Mercedes S-Class range arrives from under $200,000

MERCEDES-BENZ has trimmed down the range of its flagship S-Class sedan by about one-third, bringing new inline six-cylinder and V8 engines, more diesel variants and revised pricing, starting with the S350d from $195,900 plus on-roads.

Speaking to GoAuto, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific public relations and product communications manager Jerry Stamoulis said the reason for the line-up consolidation was due to customer preferences.

“A lot of people don’t know this, but the current S-Class, 60 per cent of our volume is actually diesel,” he said.

“The big part of (consolidating the range) is we’ve recognised what people are buying, what S-Class people are buying, so we’re offering two diesel variants, which is 60 per cent of our market when previously we only had one.

“So with diesel we’ve actually increased our offering, but overall we’ve reduced it. But also we’ve got new E63, we’ve got a new GT four-seater coming, we’ve got a new CLS coming, so there’s still other cars for those customers, but to have 12 variants plus those other cars, it can get complicated and makes it harder for us to negotiate with the factory as well.”

The range has been trimmed down to just seven variants, with the diesel-powered S350d dropping in price by $25,055 over the outgoing model and bringing the point of entry to the S-Class range to under $200,000.

Powered by an all-new 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, the S350d produces 210kW/600Nm, representing a 20kW power boost over the old model, however torque is down 20Nm.

The new mill sips a claimed 5.4 litres of fuel per 100km on the combined cycle, with power sent to the rear wheels via a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission.

Standard equipment across the range includes air suspension with variable damping, automatic climate control, LED headlights, Comand Online with widescreen cockpit, multifunction steering wheel, smartphone integration, touchpad with controller and dynamic transmission mode selection.

Safety and driver assistance systems include active braking assist, crosswind assist, evasive steering assist, active lane change assist, drowsiness protection, pre-safe protection system, and the new pre-safe sound, which prepares human hearing for the noise of a crash.

S350d-specific kit includes panoramic sliding sunroof, digital TV tuner, power closing doors and boot, Burmester 13-speaker surround sound system, heating and cooling front seats, head-up display, Keyless Go driver authorisation system, 360-degree camera and 19-inch twin five-spoke alloy wheels.

Next up in the range is the second diesel offering, the S400d L, which brings a long wheelbase and extra grunt over the S350d, for $222,500 plus on-roads.

The S400d L takes the same inline six from the S350d and adds an extra 40kW/100Nm, bringing total output to 250kW/700Nm.

Extra equipment on the S400d includes electrically adjustable outer rear seats, pre-installation for rear entertainment features, electric blinds on rear side windows and rear window, rear climate control and 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels.

Sharing the specification of the S400d is the S450 L, which employs a 3.0-litre biturbo V6 capable of 270kW/520Nm, teamed to the nine-speed auto of the diesels.

The most affordable petrol-powered model in the S-Class line up will set buyers back $227,500 plus on-roads.

Next up is the V8-powered S560, available in both short- and long-wheelbase form from $270,000 and $295,000 plus on-roads, respectively.

The S560 employs a 4.0-litre biturbo V8 which replaces the old 4.7-litre unit and produces 345kW/700Nm, while adding the Energising comfort control feature, Air-Balance fragrance package, brown burr walnut high gloss wood trim, Nappa leather upholstery, anti-theft protection package and heat- and noise-insulating laminated glass.

Exclusive to the S560 L are easy adjust luxury head restraints for front-seat passengers, as well as a rear-seat entertainment system with two wireless headsets.

With the V12-powered S65 dropped from the range, the sole AMG offering is the long-wheelbase S63 L, which cranks out 450kW/900Nm from its 4.0-litre biturbo V8.

Priced from $375,000 plus on-roads, the S63 L gains a sports exhaust system, AMG-specific dynamic select, high-performance composite brakes, speed-sensitive sports steering, sports suspension and red brake callipers.

Inside, it adds seat heating plus and multi-contour seats for front passengers, heated and ventilated rear seats, bigger fuel tank (80L), tyre pressure monitor, and AMG-specific trim elements including Nappa leather/mirofibre steering wheel, analogue clock, brushed stainless steel AMG sports pedal cluster and door sill panels, floor mats and open-pore black ash wood trim.

The most expensive variant in the updated S-Class range is the $425,000 Mercedes-Maybach S650, which is pulled by a hulking 6.0-litre biturbo V12 producing 463kW of power and a prodigious 1000Nm of torque, teamed to a 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed auto.

It takes the specification level from the S560 L, and adds a Burmester high-end 3D surround sound system with 24 speakers and 24 amplifier channels, Dinamica microfibre roofliner, door sill panels with illuminated Maybach lettering, Nappa leather upholstery with Maybach emblem, and 20-inch, ten-hole forged wheels in high-gloss polished ceramic.

Mercedes has made the decision to offer the S650 only as a four-seat option, with the centre rear seat replaced with an armrest for both rear occupants.

More S-Class variants will join the existing range in 2018, including a plug-in hybrid version.

2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class pricing

S350d (a)	$195,900
S400d L (a)	$222,500
S450 L (a)	$227,500
S560 (a)	$270,000
S560 L (a)	$295,000
AMG S63 L (a)	$375,000
Maybach S650 (a)	$425,000

*Excludes on-road costs