The list of information on this car is extensive, read what Mercedes-Benz had to say about the New S-Class Coupé in all its glory.
Sensual purity as an expression of modern luxury – this was the focus for the designers, and is the design philosophy of Mercedes-Benz. The aim is to create clear contours and smooth surfaces that showcase high tech while radiating emotional appeal.
The sensual purity is reflected in the core design values of tradition, emotion and progressivism. These make up the guiding star, and are accentuated differently depending on the model. Mercedes-Benz creates a bridge between modernity and the avant-garde, between tradition and progressivism. Each model series has an assigned role and a very specific character, depending on the attributes on which the design focuses. And yet a Mercedes-Benz is always recognisable as a Mercedes-Benz. Because in addition to incorporating new stylistic developments, and in the interests of keeping tradition alive, the designers draw from a gene-pool of styling features typical of the brand.
“Our new S-Class Coupé is one of the most gorgeous coupés of all times, representing the most radical aesthetic departure from its predecessor,” says Gorden Wagener, Vice President Daimler AG. “The sensuous flowing silhouette in interplay with the clear progressive design language forms a perfect symbiosis and expresses our philosophy of sensual purity with absolute precision.”
The flowing profile of the S-Class Coupé embodies sensual purity in a modern way. It is characterised by typical rear-wheel-drive proportions, emphasised by the hallmark Mercedes dropping line. The long bonnet with pronounced lines and powerdomes, the low glasshouse with high beltline, the accentuated wheel arches as well as the large wheels (18- to 20-inch) and the broad visual effect created by the rear reinforce the S-Class Coupé’s aspirations as a masterpiece of automotive refinement. With a wheelbase of 2945 mm, the Coupé is 5027 mm long, with a width of 1899 mm and a height of 1411 mm.
Its convexand concave modelled surfaces lend the S-Class Coupé a sensuous character. The sculpted appearance lends it classic elegance that forms a perfect symbiosis with the modern-progressive design idiom.
The view from the side is marked by the dropping line in keeping with the emotional character of the vehicle. It underscores the brand-typical proportions like a signature. The lines are deliberately reduced to the basics. This creates a sensual, timeless purity.
The creative interaction of diverse design elements lends the S-Class Coupé a superior, self-confident front end: in the centre of the vehicle is the further-evolved three-dimensional diamond radiator grille, whose structure is defined by rectangular, chrome-plated elements. It incorporates the central Mercedes three-pointed star and one louvre.
The full-LED headlamps with their iconic eyebrows as daytime running lamps lend it an extremely self-assured and distinctive gaze. On the S-Class Coupé the eyebrows have been further refined with a semi-circular counter-curve.
In combination with the standard LED Intelligent Light System, unique headlamps with no fewer than 47 Swarovski crystals are available. 17 angular crystals form the flare-shaped daytime running lamps, with 30 round-shaped crystals making up the turn indicator lamps.
The side profile is defined by the dome-shaped stretched roofline and the frameless doors. An elegant 3D continuous chrome frame surrounds the glass areas that are uninterrupted by B-pillars. This underscores the typical Mercedes-Benz coupé look.
A muscle above the rear axle extending from the side wall generates a sense of lightness and dynamic spirit even at a standstill. The positively arched surfaces and lines of the side walls flow into the rear end with a dramatic tapered effect.
The rear end, with its surfaces, broad shoulders and distinctive character lines, rounds off the emotive overall appearance. Moving the numberplate to the lower part of the rear bumper is a particularly striking modification. It allows the boot lid to be made especially sleek in this area. The three-pointed star is, so to say, free-standing and can thus be made more prominent for greater effect. In addition, it pivots outwards in order to locate the reversing camera and the optional 360° camera in an elegantly functional manner.
The arrangement of the LEDs in two horizontal rows in the two-piece tail lamps reveals cutting-edge technology and underscores the sporty character of the vehicle rear, careful attention to detail and the car’s premium value. Form and function fuse in a perfect unity. Part of each light cluster is located in the wing, the other in the boot lid. This characteristic arrangement makes the vehicle highly recognisable by night, too.
The two-part rear bumper underscores the sportiness indicated by the front design. The diffusor, painted in high-sheen black, meets in equal measure the requirements made by aerodynamics and by design. Below it there is, as in the front bumper, a horizontal wing in silver look. Integrated in the diffusor are the premium-quality tailpipes.
The S-Class Coupé features a panoramic roof extending over two-thirds of the entire vehicle roof; with a surface area of around 1.32 m2, it appears almost 150 percent larger than on its predecessor. MAGIC SKY CONTROL makes it possible to switch the transparency of the roof at the push of a button, from light to dark. When light, the roof is almost completely transparent and allows an open-air experience, even in the coldest weather. When dark, light transmission i.e. the proportion of outside light that is allowed through into the interior, is reduced to less than 1% and thus effectively diminishes heating up of the vehicle. In addition, it is possible to shade the interior completely by means of a roller blind.
The interior design of the new S-Class Coupé is an expression of the Mercedes-Benz design idiom – sensual purity. An enthralling combination of sculptural sensuous volume elements and components, and the clear geometry of its basic architecture create an avant-garde design idiom. A high-class appeal, quality workmanship and exceptional touch and feel are a treat for the passengers’ senses, so that the car’s interior represents the highest level of “modern luxury”.
The S-Class Coupé’s dashboard fascinates with its spectacular architecture, giving rise to a vehicle of unique character in the upper coupé segment. The dashboard is divided into a very clear top-layer section with an expansive “wrap-around” effect extending to the doors, and an extremely low, sculptural “floating” lower section. This striking architecture was made possible by repositioning the airbag to a completely new low location. This concept enables the large, two-part wide-screen format TFT display to be placed in a prominent “hovering” position in front of this trim surface. In addition, it is stylishly highlighted with an ambience lighting corona. Under the display, the sporty elevated centre console extends to the vehicle rear. All lids and armrests are lavishly covered in leather.
The new “Super Sport” steering wheel impresses with its powerful, galvanised spokes, which create maximum depth for the steering wheel, as if they flowed out from the steering column.
The use of the finest materials, surfaces, colour combinations and seam designs contributes towards achieving a truly exclusive car interior. Air vents, switches, belt extender rosette and trim elements are in electroplated “Silver Shadow”. This gives the trim elements a particularly high value appeal and enhances the three-dimensional effect of their surfaces.
In front of the armrest, the touchpad (optional) can be found, with its black high-sheen surface and chrome-look surround. As on a smartphone, the touchpad allows all the head-unit functions to be operated using finger gestures. The touchpad also permits letters, numbers and special characters to be entered in handwriting – in any of the head unit’s languages. Diverse controls, e.g. for the multi-media system, are arrayed as keys in a semicircle in front of the central control element.
Both the front and the rear seats have a pronounced sporty character, the two rear seats are designed as individual seats. The Exclusive package optionally includes seats in Exclusive nappa designo leather with a striking diamond backstitching pattern on backrests and seating surfaces. The front-seat seatbelts are integrated in the rear side panelling without interrupting the waistline when the windows are open; seatbelt extenders make them easily accessible for the seat occupants.
There is a fluid transition between the doors and the rear side panelling, emphasising the vehicle’s quality. Here too, surfaces and controls are masterfully executed in top-quality materials; the configuration with the Burmester® surround sound system and Burmester® High-End 3D surround sound system offers a special highlight in form and function.
New interior colours such as Bengal red, saddle brown and porcelain allow individualisation of the interior. The standard ambient lighting with several settings allows the customer to choose from seven lighting moods.
The optional head-up display brings important information directly into the driver’s field of vision, presenting it on the windscreen to ensure less distraction from the traffic situation. The system informs about vehicle speed, speed limits, navigation instructions and driving assistance system messages.
The technical basis for this system is a specular optics system and a full-colour display module with a resolution of 480 x 240 pixels, operating with high-power LEDs. They project the virtual image, which measures around 21 x 7 centimetres, into the driver’s field of vision where it appears to float around two metres away above the bonnet. The resolution of more than 60 pixels per degree of viewing angle ensures a needle-sharp image. A special light sensor located near the top edge of the roof automatically adjusts the brightness of the head-up display to the exterior lighting conditions.
MAGIC BODY CONTROL, the first “suspension with eyes”, had its world première in the S-Class. With the curve tilting function, the Coupé introduces a further world first for series-production cars: The curve tilting function makes the Coupé lean into bends in a manner similar to a motorcyclist or skier. The lateral acceleration acting upon occupants is reduced in a way akin to when driving in a steep curve, and passengers sit more firmly. On country roads in particular, the new curve tilting function enhances motoring enjoyment and comfort. The object is not to reach higher speeds, but to produce a more pleasant motoring experience.
The MAGIC BODY CONTROL suspension system, optionally available for the S 500 Coupé includes, apart from the Active Body Control (ABC) and ROAD SURFACE SCAN functions, the new curve tilting function. With Active Body Control the suspension struts are equipped with hydraulic cylinders (so-called plungers), in order to adjust the force in each strut individually.
Depending on the curve driven, the curve tilting function shifts the base point of each individual strut. This allows the vehicle to incline automatically and continuously in fractions of a second and to angles of up to 2.5 degrees in – depending on the road angle and vehicle speed. The innovative suspension system detects curves using both a stereo camera behind the windscreen, registering the curvature of the road up to 15 metres ahead, and an additional transversal acceleration sensor. The curve tilting function can be selected as one of three drive modes using the ABC switch; it is active in the speed range from 30 to 180 km/h.
The emotive sound of the exhaust system makes a decisive contribution to the sporty driving experience. The deeper sound components ensure a fuller, sportier sound. In the transversally positioned rear silencer of the twin-pipe exhaust system, there are two flaps that can be opened and closed pneumatically depending on the engine speed.
When the flaps are open, the exhaust gases are conducted through the rear silencer along a different path so that the vehicle sound becomes more powerful. The switching point of the flaps depends upon the drive programme selected – in the S programme the flaps open earlier than in the E programme. As soon as the S-Class Coupé engine starts, the power of its sound can be heard.
The history of the large post-war Mercedes coupés dates back to the year 1952, when Mercedes-Benz launched the legendary 300 S Coupé – a “car for the world’s elite” as the automotive press of the time judged. It was followed in 1956 by the 220 S Coupé of the W180 model series, which created a sensation in particular due to its self-supporting pontoon body. From 1961 to 1971, the elegant Coupé of model series W111/W112 enthralled no fewer than 29,918 highly discerning customers, who were able to choose between the Type 220 SEb Coupé six-cylinder models and the Type 280 SE 3.5 Coupé eight-cylinder models.
The SEC coupés of model series C 216, which remained in the programme of the Stuttgart-based automotive brand for ten years and of which over 74,000 were sold, were based on the S-Class of 1981. In 1992, the successor model (model series C 140) was presented at the Geneva Motor Show, also featuring for the first time as an S 600 Coupé with a 394 hp 12-cylinder engine. It was to be the car in which the Electronic Stability Program ESP® had its world première in 1995. Later on this coupé was renamed “CL-Class”. Another forefather of the new S-Class Coupé celebrated its world première under this name in March 1999. With pioneering innovations such as active ABC suspension (Active Body Control) and bi-xenon headlamps, this two-door car set new standards.
Supreme exclusivity and sophisticated design combined with trend-setting state-of-the-art technology in the last CL-Class (2006).
This luxury coupé opened up a new dimension of vehicle safety with the introduction of PRE-SAFE® brakes. Beyond this, Mercedes innovations such as the Intelligent Light System with five light functions and PRE-SAFE® preventive occupant safety were also part of the vehicle’s standard equipment. The new S-Class Coupé and its innovations seamlessly continue the tradition of large coupés into the future.
