The Strong, Silent Type
The S-Class is available with a range of V-8 and V-12 engines that produce from 382 horsepower in the V-8 S550 up to 604 hp in the ultimate-bragging-rights sedan: the S65 AMG with a twin-turbo V-12. In between are the S600 with its 510-hp, twin-turbo V-12 and the S63 AMG, which has a 518-hp V-8 under its hood. These are pretty heady power figures for a full-size luxury sedan, but not counting the AMG versions they're relatively similar to what competitors from Audi, BMW and Jaguar offer; big horsepower is a prerequisite in this class.
Even if you choose the "base" S550 with its 5.5-liter V-8, you're still going to be in for a performance treat. This V-8 engine is what you might call a strong, silent type; it's powerful and makes this big sedan lunge forward when you mash the gas pedal to the floor. Mercedes-Benz cites a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.4 seconds for the S550, which is stunning considering the sedan's 4,465-pound curb weight. The more powerful versions are quicker still, with times in the mid- to low-4-second range. That's Chevrolet Corvette territory.
The S550's V-8 drives a seven-speed automatic transmission that, like the engine, performs in a purposeful, quiet way. In many cars you feel when a shift occurs, but in the S550 the only hint that it's happened is when the V-8 gets even quieter with the drop in engine speed. The transmission includes Mercedes' Touch Shift clutchless-manual mode, which lets you select gears by pressing buttons on the back of the steering wheel.
Gas mileage for the S550 is more like what you might expect for a full-size SUV; the rear-wheel-drive S550 gets an EPA-estimated 14/21 mpg city/highway, but with the optional 4Matic all-wheel-drive system it drops slightly to 14/20 mpg. Not surprisingly, it's even lower — 11/17 mpg — if you choose the S600 or one of the AMG models. Most typical car buyers would see this as a significant negative, but here the frequent visits to the gas station are likely to be nothing more than a slight inconvenience for the owner of one of these six-figure cars.
See also:
Adjusting the four-way lumbar
support
You can adjust the contour of the front seat
backrests individually to provide optimum
support for your back.
1. To raise the backrest contour
2. To soften the backrest contour
3. To lo ...
Showing/hiding the menu
To show: press the button on
the
remote control.
or
Select Menu while the navigation menu is
shown and press the button to
confirm.
To hide: press the button
and confirm
Full Scre ...
Important safety notes
WARNING
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely
affect handling and fuel economy, and are
mo ...