Mercedes-Benz coy on further S-Class variants

Mercedes-Benz officials are trying to divert speculation away from what the next three derivatives of their new S-Class will be.

Executives at this week’s global S-Class Coupe launch admitted that three more S-Class-based cars were in the development pipeline, but turned coy when pressed on what models they might be.

“There will be six models from the S-Class and we have launched three of them,” S-Class Chief Engineer Dr Hermann Storp said.

“There are the two S-Class limousines (a standard and long-wheelbase) and now the S-Class Coupe.

“That means there are three more to come. You can speculate all you like about the other three, but we would not correct you if you assume there would be an estate and an SUV.”

Except sources at Mercedes-Benz confirmed there would not be an wagon and there would almost certainly not be an SUV, which Dr Storp suggested might come in the shape of a soft-roader in the style of the Audi A6 Allroad or, indeed, the Benz GLA.

Instead, the sources insisted, there would absolutely be a convertible version of the S-Class Coupe, which will wait until late in 2015 to carry the S-Class Cabriolet nameplate.

There will also be an extra-long-wheelbase limousine, which will draw its inspiration from the previous S-Class Pullman (pictured), favoured by dictators and military strongmen around the world in the 1970s and 1980s.

There is speculation this may take the form of a three-row limousine, though sources suggest it’s more likely that seating arrangements will be relatively liberal, like in the Viano van.

Our source went on to insist the seating options would include a conventional front row, a centre row of rear-facing captain’s chairs and forward-facing rear captain’s chairs.

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