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There are three cars in the world with such unimpeachable credentials for the job they do they will never, ever find themselves referred to as a ‘some other car’s rival’. Others may indeed be their rivals, but it is never the reverse.
And it was ever thus, largely because they wrote the rules for the segments they dominate. And now, with the launch of the new Mercedes Benz S-Class hot on the heels of the new Range Rover and new Porsche 911, all three have had a new lease of life in the last 12 months.
So there it is, in the gallery. We’ll come to the looks in a bit, but what about the car itself? Did Benz knock the old car down and start again like the aluminium fourth generation Range Rover, or is it a subtle yet dramatic evolution like the generation 991 Porsche 911? Umm…. It’s kind of neither. At least not on paper.
The technological evolution of the automobile can be charted with every new iteration of the S Class, and this is the eighth all-new car. Each has arrived on a raft of blazing new technology, technology which eventually ended up on just about every other car, sooner or later.
This one, which its maker describes as ‘Utopian’, has an in-built air-freshener, or ‘air purifying system’, or ‘Air Balance’. It will feature refillable scent pots at around £50 each, or you can use your favourite aftershave. It’s hard to know where the idea ends or the technology starts, or indeed what we should call it. But your car will have one soon. If it doesn’t already. It’s churlish to mention it so soon — there is more significant new kit on the car — but in S-Class launches gone by, such trivialities wouldn’t even be deemed worthy of a mention.
I for one, am not a fan of this new S-Class at all.
Now, mind you my comments are all subjective. The exterior looks quirky, and the interior seems very claustrophobic and gives off an overall impression that just makes the space feel cramped. I'm not sure if it's the camera angle or the lens used in order to capture the entire interior, but I for one, definitely do not want to be in that interior. Perhaps it's the way the centre stack is non-existent and is integrated with the transmission tunnel? I dunno, something just seems off about the interior proportions/dimensions to me.
It almost seems like they tried to pull off a Lexus, but didn't quite get it? I know the GS and the S-Class are two cars from two different categories, but seeing as they're a little similar, I do prefer the Lexus's interpretation of this new trend where the centre stack is a screen embedded into the actual dash that creates a sense of depth and therefore space.
I guess I'll save judgement until I get a chance to sit in one.
However, I will point out that sweet baby jesus, those details
__________________ [13-03, 11:25] MG1 when you hit the brakes, it shoots cum at pedestrian - bukkake
[12-03, 19:06] meme405 That e30 is so mexiflushed I thought we were in albuquerque
[12-03, 23:03] rb when i see a modded element. I have nothing but respect. either the parents kicked him out or the guy is killing hookers in the back
I wonder how the AMG version of this would look. Very curious because the rear end doesn't seem as "edgy" as the current S65...Doesn't look as sporty as it either...
I got a good chuckle from this comment left on the autoexpress webpage;
Quote:
Computers do not drive for a reason.
Scenario: Cruising in the right hand lane of the M1, with just one hand, all thanks to 'Steering Assist'.
A stray fox runs onto the motorway. The S-Class spots the fox, distracts you with a 'Night Vision Alert' and then flashes an 'LED Light' into the fox's eyes, startling the creature, which causes it to run towards the car.
Bracing for the imminent impact, you slow down from 70 mph to circa 45 mph, with full intent to hit the fox, for it is legal and wise to do so.
Meanwhile, the S-Class also detects the fox and activates 'Breaking Assistance', you hit the fox anyway and the S-Class skids to a full stop... on the right hand lane of the M1.
Now, the 'Multi-mode Rear Sensor' detects a car barreling at you from behind at 70 mph, the S-Class flashes its hazards, presumably to say goodbye to you and then locks its brakes so that your death is guaranteed.
The new S-Class opens the door to self-driving cars, says Mercedes
Mercedes will bring a self-driving, autonomous car to market before the next-generation S-Class arrives in 2021, according to Thomas Weber, head of R&D for Mercedes.
The time-frame suggests the system could be part of the new S-Class' mid-life update, expected in 2017.
Speaking with Auto Express at the unveil of the new S-Class in Hamburg, Weber said: "We can do it now, but there are rules in place that we have to accept."
In Weber's words, the new S-Class' adaptive cruise control system, which keeps a set distance to the car in front and steers automatically to keep you in your lane (so long as your hand is touching the wheel), has "opened the door" to autonomous technology.
We asked him if a system that allowed the driver to take their hands off the wheel completely would be available in the next generation S-Class: "We have laboratory cars already that work. It will come earlier than eight years," he revealed.
Another Mercedes engineer picked up Weber's point: "There are several steps to fully autonomous driving, the first is lane keep, the next is to be able to overtake other cars automatically and then we can imagine a fully autonomous car. We are working hard on it."
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simply he lives in the car like a RV.
