A new Mercedes-Benz S-Class doesn’t come around all that often—the last one popped up in 2005—so when one does show up, it’s a big deal. Especially because Mercedes-Benz uses its flagship to show off all sorts of new technologies and features they plan on eventually trickling down to the rest of the line…and that eventually wind up reaching “ordinary” cars too. So let’s give it up for the all-new 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class—the car of tomorrow, today.
So what makes this S-Class so special? Well, let’s start with Magic Body Control. It’s the next step in adaptive suspensions; instead of just reacting to imperfections in the road as they hit the suspension, Magic Body Control uses a pair of cameras to scan the road ahead and adapt the suspension to cope with bumps and cracks and dips in advance. We’re guessing this will deliver a whole new realm of smooth ride.
The new S-Class is also the first new car in the world to come without a single light bulb—instead, it uses almost 500 LEDs for all lighting, inside and out. The 300+ LEDs in the cabin offer seven different colors, five different brightness levels and four different zones of illumination, because let’s face it, interior lights that just go on or off are so ordinary. There’s a pair of 12.3-inch wide screens on the dash, one in place of the instrument panel and one for the navigation/infotainment systems. Rear seat occupants have equal access to the infotainment systems, too.
Speaking of seats, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class may have the most incredible set of seating options we’ve ever seen in a car. The massaging seats come with a “hot stone massage” function, where the 14 air chambers in each seat that make up the massaging elements heat individually. The seats come with six different massage programs, two of which use the “hot stones.” Also, the ventilated seats come with new reverse-direction fans that suck hot air off the seats, chilling them even faster. Oh, and there’s an aromatherapy option that fills the cabin with one of five choices of scent.
The long-wheelbase S-Class (the only version we get here in the states) comes with a choice of five different rear seat layouts, with a choice of bench and individual rear seats and different options for how far the seats can recline. There’s also a “Warmth and Comfort” package, which includes not just heated seats, but heated armrests and steering wheel. (Oh, you can also buy heated and cooled cupholders.) If you can’t find a comfortable seating position in the new S-Class, we suggest calling a chiropractor.
Of course, as a boss Mercedes, the new S-Class needs to have boss power. Mercedes-Benz hasn’t officially mentioned power choices, but according to an early brochure leaked online, the new S-Class will come in S550 guise with a 4.7 liter twin-turbo V8 at launch, making 449 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. (There will also be an S350 turbodiesel V6 model making 258 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque and an S400 Hybrid model making 302 horsepower and 273 lb-ft, but you’ll want the S550.) An S63 AMG 4MATIC making at least 575 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque should be along shortly, along with a smooth V12-powered S600; hopefully the S65 AMG will return, too. We’ll bring you more on the new S-Class as we hear it, of course.
Note: The press release for the new S-Class was way too long to stick here, so we made a separate post for it in case you really wanna dive into the car.
