Model years 2015–present | Production 2014–present | |
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Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-driveFront-engine, all-wheel-drive | ||
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class (C217) is a full-size luxury car/grand tourer manufactured by Mercedes-Benz since 2014.
Contents
- Concept S Class Coup 2013
- Production car unveiling
- Safety and technology
- Suspension
- Lighting
- Equipment
- S 500S 550
- S 63 AMG
- S 65 AMG
- Convertible
- Maybach S 650 Cabriolet
- References
The C217 model succeeded the CL-Class (C216) and is the current version of the S-Class coupé. It is also the first Mercedes coupé to carry the S-Class name since the 1990s.
Concept S-Class Coupé (2013)
The Concept S-Class Coupé was unveiled in 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show to showcase the appearance of the upcoming S-Class coupé model. It features an all-new design compared to the previous CL-Class model, utilizing the brand's Sensual Purity design philosophy first developed for the W222 S-Class in 2009.
Production car unveiling
The production version of the S-Class coupé was announced and unveiled in February 2014, with its first public showing at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014. Mercedes showed the S500 model (known as the S550 in the United States market) at the Geneva show.
At the New York Auto Show in April 2014, Mercedes made the first public showing of the S 63 AMG 4MATIC model. The S 65 AMG model, which includes a V12 Bi-Turbo engine, was unveiled in July 2014.
Safety and technology
It features all the latest driver assistance and safety systems introduced in 2013 on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222), including Traffic Sign Assist with wrong-way driving warning function.
Suspension
The C217 coupé continues to offer the AIRMATIC semi-active air suspension as standard. The C217 introduced an update to the hydraulic fully active Magic Body Control suspension (which debuted on the W222 sedan model), called Active Curve Tilting. This new system allows the vehicle to lean up to 2.5 degrees into a turn, similar to the way a motorcycle leans into a turn. The leaning is intended to counter the effect of centrifugal force on the occupants and is available only on rear-wheel drive models.
Lighting
Like the W222 sedan, the C217 coupé includes full-LED lighting on the exterior (including full-LED headlamps with Intelligent Light System and Adaptive Highbeam Assist PLUS) and interior of the vehicle. Optional headlight features include 47 Swarovski crystals in each headlamp: 30 crystals for the turn signals and 17 for the daytime running lights.
Equipment
S 500/S 550
The C217 S-Class coupé launched with the S 500 model, known as the S 550 in the United States market. The vehicle features a twin-turbocharged 4.6L engine paired with a 7-speed or a 9-speed (only for rear-wheel drive version) automatic transmission. In most markets, the S 500 is fitted to a rear-wheel drive drivetrain with optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive; in the US, 4MATIC is standard.
S 63 AMG
Through the Mercedes-AMG sub-brand, the second S-Class coupé model launched is the S 63 AMG. Featuring a 5.5L turbocharged V8, the S 63 is the performance model V8 within the S-Class lineup. Like the S 500, the S 63 is offered with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, though with only all-wheel drive (without Magic Body Control) in the United States.
S 65 AMG
The S 65 AMG is currently the top-of-the-line S-Class coupé model. It features a 6.0L turbocharged V12 Mercedes-Benz M279 engine paired with a 7G-Tronic automatic transmission. The V12 model is available only with rear-wheel drive (4MATIC not available).
Convertible
The convertible version of the S-Class (codenamed A217), which was unveiled at the International Motor Show Germany in 2015, has many lightweight reinforcements such that its driving style is similar to that of the coupé version. Safety is maintained by a roll-over system, which is pyrotechnically actuated behind the rear passengers if required.
Maybach S 650 Cabriolet
Based on the convertible version of the AMG S 65, the Maybach S 650 Cabriolet will be produced in a limited run of 300 units.