms of previous generations are no more. The headlights are noticeably smaller, the outlines more elegant than impressive. In general, the car looks thinner, although in fact it is larger than the previous one.
THE EFFECT OF THIS DESIGN is expressed in a record low coefficient of air resistance - only 0,22, completely unheard of in this segment. Of course, this reduces the cost, but in this case, more importantly, it reduces the noise level. And to an amazing extent. Of course, in this segment, everything is pretty quiet - both the Audi A8 and the BMW 7. The previous S-Class was also quite impressive. But this is a completely different level.
One of the reasons is aerodynamics, in the name of which the designers even replaced the good old door handles with retractable ones, like in Tesla. The second is in the number of noise-canceling elements. In the future, sound-absorbing foam is not added here, but is built into the car panels themselves during their manufacture. As a result, you can truly enjoy the 31-speaker Burmester audio system to the fullest.
The downside is that you don't hear a lot of engines and they are worth it. In Bulgaria, three versions of the S-Class will be offered to start, all with all-wheel drive and a 9-speed automatic transmission. Two of them are variants of the six-cylinder diesel - the 350d, with 286 horsepower and a starting price of around BGN 215, and the 000d, with 400 horsepower, for BGN 330.
Above them is the classic S500 with a six-cylinder petrol engine paired with a 48-volt hybrid system. Here, the power is 435 horsepower, and another 22, which, if necessary, can add a starter-generator.
Acceleration from standstill to 100 km / h takes just 4,9 seconds. To get it, you just need to contact a dealer with a quarter of a million leva. And they will even return ... a hundred.
NEXT YEAR WILL BE A CONNECTED HYBRID with even better performance. But to be honest, we don't think you need it. The new S-Class is very pleasant to drive, agile and surprisingly agile. But its purpose is not to use your driving skills - quite the contrary. This machine wants to relax you.
Speaking of agility, here's another big piece of news: the swivel rear wheels. We have seen them in many other models, from Renault to Audi. But here they can deviate by a record 10 degrees. The effect is amazing: This giant gem has the same turning radius as the small A-Class.
The MAPEDES ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION has been improved and can now self-adjust up to 1000 times per second. The ride comfort is so good that you stop noticing it. The suspension can lift the car sideways 8 centimeters to protect you from a side impact. There is also a new airbag for the rear passengers.
Among other things, the new S-Class can be driven alone. It has a third-level autopilot - like Tesla, but here it relies not only on cameras, but also on radars and lidars. And it does not necessarily require clear labeling, which allows it to be used even in Bulgaria. There is only one problem: the system will not be activated in a country where it is not allowed by law. But if this is the case, then you can just leave this car to drive alone. She walks along the road, she turns herself, she can stop if necessary, start again on her own, she can overtake on her own ... In fact, all she wants from you is to follow the road with her eyes. Two cameras in the dashboard are watching you all the time, and if you look away for a long time, they will reprimand you.
They are also shown on the head-up display.
Otherwise, the car itself will follow not only the road ahead, but all other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists around you. And he can independently perform evasive maneuvers. However, we do not advise you to blindly trust this system, because, as one of our favorite writers says, natural stupidity beats artificial intelligence nine out of ten times.
There are so many innovations in the interior that you have to list them by telegraph. In honor of Chinese buyers, it has the largest screen ever installed in a Mercedes. Buyers of the old-fashioned probably won't have enough easy-to-use buttons. But the consolation is that the voice assistant knows how to control all functions, knows 27 languages and, when connected, understands almost everything you say. If you lose your internet connection, get a little dumber and then you need to articulate your commands more clearly.
The DIRECTIONAL DISPLAY IS SELF-CUSTOMIZED thanks to built-in cameras and is always at eye level. Also added "augmented reality". It looks like the advertising department has come up with something to confuse customers. But in practice, this is the most useful new navigation ever. The dynamically moving arrows point the way more clearly than if you had a professional navigator next to you. You will always know exactly which lane to build on. And you have to be an idiot not to make a detour. Although we have achieved this.
The new LED lights have a total of 2,6 million pixels - more than a FullHD screen on a laptop - and could theoretically project film onto the pavement in front of you.
The materials are top-notch and well-made, the space is even slightly larger than in the previous S-Class and the boot has grown to 550 liters.
As for the seats, they deserve a separate article or even a poem. Each of them has 19 motors - 8 for settings, 4 for massage, 5 for ventilation and one each for side supports and a rear screen. There are ten massage modes.
You will find 17 more stepper motors in the air conditioner here called "thermotronic".
By the way, ventilation and seat heating are standard.
For the aforementioned quarter million leva, you will also get a leather steering wheel and interior, parking sensors with a camera, heated wipers, a fingerprint scanner to unlock your personal multimedia profile, automatic air conditioning and multiple USB-C ports for fast charging. ... 19-inch wheels, autopilot and media itself are also standard. But don't worry, Mercedes can take away the opportunity for you to spend your money.
EXTRA PRICE for totalitarian leaders: 2400 levs are paid for the metal. If you want nappa leather in the cabin, another 4500. Nice walnut and aluminum elements on the dashboard cost 7700 leva. The 2400D display in front of the driver – another novelty of this generation – adds BGN 16. The full Burmester audio system costs $XNUMX, the same as a well-equipped Dacia Sandero.
But that's the way it should be. Because 117 years later, the S-Class is what the Simplex once was – a machine that rewards you if you succeed in life.
