The latest in the Mercedes Benz S-Class line is truly magnificent having undergone a makeover in time for the Auto Shanghai 2009 earlier this year.
With an even more dynamic design, more comfort and pathfinding innovations, the world’s most successful luxury saloon – 270,000 sold since the S-Class series was launched in 2005 – re-stakes its claim as the standard in automotive progress.
The range of petrol engines offer the same output, but use up to six percent less fuel. The usual high safety standards have been improved by a unique combination of new driver assistance systems, which detect driver drowsiness and oncoming traffic. More agility and driving enjoyment is ensured by Direct-Steer and modified Active Body Control, with crosswind stabilisation for some models.

Innovative
Innovation is synonymous with the new S-Class, even if some items, like the split-screen viewer in the front cabin – which allows the driver and passenger to watch different screens at the same time – are not legal in Macau or Hong Kong.
General manager of Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center of China, Olivier Boulay says they are lobbying the authorities to have it cleared for use here.
Since the first S-Class was introduced in 1951, more than 3.3 million have been delivered around the world, and this latest S-Class incorporates many of the features found in the luxury Maybach.

Wake up call!
The ‘Attention Assist’ drowsiness detector can sense if a driver’s concentration is wandering due to tiredness, but arriving at a system which worked was difficult – mapping the driver’s eyes and facial features, for instance, proved problematic.
Instead, says product manager Frank Steinacher, a series of computers in the car form a driving pattern, based on steering input, cornering technique, braking effort, and other indicators.
“If any of these begin to change significantly, a warning will sound to alert the driver,” says Steinacher.

Economical power
This S-Class has a choice of six, eight and twelve-cylinder petrol engines. Using specific aerodynamic fine-tuning, and modifications to the steering, fuel pump and 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been reduced by up to six percent.
It is also dynamic and agile, in part due to a complex steering system, which takes into account crosswinds and the car’s body position, to ensure stability and grip on the road. In some models this system is more advanced.
The modified design of the new S-Class is characterised by the more pronounced arrow-shape of the radiator grille, plus a new front bumper with a discreet light-catching contour, and a chrome strip below the cooling air intakes.

Pioneering
Dr Claus Weidner, Chief Operating Officer of Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong says: “Thanks to innovative technology, first-class comfort and outstanding safety systems, the flagship model from Mercedes-Benz is still seen as a pioneer in automotive development.”
The new S-Class series is available now in both Hong Kong and Macau. Prices start with the S300L at HK$1,099,000 in Hong Kong and HK$1,071,000 in Macau.

by Jeff Heselwood