Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2003 Review

Mercedes-Benz Australia launched the updated S-class in February 2003, five months after its world preview at the 2002 Frankfurt Motor Show. Among the usual smattering of outside and inside styling changes on the 2003 S-class are the news breakers. Two new engines top and tail the range, a 3.7lt V-six and a monster 5.5lt, twin-turbocharged V12. PRE-SAFE, a predictive safety system which prepares the occupants for a crash, makes its production debut.

Visual changes to the exterior of the S-class are most obvious at the front, with a new-look front bumper, clear headlamp covers, a larger radiator grille and changes to the wing mirrors. From the rear the taillights are the only obvious change; more for appearance than function. Alloy wheels are also new to the facelifted S-class.

The Australian range consists of seven distinct models. From the ground up, they are:

Never let it be said that a Mercedes-Benz S-class wants for safety and equipment. All models include driver and front passenger airbags; as well as side airbags front and rear; and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist. Traction control is included in the ESP Electronic Stability Program.

Automatic climate control, electric windows and mirrors, cruise control and central locking are obviously standard, as is COMAND (display screen for audio controls, ready to take optional television and satnav) and electric front seats. Higher-spec models include fans and heaters in the seat to keep you comfortable, as well as an automatic massage setting which uses the adjustable lumbar support to relax your back.

AIRMATIC pneumatic suspension combines with the Merc's active damping system to adjust suspension effort and tuning individually and, on the fly, based on the vehicle's needs. Some models allow the driver to manually select suspension modes between sporty and luxurious. The AIRMATIC system can also raise the vehicle's ride height by up to 25mm, which Mercedes' says is useful on dirt or badly potholed roads.

Next generation safety - crash prediction. A car that can predict a crash and prepare occupants for impact? No, the S-class doesn't list a crystal ball in its specification list, but it does have more computers than an IBM factory. And it's this wealth of data that enables the S-class to identify a potential crash.

PRE-SAFE detects loss of vehicle stability and control through the Electronic Stability Program. Once it has identified that the driver has lost control, it pretensions the seatbelt to reduce occupant body movement. The system will also optimises the position of the rear and front passenger seats for airbag deployment, should it be necessary. And, it also closes an open sunroof to prevent occupants being thrown out, or external objects intruding.

Mercedes accident researchers claim that "in two thirds of crashes there is enough time before the crash occurs to activate PRE-SAFE protection measures". In some instances, they say, this valuable pre-crash window may last several seconds before the point of impact.

PRE-SAFE may for now only be fitted to the S-class range, which starts way above what most people can afford, but history shows that all safety features filter down through the range over time. Both airbags and anti-lock brakes started out on the expensive models, and today we practically take them for granted.

BEHIND THE WHEEL
CarPoint managed to find seat time in both the S350 and S600L at Mercedes' February 2003 launch of the new S-class. We'll be putting the more popular, and more affordable, S350 through our usual week-long test phase shortly. However, we're unlikely to do the same for the S600L given it's relatively limited sales appeal, and the massive tidal wave of new vehicles that will fight for our time this year.

But for those who absolutely must know what it's like to drive the ultimate Mercedes-Benz sedan, here's what Unique Cars magazine had to say about it.

It's easy to be overwhelmed by a vehicle simply because it costs more than the average house. But it helps to remember that all cars must fulfil one simple function, or they have no reason to exist. A vehicle must get you from a place called A to a destination, often refereed to as B.

Of course, some cars do it quicker, some can conquer rugged terrain, others carry more people. And then there's cars like the Mercedes-Benz S-class, which get you there in style, luxury and comfort. Hedonistic pampering that even the most decadent Roman emperor couldn't buy.

It doesn't get any more opulent, exorbitant or extravagant than the Mercedes-Benz S600L. At $349,900, the 5.2m mobile boardroom is the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz's passenger car line-up, at least until the Maybach arrives - though technically that's not a Mercedes.

The mind-shattering S600L arrived in February as part of a mid-life nip and tuck for Mercedes' flagship range. The 1.9 tonne super commuter is powered by a state of the art 5.5lt V12 engine with no less than two turbochargers. Peak power is a neat 500hp, 368kW in the new money, and talk about torque: try an unprecedented 800Nm on for size. Enough to pull Tasmania back to the mainland.

On the road, there's nothing the S600L can't conquer. The ridiculous torque curve - which peaks at 800Nm between 1800-4000rpm, and never falling below 600Nm - makes a mockery of steep hills, ironing them out with the merest shrug on the throttle. Try this little comparo on for size: against Ford's torquey new 5.4lt GT, the Benz has 50 percent more.

Idiots - like us - can turn off the various driver aids and delight in ludicrous ease with which the big Benz breaks traction. Of course, the ESP light may tell you it's off, but it's not really - the trigger threshold has just been raised. And that's probably a good thing when you're risking $350,000 of someone else's motoring metal.

Don't expect knife-like corner cutting; we're talking about a luxury limo, remember. The S600L is surprisingly light on its feet, however, and much of the thanks goes to the Airmatic suspension, which controls and adjusts the dampers in combination with the air suspension. The system can raise or lower the ride height, adjust the springing resistance and modify damper force to provide the most sporty ride possible, or the most luxurious.

The new S-class can now predict an imminent crash, and take steps to maximise occupant safety in those vital seconds before impact, thanks to a new PRE-SAFE safety system. The system, which uses vehicle dynamics sensors to tell if the driver has lost control, pretensions the seat belts, adjusts all seats (bar the driver's) into the optimum airbag ready position, and closes the sunroof to prevent intrusion.

Also new to the 2003 range is the 3.7lt V-six powered S350, available in short or long-wheelbase bodies. Merc fans will pick the modified Benz grille, redesigned headlights and taillights, and clear indicator reflectors on the mirrors. Prices for the 2003 S-class range start from $175,900.