Category: AutoGyaan

Cars, Bikes, Alternative Vehicles, Air Transport et All

Mercedes Benz offering new Illuminated 3-pointed Star Accessory

Mercedes Benz has offered the 3-pointed star on their vehicles for decades, and it has now evolved into a symbol which goes beyond the idea of brand recognition. The 3-pointed star has come to stand for a guarantee of excellence for the customers of the German manufacturer, one which every Mercedes Benz owner would flaunt with pride.

Well, now Mercedes Benz is making it easier for owners to flaunt their cars with a new accessory. An illuminated 3-pointed star emblem will now be available in a number of Mercedes Benz vehicles including the 2006+ CLS-Class, 2012+ M-Class, 2013+ GL-Class and the 2014 E-Class. A dealer-fitted option, the accessory utilises LED and light tube technology to light up the 3-pointed star in the radiator grille of the car when the car is unlocked, its engine is turned off or its doors or trunk are opened – remaining on for 15 seconds. It does not work while the car is being driven.

If this accessory takes off, expect other OEMs to come up with something similar for their cars soon. Is the illuminated 3-point star accessory cool and classy, or too blingy and garish? Let us know in the comments section.

[youtube id=”Il5-uuSXpDk” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Image courtesy: Mercedes Benz

Video courtesy: mbusa

June 7, 2013
$2.9 Million Pagani Zonda Revolucion packs 800 hp

The hypercar which refuses to die is back for one last hurrah, or so Pagani would like us to believe. We say this since Pagani has announced more than a few models of its most successful car, the Zonda, as the last of its kind. But if this really is it, they’ve definitely saved the best for last. The Pagani Zonda Revolucion is quite simply a Zonda R on crystal meth.

You would think that the Zonda R was pushing the limits with its 740 hp engine, to the point where it wasn’t road-homologated and was only permitted to be driven on race tracks. The Zonda Revolucion has one-upped its older brother, with an evolved version of the same AMG Mercedes 6.0-liter V12 now producing an astonishing 800 hp and 538 ft-lbs of torque. Due to monocoque structure of carbon-titanium, it boasts a curb weight of only 1070 kgs resulting in a mind-boggling power to weight ratio of 748 hp per tonne.

The engine is mated to a 6 speed magnesium transversal and sequential gearbox which Pagani claims can change gears in 20ms. A Bosch-developed traction control with 12 different settings and a new ABS system helps the driver to adapt the behaviour of the car to his liking. Most impressive of all is a Formula 1 style drag reduction system (DRS) on the rear wing.

The system has two different operating modes, both can be activated by the driver at any time. The manual system is controlled with the DRS button on the steering wheel. The rear wing changes between maximum and minimum downforce settings, at the occurrence of a lateral acceleration of + / – 0.8 g and a minimum speed of 100 km / h. Holding down the DRS for more than two seconds engages the DRS to work automatically according to the algorithms developed by the Pagani Automobili engineers during the development phase.

New, ligther and more durable Brembo carbon ceramic brakes take the responsibility of stopping the fastest and most outrageous Zonda ever. Personally signed by Horacio Pagani, the Zonda Revolucion will set you back $2.9 million (Rs. 16.5 Crores before duties).

Image courtesy: Pagani

June 6, 2013
Ford’s 1.0L EcoBoost wins second consecutive Engine of the Year Award

Ford has taken top honors in the International Engine of the Year voting for the second year in the row. As was the case last year, Ford’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost earned the the American automaker the accolade, achieving the highest-ever accumulated score in the 15 year history of the award.

The award is voted on by 87 automotive journalists from 35 countries around the world based on drivability, performance, economy, refinement and the successful application of advanced engine technology. This is only the third time an automaker has managed back-to-back victories. Voters were impressed by the EcoBoost engine’s power output – 123 horsepower between 1,400 and 4,500 rpm, 148 pound-feet of torque from 1,400 to 4,000 rpm. It is also surprisingly compact in size; Ford has demonstrated that the package is small enough to fit in the overhead bin of a passenger airplane.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost will be offered in the Ford EcoSport when it goes on sale in India later this summer. Apart from this, it is offered in the European Fiesta, B-MAX, Focus, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, and Ford plans to put the engine in the Transit Connect, Transit Courier, Tourneo Connect, Tourneo Courier and Mondeo and EcoSport soon. It’s no wonder that Ford is planning on increasing production of the EcoBoost engine at its factory in Cologne, Germany to almost 1000 engines a day from mid-August to meet demand.

The other category winners are listed below:

New Engine
Ford three-cylinder turbo (Focus)

Green Engine
General Motors 1.4-liter range extender (Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera)

Performance Engine
Ferrari 4.5-liter V8 (458 Italia)

Sub 1.0-Liter
Ford three-cylinder turbo (Focus)

1.0-Liter to 1.4-Liter
Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI Twincharger (Polo, Beetle, Golf, etc.)

1.4-Liter to 1.8-Liter
BMW-PSA 1.6-liter turbo gasoline (Mini Cooper S, Peugeot 207, etc.)

1.8-Liter to 2.0-Liter
BMW 2.0-liter twin-turbo four gasoline (125i, 320i, Z4 20i, etc.)

2.0-Liter to 2.5-Liter
Audi 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo (TT RS, RS3 Sportback)

2.5-Liter to 3.0-Liter
BMW 3.0-liter bi-turbo six-cylinder (1 Series M Coupe, 335is, Z4 35is)

3.0-Liter to 4.0-Liter
BMW M 4.0-liter V8 (BMW M3)

Above 4.0-Liter
Ferrari 4.5-liter V8 (458 Italia)

Image courtesy: Ford

June 6, 2013
Mission Motorcycles Launches R and RS Electric Superbikes

Little known manufacturer Mission Motorcycles has announced the launch of two electric superbikes, the R and RS. This means that for about Rs. 17 Lakh (before duties) you can now ride at speeds comparable to 600cc racing bikes albeit using the power of electricity only.

Mission R

Mission Motors was founded in 2007 with the goal of building and selling high performance electric motorcycles. However, when its original design, the Mission One, didn’t achieve enough demand, the company switched to selling electric components and drivetrain development. It was during this time that the idea for the Mission R was conceived, a new entity called Mission Motorcycles was born and now the R and RS have reached the production line.

Mission RS

The motorcycle industry seems to have stagnated, where the biggest headlines are filled with the smallest of improvements. Only by combining the cleanest expression of raw power, provided by an electric powertrain, with the connectivity we’ve come to expect, can anyone truly evolve the motorcycle into the 21st century. And this is precisely our goal.

– Mark Seeger, Mission Motorcycles president

The Mission R comes with an option of 12, 15 & 17 kWh batteries good for 169, 193 and 225 kilometres respectively. It also features fully adjustable Öhlins RT suspension, Brembo monobloc calipers, and Marchesini forged aluminum wheels. The Mission R will set you back a cool $29,999 after federal tax credit (or Rs. 17 Lakh before duties for us here in India). It develops 160bhp, 120lb/ft of torque and can reach over 240 kmph.

Mission R

The Mission RS is a little heavier on the wallet at $60,000 (or Rs. 34 Lakh before duties) but also promises performance to match. The RS is a replica of the bike that set the electric lap record at Laguna Seca in July 2011, while winning the only TTXGP event it was ever entered in and will be limited to 40 units globally. It has the same drivetrain as the R model, but features an Öhlins FGRT fork and BST carbon fiber wheels. It will come with a battery capable of a 225 mile range.

Mission R

The bikes also come with something never seen on a production motorcycle before: an Internet-connected operating system integrating turn-by-turn navigation, an HD video camera with telemetry overlay and integration for wireless HUD. The R will go into production when all 40 of the RS have been delivered.

[Autoblog]

June 4, 2013
Porsche 911 50 Years Edition Is Here

Porsche is celebrating 50 years of the iconic 911 with a special edition version called the 911 50 Years Edition. The 911 50 Years Edition is based on the 911 Carrera S and like the original 911, it is a coupe with a flat-six rear engine and rear wheel drive. However it makes use of the wider body reserved for the 911 Carrera 4 models. It is powered by a 395bhp 3.8-litre engine and comes with either seven-speed manual or PDK. In homage to the year of birth of the 911, only 1963 units will be produced.

Features exclusive to the 911 50 Years Edition include ‘Fuchs’ inspired two-tone 20 inch alloys with matte black details and polished centres. The car comes in two exclusive colours, Graphite Grey and Geyser Grey, apart from black. Other changes include a bespoke vented engine cover as well as choice items from the regular 911’s options list, like SportDesign mirrors, aluminium door sill kickplates, and adaptive xenon headlights.

The interior includes colour-coded instrument dials, green digits and white needles, limited edition badging, brushed aluminium accents and retro designed upholstery on 14-way adjustable seats. A limited-slip differential with torque vectoring and specially tuned Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) are standard to complement its increased track width and to improve upon the excellent cornering dynamics of the 911.

With the seven-speed manual transmission the 911 50 Years Edition can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 4.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 300 kmph. With the dual-clutch automatic ‘PDK’, 100 kmph comes in a quicker 4.3 seconds but goes on to 297 kmph.

June 4, 2013
Facelifted 2014 Toyota Corolla Teased Ahead of June 6th Unveiling

Toyota has revealed teaser photos of the next generation Corolla, which will be unveiled on June 6. The unveiling will take place at a special event in California, USA. Based on the striking Furia concept car showcased at the Detroit motor show in January, the 2014 Corolla has been specifically designed to appeal to a younger audience.

The first and most significant of the teaser images are of the LED headlamps which give us an idea of the overall look of the car. The design does not resemble previous renderings of the car and seems much more aggressive. The current Corolla in India features HID (High intensity discharge) headlights for the top-end models and it seems like this will be improved upon in the new car. The teaser shots also capture 17-inch alloy wheels and a touchscreen audio system. Other images reveal an aggressively designed bumper, and what seems to be a new taillight design.

It is believed the new Corolla will adopt an updated 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine linked to a six-speed manual gearbox or a rather dated four-speed automatic for the lower-spec versions, while a CVT will be available for the more premium variants. It’s scheduled to go on sale before the end of the year and will probably be offered in four trims: base, LE, S and Eco. The interior cabin is set to receive “Softex” leather, push-button ignition and GPS navigation.

June 4, 2013
Auto GP: Karthikeyan Handed Maiden Victory at Silverstone

Narain Karthikeyan scored his maiden Auto GP win on Saturday at Silverstone in the UK after on-track victor Kevin Giovesi was given a one-minute post-race penalty. Driving for team Super Nova, Narain had initially crossed the line second behind the race winner Kevin Giovesi. But Giovesi’s Ghinzai Motorsport team was ruled to have made an illegal pitstop on the 14th lap of the race, which happened to be the last. The series’ sporting regulations state that mandatory pitstops can be made only between lap three and the penultimate lap.

Narain, who started on pole in race 1, had Giovesi and teammate Vittorio Ghirelli shadowing him right from the start. As the race progressed, it became a two-horse race as Karthikeyan and Giovesi carved an eight-second gap over the rest of the field by the mid-way mark. But the Indian driver had managed to keep a safe distance while leading the pack, until he pitted for his obligatory tyre change. The team didn’t have the cleanest of pitstops which resulted in Narain conceding the race lead, which he had held for 11 laps, to Giovesi.

Giovesi then pitted on the following lap and as expected, came out of the pits ahead of Karthikeyan. Despite struggling with some front tyre warmup issues, he challenged the Italian GP2 racer for the lead but Giovesi managed to cross the line three-tenths ahead.

This is what a very happy Karthikeyan had to say after the race:

I’m glad I got my first victory in Auto GP. I immediately found a good feeling with the car on a track like Silverstone and I managed to get the most from the package we had at our disposal.

Earlier this year, Narain didn’t have the best of starts to the season racing with the Zele Racing Auto GP team. He encountered reliability issues and many goof-ups during pitstops which robbed him of opportunities to finish strongly in previous rounds. Due to these reasons, Karthikeyan quit the team and later joined the reigning Auto GP champions, Super Nova for the Silverstone round. It proved to be a smart move as the ex-Formula 1 racing driver dominated the sessions on Friday and Saturday, proving his detractor wrong.

[Top Gear]

June 3, 2013
New Nissan Micra Revealed, To Go on Sale In End-2013

Nissan has officially revealed the facelifted Micra which is expected to go on sale worldwide in late 2013. It seems that Nissan has taken inspiration from its compact SUV, the Juke to style the new Micra with some visual tweaks for 2013.

A Juke-style front grille, new front bumper, triangular fog lights and angular headlights are the main changes. The back of the 2013 Micra shows a new bumper, modified tailgate trim and LED taillights. It can be optionally fitted with 16-inch polished alloy wheels, panoramic glass roof, new paint hues and a park assist system.

Inside medium- and top-spec models, you get a new gloss-black centre console with different air vents, and a bigger infotainment screen (up from 5in to 5.8in). You can spec a parking space measurement gizmo that’ll inform the driver if the gap they’re sizing up is big enough to fit the Micra. There’s also standard USB and MP3 player connectivity, and a redesigned instrument cluster. Nissan has announced the mentioned features for European models so we wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of these features never make their way to the Indian market due to cost-cutting.

Two three-cylinder engines are available: a 79bhp 1.2-litre petrol version, or a supercharged, direct-injection model with 97bhp. There will be a choice of five-speed manual or CVT auto transmission. The Nissan Micra hatchback is the company’s big export volume puller in India and contributes a major fraction to its profit margins. At present, Nissan Motor India assembles the Micra car at its Oragadam manufacturing facility based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

June 3, 2013
Peugeot Testing 208 T16 ahead of Pikes Peak Hill Climb [w/video]

Peugeot has released a new video of the 208 T16 undergoing heavy testing at Mont Ventoux in preparation for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb to be held at the end of this month. The location for one of the most grueling stages of the Tour de France, Mont Ventoux represents the perfect spot to test the car because of its steep terrain and high attitudes which attracted racers as far back as 1902. Using the last six kilometers of the mountain’s summit road, the 208 T16 tested at rather high altitudes for Europe, but with a peak of 6,263 feet, even the barren summit is more than 3,000 feet below the start of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The finish line sits at 14,110 feet, nearly 5,000 feet above the start.

This is what team technical chief Jean-Christophe Pailler had to say:

Okay, the altitude isn’t as extreme here as it is at Pikes Peak which reaches 4,301 meters, but it’s a valuable intermediate step. It allows us to see the differences in the way the engine functions, although we hope to suffer less from altitude-induced power-loss than our rivals because of the turbochargers we have chosen.

The Peugeot team is very confident that they have a car which can not only win the Hill Climb, but obliterate the competition, and they may be right considering that the mid-mounted 3.2-litre V6 power plant produces 875 bhp. It is connected to a six-speed sequential transmission and an all-wheel drive system that enables the 875 kg race car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 1.8 seconds. If that wasn’t enough, Peugeot have 9-time WRC champion, Sebastien Loeb piloting the 208 T16 up the hill.

Watch the video below to see how Loeb gets along with the 208 T16 at Mont Ventoux.

[youtube id=”6sHlBX4KqBM” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Enjoy some pictures of the 208 T16 in its Red Bull race livery, as well as the previewed all-black version.

News source: Car Magazine

Image credit: GTspirit.com

June 2, 2013
2014 BMW X5 Revealed

After months of speculation and spy shots, the 2014 BMW X5 has finally been revealed by the Bavaria based manufacturer. Since its launch in 1999, the BMW X5 has gone from strength to strength and established itself as one of the world’s best SUVs. The third generation is more evolution than revolution as it builds on these strengths, but doesn’t bring about any radical changes.

The new grille, bumper and headlamps are in alignment with BMW’s new direction in style and are reminiscent of the current 3-series and 5-series ranges. The bumper is slightly more aggressive than its predecessor too. A prominent character line runs down the side from the newly designed front apron all the way to the taillights. At the back, the new X5 gets a redesigned tailgate, new taillights and a new bumper with reflectors and twin tail pipes.

The BMW X5 will be available with a choice of three engines. The X5 sDrive 35i comes with a 3.0-litre twin turbo straight six petrol unit producing 300 bhp and 406Nm of torque that can power the SUV from 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. For those looking for extra thrust, the X5 sDrive 50i packs a potent 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 petrol motor putting out 445 bhp and 650Nm of torque, which can propel the SUV from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. An all new 3.0 litre turbo straight six diesel producing 251 bhp and 559 Nm of torque will also be on offer. All engines will be mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. For the first time ever, BMW is offering the X5 with rear-wheel drive on the X5 sDrive 35i (the one with the 3.0-litre petrol engine), and traditional all-wheel drive systems will be available as well.

The 2014 BMW X5 is a classic case of ‘don’t fix it if it ain’t broken’. BMW seems to have figured out the formula to success in the SUV market and are now working to perfect it rather than reinvent it. The 2014 X5 is a well thought out vehicle and should be a worthy successor to the outgoing model.

June 2, 2013
Mercedes Benz A-class Launched at Rs. 21.93 Lakh

The striking Mercedes Benz A-class has been launched in India in two variants, the petrol A180 CGI and the diesel A180 CDI. Representing the younger face of the German auto giant, the new A-class is a breath of fresh air, bringing with it a revamped design and a new outlook to the market. There has been a lot of hype surrounding the smallest and cheapest member of the Benz family, and when it comes to looks, Mercedes has definitely matched the hype.

The A-class is very easy on the eyes. The low and sloping roofline along with the long hood impart the hatch an athletic stance and the ducted rear bumper as well as the diffuser add character to the well sculpted rear end. The new metallic grille flanked by swooping LED headlights are the cherry on top of a sumptuous little treat.

The A-Class range internationally gives buyers a range of models to pick from, but for now India gets just the A 180CGI and the A180 CDI. The petrol A180 CGI is powered by a 1.6-litre unit producing 122 bhp and the diesel A180 CDI features a 2.2-litre powerplant pushing out 109 bhp. Both engines send power to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The diesel A-class reaches a top speed of 190kph while the petrol tops out at 202kph.

The A 180 CGI comes equipped with a panoramic sunroof, black diamond pattern trim seats, contrasting topstitching on the door centre panels and armrests. The instrument cluster comes with silver-finish dials. The car also has 17-inch smoked grey alloy wheels as standard as well as Bluetooth connectivity, seven airbags, an ECO start/stop function, adaptive brakes, Attention Assist system, ESP, bi-xenon lamps, and USB and iPod connectivity.

The large and imposing hatchback may be the cheapest Benz on offer, but at Rs. 21.93 Lakh for the A 180 CDI Style and Rs. 22.73 Lakh for the A 180 CGI Sport(both ex-showroom Mumbai), it may still be quite heavy on the wallet for most Indians, especially for a hatchback.

[Autocar]

June 1, 2013
New Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Puts Out 565 hp

It was recently announced by Aston Martin that they were discontinuing the V12 Vantage model. However it seems that they’re still making it, kind of. This is the V12 Vantage S. It looks mostly like the outgoing V12 Vantage, however the aluminum grille vanes are swapped for carbon fiber or titanium silver mesh inside a grille shell inspired by the CC100 Speedster concept, there are new ten-spoke, 19-inch alloys, the roof goes black and this is the first time customers can spec black pedals.

At its heart is the new AM28 engine, a more evolved species of the 6.0-liter V12 incorporating features like CNC-machined combustion chambers and hollow camshafts. It produces 565 horsepower, a 50-horse increase over the outgoing model, and 475 pound-feet of torque, a boost of 37 lb-ft. Acceleration from 0-100 kmph is expected to come before the four-second mark (down from 4.2 seconds) and it will go on to an astonishing 329 kmph, up from 304 in the base V12 Vantage. The exhaust note is adapted from the One-77 (which is a great thing) and it is now the fastest car Aston Martin makes. In fact, except for the One-77, it’s the fastest road car in the company’s history.

It also marks the debut of a new transmission from Aston: A seven-speed Sportshift III. Sport shift denotes Aston’s sequential gearboxes, which means that there is no manual transmission option. This transmission is very high tech and is 55 pounds lighter than the six-speed manual it replaces. Yes, it can shift quicker than the manual, but the V12 Vantage’s most unique trait is now gone, which will surely upset die-hard loyalists. Other than that, three-stage adaptive damping confers Normal, Sport and Track modes to the suspension settings and alters the amount of power-assist for the steering. A second, independent Sport setting controls gear selection, throttle response and exhaust note.

Most importantly, it still looks the part.

May 30, 2013
BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe Unveiled

BMW’s first team-up with Italian styling house Pininfarina, was revealed in full at the 2013 Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza in Italy in the form of the Gran Lusso coupe. The full-bodied V12-powered coupe is a one-off styling concept for now, but shows the direction BMW could take for a new 8-series coupe, to compete with the Mercedes S-Class Coupe and Bentley Continental GT.

The imposing Gran Lusso is a beautiful concoction of the past, present and future of BMW. It maintains the kidney grille and the Hofmeister kink in the rear pillar, but the strong forward rake of the front end resembles the sharknose BMWs of the 70s and 80s. However the fastback shape is very rarely seen in the BMW lineup and is reminiscent of the BMW CS Concept from 2007. The supersized four-door coupe was intended to go into production as the flagship BMW, but BMW were worried about building a high-end model in the wake of the financial crisis. The concept of a four-door coupe lived on as the 6-series Gran Coupe and CS was left as inspiration for new BMWs like the Gran Lusso.

High-quality materials line the interior include black and tobacco brown leather upholstery from Italian company Foglizzo and lots of wooden accents sourced from a single piece of rare kauri wood native to New Zealand.

All in all, the Gran Lusso Coupe is a very bold and handsome design. The long wheelbase, wide stance and short overhangs add to a very well sculpted exterior. What remains to be seen, is whether this could manifest itself into the rumoured return of the BMW 8-series.

May 30, 2013
CC100 Speedster Celebrates 100 Years of Aston Martin

This is the Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept, and it was unveiled earlier this week at the Nordschliefe, ahead of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. The V12 powered one-off car was designed by Aston Martin to celebrate the company’s centenary, and was piloted around the Nürburgring by Aston CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez. Racing royalty, Sir Stirling Moss drove the 1959 Aston Martin DBR1 alongside the CC100, acknowledging the designers who claim that the CC100 was inspired by the Le Mans winning 1959 racecars.

Aston claims that the two-seat CC100 Speedster was created in under six months time. Powered by the British automaker’s well-known naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 and six-speed sequential manual paddleshift gearbox, 0-100 kmph should be dealt with in four seconds and it should go on to hit 290 kmph. But we all know that Aston Martins aren’t really about power and flappy paddle gearboxes. To reinforce our point, just look at it.

A polar opposite of Lamborghini’s sharp and angular 50th year celebratory model, the Egoista, the CC100 is elegant, smooth and flowing. The long sloping hood, strong haunches, and even the side-view mirror stalks seem to have sacred proportions. The CC100 Speedster Concept isn’t the fastest or the most outrageous car in the world, what it is, is a throwback to the beautiful racecars of half a century ago. What it is most of all, is an Aston Martin.

May 22, 2013
2014 Mercedes Benz S-Class Revealed
If you’re a CEO or a high-ranking government official, your new ride is here. The 2014 Mercedes Benz S-Class has finally been unveiled, with Merc boss Dr Dieter Zetsche, describing it as “the best automobile in the world”. Packed with stunning technology and a completely revamped design, the best of the Benz sedans has managed to improve upon its predecessor massively, and that’s much easier said than done.

The new S-Class reinforces Benz’s new direction in design, taking cues from the new E-Class and CLA-Class. The front has a new, larger radiator grille, flanked by well-shaped feline-like LED headlights. Reception to the new front-end and the LED headlights has been mixed, but we’re leaning towards the positive side with this one. The front fender reminds us of the A-Class with an aggressive bottom end. Distinct character lines run down the sides and the sloping roofline makes another appearance here, along with sharp taillights. All in all, Mercedes Benz has maintained the elegance of the S-Class with wholesale changes resulting in a pleasing, simplistic design.

As always the new S-Class features the best and newest technology Merc’s engineers have developed over the last few years. With luxury nearing that found in a private jet, and technology like that of a fighter jet, the new S-Class comes with a very fair share of goodies, not limited to the following:
- The cabin gets two 12.3-inch TFT screens for the instrument cluster and the navitainment, a touch-sensitive telephone keypad, rear climate control with two more zones, access to infotainment media from any seat in the car – rear seat passengers can even see the Google Maps display to make sure the driver is going the right way
- Roughly 300 LEDs in the cabin offer seven hues, five dimming levels and four dimming zones will be standard and the LED brake lights dim at night or while waiting at lights so as to be kinder on the eyes of drivers behind
- Five different options in rear seating, the uppermost of which offers a backrest that reclines nearly 45 degrees, does so independently of the bolster, and has calf support and a heel rest. Get the First Class Rear package and avail yourself of a console that allows control of the center console from the rear, and thermally-controlled cupholders
- Magic Body Control that uses stereo cameras to scan the road surface and adjust the suspension in advance of road imperfections
- Massaging seats based on the “hot stone principle” for front and rear using 14 cushions in the backrest and six massage programs
- An Air Balance Package that ionizes and filters the air and emits five choices in fragrance
- Grouped under “Intelligent Drive,” the next generation of features like Active Parking Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Night View Assist Plus, Distronic Plus with Steering Assist, Brake Assist Plus with Cross-Traffic Assist, Pre-Safe Brake with pedestrian recognition
- A Warmth and Comfort package with heated steering wheel and armrests, seats with active ventilation, and power heated rear seats with memory
The 2014 S-Class will be offered with a choice of four engines, including two hybrids – the S 400 petrol and S 300 BlueTEC diesel. The conventional petrol and diesel models badged S 500 and S350 BlueTEC respectively complete the lineup. Powered by a 449bhp 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8, the S 500 is by far the fastest, covering 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds, while the S 300 BlueTEC Hybrid combines a 201bhp 2.1-litre diesel engine with a 27bhp electric motor for a combined fuel economy of 64mpg and CO2 emissions of 115g/km. AMG models are expected to be announced in the coming year as well.

Ever since Daimler-Chrysler announced the discontinuation of the Maybach brand, the S-Class has assumed the mantle of being its most luxurious offering. The 2014 S-Class is really tough to fault, with a majestic presence, efficient German engineering under the hood and the interior worthy of a Rolls-Royce. Everyone may not love the look of the new S-Class, but there’s no doubting that it still is one of the best cars available in the market today.
May 16, 2013