Benz plots S-Class invasion

Almost every variant of the expanded Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury limousine range is under consideration for Australia, including the extra-long-wheelbase limousine commonly referred to as the ‘Pullman’, which will replace the defunct Maybach brand.

The new range, when it is completed by the Rolls-Royce rivalling extended-wheelbase luxury model by 2016, is expected to comprise four sedan wheelbases, the production version of the S-Class Coupe concept revealed at the Frankfurt auto show this week and an S-Class convertible.

Making the mix even more complex will be a dizzying array of drivetrain choices including petrol, diesel, three different hybrid variations and the choice of rear-wheel drive or 4MATIC all-wheel drive.

Hot tuner AMG will overlay that lot with a group of higher-performance cars.

Asked if Australia would take all six variants of the new S-class, MBA/P Managing Director Horst von Sanden wasn’t prepared to rule any out.

“I wouldn’t put a number on how many of those variants we will take, but we would see a great deal of potential in the range for us,” he said.

“We believe with the S-Class we have additional opportunities we didn’t have in the past. I have created a term for that -- guilt-free luxury.

“Some customers might have held back with S-Class because they might have thought it might be a bit ostentatious or they felt a responsibility to the environment, which they thought they wouldn’t necessarily have with the S-Class.

“I think today you can have an S-Class for everyone, for the passionate green supporter who wants to do the best for the environment with a 3.0L/100km plug-in hybrid, and you have a very efficient top-end S 63 high-performance car and we have everything in between.”

The first of the sixth-generation S-Class models, the S 350 CDI, S 500 twin-turbo V8 and the S 63 AMG – also launched at Frankfurt -- go on sale in late October. A petrol V6 model is also expected before the end of 2013, although it could be either the S 350 or S 400.

The four-cylinder diesel-electric S300 BlueTEC HYBRID isn’t certified for Australian sales as yet, but is looking good for a late 2013 launch because of the strong reception given to the E300 BlueTEC HYBRID fitted with the same drivetrain. Every S-Class sedan bar the short-wheelbase hybrid should be available in both wheelbases.

“We were positively surprised with the start of the E-Class (hybrid). So there is obviously a market for hybrid in Australia and that is good to know and we will see what we can do with the S-Class,” von Sanden said.

Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific is also hoping the S 500 Plug-In Hybrid – also making its global debut at Frankfurt -- will be offered in right-hand drive and calibration issues that stymied the B 200 Electric Drive are overcome, allowing the 3.0L/100km limo to come here.

In a roundtable with Australian journalists at Frankfurt, Benz’s research and development chief Dr Thomas Weber promised that both issues would be dealt with, although he stressed MBA/P had to deliver a business case for the PHEV that stacked up. The third S-Class hybrid, the petrol-electric S 400, has been ruled out for Australia.

The coupe, which drops the CL badge, is expected to arrive in the second quarter of 2014. An S 500 V8 and S 600 biturbo V12 will be accompanied by the AMG S 63 V8 and S 65 V12. The convertible is tipped to arrive by 2015.

Australian S-Class pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the word from inside MBA/P is not to expect dramatic rises despite the wave of new technologies – led by a pile of new active safety assistants.

The new S 63 AMG, which mtoring.com.au is driving in Austria this week, will be pitched very close to the old model, which was priced at $392,400.

The long-wheelbase version, which replaces the V12 S 65 L in the line-up, will be pitched below $450,000. The old V12, which retailed for $498,700, has been discontinued due to lack of demand.

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