Mercedes-Benz is extremely proud of its S-Class top-line range; all
versions are incredible motor cars. “No other car lives up to the
standards so famously set by company founder Gottlieb Daimler,” says the
carmaker.
So it is only natural that it has gone all-out in engineering a rich,
extravagant range-topper.
The V6 diesel models may sell best but there’s still a demand for the
very best available – which is where a model with twice as many engine
cylinders and twice as much engine capacity comes in.
According to Mercedes-Benz, it epitomises the very “‘Essence of Luxury’,
in a way that no other model can”
The 6.0-litre V12 engine has been enlarged over the 5.5-litre V12 in the
old model. This helps it produce a quite breathtaking 612lb ft of
pulling power – what’s more, all that torque is produced flat between
1,900-4,000rpm.
On paper, it sounds absolutely staggering: we can only imagine how the
new S 600 responds to the throttle. It may well be the most luxurious and refined rocket ship the world has yet seen
always win through.
Sales in these regions explain why Mercedes-Benz has made another key decision with the S 600… When it goes on sale in March 2014, you can expect the vast majority of S
600 sales to be either in China, Asia or the US: this is not a car for
Europe. Although 25.4mpg and as little as 259g/km CO2 are good, fuel is
so expensive on the continent that the allure of a diesel that does
twice as much will
The new S 600 will be offered exclusively in long-wheelbase guise – meaning every one sold will stretch more than 5.2 metres long (and weigh nearly 2.2 tonnes). Chinese buyers in particular prefer to sit in the back rather than the front, meaning that sales of the regular wheelbase version, if it were offered, would be minimal. It’s the range-toper of the S-Class so it makes sense to offer it solely in ‘ultimate’ spec
Mercedes-Benz introduced the first 600 model back in 1963 – this was actually the first Mercedes to use a V8 injection engine. Fast-forward a few decades and the 1991 600 SE was the first series production Mercedes-Benz to boast a V12 engine as standard. Other range-topping S-Class models through the years include the 1967 300 SEL 6.3 and later 450 SEL 6.9, while in recent years the V12 has been given a sporty twist in the S 65 AMG line
To coincide with the launch of the new S 600, Mercedes-Benz has rolled
out some new features for the interior of the S-Class: the S 600 gets
them, but they will also be offered on other models, including the
popular S 350 CDI BlueTEC.
They include a new fingertip feature control via a central touchpad – a system so clever, it even recognises handwriting traced by a finger. A new head-up display will also be available.
Mercedes-Benz has replaced the current Collision Prevision Assist
system with an upgraded Collision Prevention Assist Plus. On top of the
current Brake Assist, this will autonomously brake at speeds of up to
124mph (approx. 200kmh) if the driver fails to respond.
It will also brake if it detects any
stationary vehicles, at speeds of up to 31mph (approx. 50kmh) – and
Mercedes-Benz promises it can prevent rear-end collisions at up to 25mph
(approx 40kmh). Clever stuff.
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