[parrys]

The Mercedes S-Class has been launched in India at a price of 1.575 crores ex-Delhi:

• This S500 S-Class is what Mercedes calls a "Launch Edition" car. It is a limited edition that will have a few optional add-ons included by default.

• The first allotment of 125 cars sold out in just 16 days from the announcement. Bookings are now open for the next S-Class batch, which will be delivered to customers in April 2014.

• The S500 has a 4.6-liter Petrol V8 under the hood. 0-100 comes up in 4.8 seconds.

• 453 BHP @ 5250-5500 rpm & 700 Nm @ 1800-3500 are pushed to the road via a 7-speed automatic transmission.

• The more popular diesel and petrol versions (smaller engines) will launch later in 2014. India only gets the long-wheelbase (LWB) version of the S-Class. No specific dates or pricing have been mentioned as yet.

• The W222 S-Class provides a host of features, a few of which are: 100% LED lighting (no filament bulbs used anywhere), 'hot stone' massaging function, Burmester's 24-speaker audio system, in-car wireless hot-spot, mobile app to control car settings, 360-degree surround camera and more.

• On the safety front; ABS, ESP, 8 airbags, PRE-safe and a host of other safety tech are provided.

• For the rear-seat passengers, the 'Chauffeur package' can give you the ability to move the front passenger seat forward, creating 77 mm of additional leg-room for the rear seat.

• Mercedes will also be providing complimentary "Chauffeur training" to help acquaint chauffeurs with the car and its various functions. Nice touch.

• For an in-depth look at the S-Class and all its features, check out our full preview here

[parrys]

The wheelbase is the same as the previous gen S-Class (3035 mm for the Long-Wheelbase variant we get in India):


The tail lamps have an upmarket Maybach / Bentley feel to them:


Rear view. The 'Launch Edition' is only available as the S500 version:


Wide smiling grille, with the pop-up star at the top (the other Mercedes models have done away with the pop-up star):


Full LED headlamps with DRL strip:




19" 5x2 spoke wheels on the 'Launch Edition' model. Expect smaller wheels on the other models when they arrive:


Large sunroof slides back over the roof, rather than into it:


ORVMs have inbuilt indicators. The bulge at the bottom is the housing for one of the cameras for the 360-degree view:


This housing is for 3D forward facing cameras and other sensors. Unfortunately laws prevent the use of radar-based functions in India rendering most of the safety gizmos unusable:


Another housing for a forward-facing sensor used by the Distronic system:


Big 4.6-liter V8 of the S500:


The outgoing generation of S-Class:

[parrys]

At the front, Mercedes has kept it clean and simple. The dash is dominated by 2 panoramic 12.3 inch displays:


The 2-spoke steering when seen in isolation might look strange, but in context, it blends in with the cabin just fine:


The combination of wood, leather and metal give the wheel a high quality feel:


Despite the analog-dial look, the instrument cluster is actually an LCD screen:


The second 12.3" display is found in the conventional centered placement:


An elegant single line of toggle buttons for the most-used features (e.g. A/C controls), metallic A/C vents and an analog clock:


The cover for the COMAND dial hand-rest flips back to show a phone dialer, which also doubles as a quick access pad:


The seats are large and comfortable, and are packed with tech for the massaging and ventilation features:


Seat controls, memory functions and cooling/heating functions are found on the doorpad:


Lighting, sunroof controls and a tweeter (part of the 24-speaker Burmester system):


Glovebox is...bare! It looks like the 'Launch edition' doesn't get the inbuilt interior perfume system that integrates with the air conditioner:


Center console storage. The lid can open towards the passenger or the driver:


Large and roomy footwell:


The ambient lighting doing its job:


Push button start. Above it are the buttons for night-vision camera, 360-degree parking camera & parking sensor toggle:


You can change the ambient lighting colour (7 options) as well as intensity:


The tweeters on the front doors (with the ambient lighting set to blue):


Mercedes have made use of every inch of space in the car to add to rear passenger comfort. Compared to the outgoing model, there is 14 mm more knee-room:


Individual entertainment screens for the rear passengers:


Each passenger gets their own pair of headphones, so they can listen to different things at the same time:


If you opt for individual rear seats, the center console houses cup holders and a storage box:


The rear door panel also gets controls for seat adjustment, cooling, etc:


Fold out aluminum tables are big and sturdy enough to hold a laptop:


A roof-mounted center speaker between the front & rear sun-roofs:


This cushion is part of the 'Executive seat' add-on package:


A view of the front & rear sun-roofs. The rear sunroof cannot open:


The 510 liter boot is tall enough for medium sized suitcases to be placed inside, standing up:


If you have the key in your pocket, you can swipe your foot under the rear of the car, and the sensor (next to the exhaust on the left) will detect it and open the boot:


The home-audio systems from Burmester's range of audio equipment:


Colour & interior material samples on display:

[Rosso Corsa]

So many Mercs in here, where do I begin?




(Not my pic)

[yashcosmos]

Like a lot of others, this car has been the car I would want to buy someday, and hope it happens for real.

Though not a Super car, I wish the new S-class makes it way to the 12th Jan event in Mumbai, too much to ask for? :-P

[e2p]

I remember the first time I saw an S class. I and my friend were riding on a Bajaj Super. The Merc was going very slow and we tried to overtake the car. Suddenly the driver accelerated and we couldnt take a good look. So we went behind (actually in search of, as it disappeared) the car for a few miles and finally saw it parked. Amazing it was and amazing it is still.

[cityvic]

Calcutta Price for the S500 Launch Edition

[Octane_Power]

Total Drool Maal and truly The Chariot of Gods.
Now since it is officially launched, I sincerely hope for a T-BHP comparo of the new A8L, the new S-Class and the 7'er.

-Bhargav

[Gannu_1]

Everything looks business class for a 1.5 crore car except this:



Looks like an eyesore and completely out of place IMO. I felt they should have given the Alu. pedal cluster just like their AMG variants:



(Source: Google Images)

Or perhaps these are aimed for those CEOs who prefer to be chauffeured? Regardless, thanks for the launch event coverage!

EDIT: In Rehaan's preview, the Alu. pedals are visible on one snap:

[GuruGautham]

Sold 125 units of a 1.5 crore rupee car in just sixteen days!! Thats seriously impressive. looks like 2014 will be merc's year

[v12]

You have to hand it over to Mercedes to make "The best car in the world" even better. The dashboard looks so much simplistic and functional - yet manages to feel luxurious. Glad to see they lost a lot of buttons - compared to the W220 model.

Mercedes cars are one of the most safest cars in the world - they have lot of safety features for the passengers - airbags, curtainbags and a host of electronic features. But I couldnt help noticing these rear seat comforts - the shelf / foldable tables - in the unfortunate event of a crash - dont these items pose a threat to the rear passenger?

[ecenandu]

Originally Posted by parrys

The Mercedes S-Class has been launched in India at a price of 1.575 crores ex-Delhi:

Does the launch edition have 'Magic body control'.

[316kmph]

Originally Posted by ecenandu

Does the launch edition have 'Magic body control'.

Heard there is no magic body control for India since it uses certain Radio Frequencies that is banned for civil use. Source - ACI

[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by v12

I couldnt help noticing these rear seat comforts - the shelf / foldable tables - in the unfortunate event of a crash - dont these items pose a threat to the rear passenger?

Interesting point. Though, i think if the rear seat passengers are buckled up, they probably wont reach the tables?

Originally Posted by ecenandu

Does the launch edition have 'Magic body control'.

Almost all the Distronic based driving assistance systems (as well as MBC which uses radar to constantly calibrate itself) will not be available since the 24 & 72 GHz frequency bands that the S-Class' radar uses are reserved only for military vehicles in India. I wonder if they've been stripped from the 'Launch edition' cars (being S500s), or just deactivated...?

cya
R

[androdev]

Originally Posted by cityvic

Calcutta Price for the S500 Launch Edition

Attachment 1188348

That is an impressive insurance cost, 5% of the ex-showroom price. Around Rs 2,250 per day :-) I am sure even the basic no-frills insurance would be around 2.5% or half of it.

Bangalore has 20% RTO tax, which would be a cool 32L.