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Mercedes S-Class range to expand

A four-seater convertible flagship could join a wider Mercedes S-Class range

Mercedes S-Class

By Sam Hardy

13th January 2012

A new Mercedes S-Class arrives next year, but the range won’t just consist of a large luxury car – the new S-Class line-up is expected to feature four models, including a four-seater cabriolet for the first time.  

Dr Uwe Ernstberger – Mercedes program manager for the S-Class – told Auto Express at the Detroit Motor Show: “The S-Class is the best luxury car in the world, and we have many surprises in terms of technology for the new model. It will deliver something very different to its rivals – and it will have a much broader range,” he said.

As well as the standard car – which we have spied here – there will be a long-wheelbase luxury model to replace the Maybach brand, and is a spiritual successor to the S600 Pullman. There will also be a two-door S-Class coupe, which will be badged as such, rather than use the CL badge of the current car. 

But the star of the range would be a four-seater cabriolet inspired by the Ocean Drive concept from the 2005 Los Angeles Motor Show, featuring a vast folding roof.

In related news, the UK will finally get a Mercedes-badged rival to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 in the shape of a new GLK, which is set to arrive in the next two to three years. 
Dr Ernstberger also said that hybrids such as the E300 BlueTEC Hybrid are the way forward for Mercedes, as the technology is scalable and can be applied to any model.

He said it was the only way to make significant gains in economy, admitting that thanks to start-stop and direct injection, it's becoming harder to get large benefits from regular engines. "Many of our engineers ideas to improve economy and reduce CO2 on conventional engines have already been realised," he said.  

For an alternative review of the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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5 Comments

When do we see the new Mercedes Benz S-Class

By deviras on 14 January, 2012, 6:16am

All it needs is a dictator sat in the back and the jobs sorted

By Shaun34 on 15 January, 2012, 1:58pm

Dubai's richest are getting hard from seeing this....

and that's not a compliment.

By omria on 15 January, 2012, 5:28pm

New, novel and exciting - not.

Another bland styling exercise from Mercedes. It looks just like a Corolla.

By prosperity on 16 January, 2012, 6:00am

potential buyer

I recently swopped back to Range Rover, because we live in the sticks and the S class is a liability in bad condidtions. In the US its not an issue because the yanks can buy it with four wheel drive. Why cant Merc produce a right hand drive 4X4 version?

By paulrouse1 on 17 January, 2012, 9:31am

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