In this day and age, the term ‘efficiency’ is the most important factor for all car makers. And we’re not talking just about small city cars, even the most luxurious, heck even supercars must be built in the most efficient way to please the green party. So it’s no wonder why Mercedes launched this diesel-powered BlueTEC edition of its luxe super saloon, the S-Class.
The new S 350 BlueTEC tries to offer the best compromise between power and fuel economy. The output of this 3.5 liter V6 engine is 190 kW (258 hp) with peak torque of 620 Newton metres, which is not bad at all, specially as the car can go from zero to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds and keep on going to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Along with the good performance, the S350 BluTEC also has astonishing fuel economy, as it uses just 6.8 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres. And it’s one of the cleanest diesel engines on the market because it has AdBlue emission control system.
With CO2 emissions of 177 grammes per kilometre, this car complies with Euro 6 standards, which means it needs no upgrades whatsoever until 2014.
BlueTEC is a technology developed by Mercedes-Benz to reduce emissions from diesel vehicles, in particular nitrogen oxides. To this end AdBlue®, an aqueous urea solution, is injected into the exhaust flow. This releases ammonia, which converts up to 80 percent of nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and water in the downstream SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalytic converter. As a result, the S 350 BlueTEC already complies with the emission levels which are planned for 2014 with the introduction of the EU 6 standard. The AdBlue® tank is installed under the luggage compartment floor and has a capacity of 25.7 litres. The tank is replenished at the regular maintenance intervals every 25,000 kilometres.
But it’s not all about economy! After all it’s a S-Class and you have to pay € 76,279 for it, so you expect to get a lot of kit, and indeed you do. Above all, the car features two of the newest safety technologies developed by Mercedes, and they are Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist. And in addition to the regular equipments you find in any S-Class, it’s available with PASSION leather package and Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG sound system.
New leather appointments with stitching
To personalise the interior of the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz is also offering new, high-quality leather appointments which underscore the luxury saloon’s exclusive character. A defining feature is the contrasting stitching on the PASSION leather package and the Exclusive PASSION leather package (standard for S 600). Colours and scope of appointments vary according to upholstery and package contents.
The PASSION leather package features the stitching on the fine leather of the seats and armrests as well as on the top and bottom of the instrument panel support and the door panelling, all of which are finished in ARTICO, a man-made leather which is pleasant to the touch. The Exclusive PASSION leather package features seats, armrests, instrument panel support, door linings, ruffled pockets and a rear shelf in fine leather with contrasting stitching. Alcantara is used for the roof liner and to cover the A-, B- and C-pillars.
Tailor-made high-end sound system
The new Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG sound system tailored to the luxury saloon’s interior is available as a further new feature for the S-Class (standard for S 65 AMG). A combination of 15 loudspeakers and two amplifiers with a total output of 1200 W ensure a thrilling quality of sound from this high-end system. The algorithm of the digital sound processor allows a choice between high-end studio sound and surround sound, and the audio output can be focused exactly on the seat positions of the driver, front-passenger, rear seats or the centre of the interior.
Music can be enjoyed on long trips without tiring the listeners, thanks in particular to the dynamic compensation of driving noise: a microphone integrated in the roof lining between the gullwing doors provides a continuous supply of data on the current interior noise level. The digital sound processor analyses all the frequency bands and increases the volume according to the vehicle’s speed – via individual adjustment of each loudspeaker and the different frequency ranges.
Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist
In parallel with the CL-Class, Mercedes-Benz is also introducing two new safety systems for the S-Class which can help to avoid dangerous situations and accidents. When the wheels pass over a broken lane marking, the system activates an electric motor in the steering wheel which triggers brief vibrations – a subtle but effective warning signal. Active Lane Keeping Assist takes effect when the vehicle unintentionally passes over a continuous line to the right or left of the lane. In this case it gently brakes the rear wheel on the opposite side of the vehicle to counteract the drift away from the lane. Active Lane Keeping Assist employs the ESP® electronic stability programme for this purpose.
Active Blind Spot Assist is now available as a further new feature for the S-Class. This system warns the driver by means of a red signal in the glass of the exterior mirror when it detects that changing the lane may lead to an accident. Close-range radar sensors scan the area directly alongside and behind the car for this purpose. If the driver ignores the warnings and a vehicle in the neighbouring lane comes dangerously near – when cutting in after overtaking, for example – gentle corrective braking intervention will take place via ESP® on the wheels on the opposite side of the vehicle. This results in slight yawing of the saloon around its vertical axis as a result of the varying brake force distribution.
Where an accident is nevertheless unavoidable, braking intervention by Active Blind Spot Assist helps to reduce the severity of impact. Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist are available for the S-Class now as part of the Driving Assistance package PLUS.
