Mid-life revisions reflect those of the saloon model; V6 power now available for Coupe version for a lower price point.
In a nutshell, what’s new?
It’s now nip and tuck time for the Cabriolet and Coupe models of the Mercedes-Benz S-class. As part of their mid-life updates, the pair of two-door cars get subtle design tweaks, improved interior features, more driver-assist tech and realigned engine range.
The front ends, for one, received newly designed bumpers with bigger air vents, which incorporate blades in the AMG-look spec. And if you go for either model powered by AMG engines, the front end now sees the Panamericana grille from the GT sports car. At the rear are new lights with OLED (organic light emitting diodes) tech that can glare in different ways.
Inside, the S-class Cabriolet and Coupe get the saloon’s new Widescreen integrating two 12.3-inch digital displays together in one screen. The three-spoke steering wheel is also new.
I thought Mercedes has a new inline-six…
That’s right, and the 3.0-litre inline-six (codenamed M256) has already appeared in the saloon. But even if that 3.0-litre V6 (called M276) is an older development, it’s the first time the S-class Coupe gets anything smaller than a V8. Thus, it provides Mercedes a good chance to dump some old tech somewhere.
Fitted into the S450 Coupe, the twin-turbo V6 produces 367hp and 500Nm to help propel the car from 0-100kph in 5.5sec. As the S-class Coupe sells in larger numbers globally, the decision to extend six-pot petrol power to the S-class Cabriolet has been apparently ruled out.
The other three petrol-turbo engines are available for both of Mercedes’ dream cars. The S650 has 469hp/700Nm 4.0-litre V8 good for a 4.6sec acceleration time. As ever, the cooking AMG models include 612hp S63 (3.5sec) and 630hp S65 (4.1sec), the latter with 6.0-litre V12 block.
Some other new stuff include an improved active suspension that can now scan road surfaces ahead at speeds of up to 180kph and adjust accordingly, and active cruise control that can automatically slow down the vehicle ahead of bends and junctions.
When are they coming to Thailand?
Probably at the end of the year, the same time the facelifted saloon is expected to be launched. While the Thai-built saloon will continue to focus on plug-in hybrid tech, the imported Coupe should focus merely on the S450 to help bring down the price from the pre-facelift S500’s 15 million baht level.
Which would be timely because the Bentley Continental GT, which has just been revamped in new-generation form, is also set to come later this year albeit big hearts costing some 20 million baht.
BMW has also confirmed its participation in this luxury coupe class with the pending 8-series. The Concept 8-series is set to reappear at this month’s Frankfurt motor show, the same place where the new Continental GT and revised S-class Cabriolet and Coupe make their world debuts.
