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Test DriveOn the road with 'pinnacle of luxury' Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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Mercedes-Benz S-Class / Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea
Mercedes-Benz S-Class / Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea

By Kim Hyun-bin

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been often called the "pinnacle of luxury" whenever a new model comes out. Korea, known as a home to the biggest fans of the S-Class series, is one of the top revenue makers for the premium German sedan.

"Korea is the third-largest market for the S-Class, following China and the U.S. Over the last 18 years, almost 67,000 S-Class vehicles have been sold here, making up nearly 12 percent of the total sales for Mercedes-Benz Korea since official inception," Thomas Klein, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea, said during the latest model's launch on April 28.

To experience a glimpse of what luxury is all about, Mercedes-Benz Korea offered local reporters an opportunity to take the new S-Class 400d 4MATIC and S-Class 580 4MATIC out for a spin May 4. The driving course started from the Mercedes-Benz Training Academy in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, to Monamour Cafe in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, a roundtrip of around 150 kilometers with estimated duration of 150 minutes.

The new S-Class release comes after eight years, with a total makeover involving upgraded luxury, comfort as well as top-notch electronics to enhance the style of the interior and convenience for drivers and passengers alike, redefining the standard for luxury sedans.

"The new S-Class has become more intelligent, delivering an elaborate and high-quality driving experience. A heritage of craftsmanship embodied in luxurious exterior and interior design meets the unique features of innovative digital technology," the company said.

The exterior of the S 580 4MATIC vehicle resembles a fit black panther with its slick curves and smooth long body supported by a 3,216mm wheel base, which is 51mm longer than its predecessor.

Another noteworthy feature is the digital light, equipped for the S-Class for the first time, which embeds a projection module with more than 1.3 million pixels in each headlight with 84 high-performing MULTIBEAM LEDs, optimizing brightness to better suit drivers through information collected in real time through cameras, sensors and the navigation system that automatically adjusts to the surrounding roadside conditions and terrain.

The flush-mounted door handles give a luxurious vibe, as they electrically extend when the driver approaches, or pop up with a small stroke on the outer surface. When on the road they automatically retract, fitting in line with the exterior's smooth and chic design.

Interior of Mercedes-Benz S-Class / Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea
Interior of Mercedes-Benz S-Class / Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea

The exterior presents just a fraction of the style that the S-Class has to offer, with the interior showcasing a futuristic and glamorous feel with the latest devices installed throughout and most features able to function with just the push of a button.

The instant attention grabber is the dashboard that has an embedded 12.8-inch OLED central display accompanied by a 12.3-inch 3D display in the cockpit showing critical roadside information.

A camera is installed to track the driver's eyelid movement to prevent drowsiness, signaling a warning when the driver seems fatigued and falling asleep. When inattentive after 45 seconds of a continuous warning, the vehicle comes to an automatic stop using the "Micro Sleep" warning system.

S-Class 400d 4MATIC

The first test-drive was with the S-Class 400d 4MATIC sporting a 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine with a length of 5,210mm, width of 1,955mm, height of 1,505mm and a maximum 330 horsepower accompanied by 71.4kg.m, capable of accelerating from a standstill to 100km/h in just 5.4 seconds.

Unfortunately, the roads was wet with rain continuing throughout the morning, but the vehicle equipped with AIRMATIC suspension delivered relatively high comfort even in slippery road conditions. Excluding the windshield wipers going back and forth, the driving experience was similar to that of an ordinary sunny day. The fast acceleration was also impressive, and it was mostly quiet when switching gears and fairly smooth compared to a conventional diesel-powered car, to the point it gives a similar vibe to an electric vehicle (EV).

The new S-Class is equipped with the MBUX Navigation system which gives directions for the most convenient route even in complex traffic and performs online route calculations in real time to offer optimal guidance.

The driving assistance package was also helpful on the road with its various sensors, cameras, radar and ultrasonic systems to recognize traffic and even pedestrians near the vehicle.

A chauffeur opens a rear passenger door for a Mercedes-Benz S-Class 580 4MATIC chauffeur package. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea
A chauffeur opens a rear passenger door for a Mercedes-Benz S-Class 580 4MATIC chauffeur package. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea

Executive seat experience

The S-Class 580 4MATIC is not just a smooth and comfortable driving experience but also offers luxury for passengers, especially with the chauffeur package that came with the test ride, providing an exclusive executive experience.

Once seated in the rear, with the push of a button on the side, the front passenger seat slides forward by up to 37mm to provide more leg room, while the backrest in the rear seat could be adjusted up to 43.5 degrees to maximize comfort.

When seated it resembles first-class seating in an airplane with its focus on passenger comfort and aiming to maximize relaxation throughout the duration of the ride. The rear seat is spacious allowing the user to comfortably work on a laptop, while receiving a heated massage.

What is hard not to notice is the rear seat entertainment system placing two 11.6-inch full HD touchscreens on the back of the front seats and a 7-inch tablet on the rear center arm rest, enabling backseat passengers to easily control convenience features such as music and lighting among other multimedia functions.

Another aspect that is out of the ordinary are rear air bags, the first to be implemented within the Mercedes-Benz lineup.

Rear seats of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class 580 4MATIC / Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea
Rear seats of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class 580 4MATIC / Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea

The new S-Class 580 4MATIC is powered by a V8 gasoline engine which puts out 503 horsepower with a peak torque of 71.4kg.m.

The S 400d 4MATIC comes with a price tag of 160 million won ($142,280) while the top-of-the-line 580 4MATIC costs 218 million won.



Kim Hyun-bin hyunbin@koreatimes.co.kr


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