Six-variant Mercedes S-Class range for Oz

Mercedes-Benz expects to introduce its new W222 S-Class range -- first interior images of which were revealed last week -- to Australia late in the fourth quarter this year.

While that much is known, the S-Class jigsaw puzzle remains far from complete. Indeed, the global launch of the company's flagship model range is still some months away – in May – and the exterior of the redesigned Benz flagship is yet to be officially revealed.

The precise complexion of the Aussie-spec cars won't be established until around July, says Jerry Stamoulis, Head of Corporate Communications for Mercedes-Benz Australia. There are some glimmers of information appearing in the crystal ball, however.

“From what we've been told, there will be six variants,” Stamoulis told motoring.com.au while attending the launch of the new CLA.

“At this stage nothing's confirmed as to what we'll take. Obviously we'll take short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase... as for other models, one, we don't have all the details, and two, we can't talk about what may be coming.

"What has been confirmed is that there will be something that will replace the Maybach.”

Stamoulis declined to confirm the new, extra-long-wheelbase S-Class successor to the Maybach range would be named Pullman.
?“As an official name that hasn't been confirmed, people are throwing around the word 'Pullman', but... I don't know – there will be a replacement for the Maybach.”

Whatever it will be called in the market, the vehicle is internally classified as V222 – according to an engineer who worked on the development program and was present for a tech day outlining the features of the new car's interior. That code indicates it's a very long wheelbase model in the W222 generation.

V222 would be one of the six variants Stuttgart has told Mercedes-Benz Australia to expect for the local market. Along with the short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase sedans Benz Australia has confirmed are definitely coming, that makes three of the six variants.

The S-Class Coupe and Cabriolet would make two more, taking the total to five – but Stamoulis steered talk away from the two-door models, which will be formally part of the S-Class range, unlike the current CL and SL models they will succeed. The sixth variant Stuttgart has told Australia will be sold as part of the range is a mystery, even to Stamoulis.

“I don't know if it's been confirmed globally as to what it will be. As far as we're concerned, regardless of what has been spoken about, we'll be interested in every model that comes out of the S-Class variants. I'll be very surprised if we don't take something, but most likely that will be because it won't be built in right-hand drive. But we haven't been told that there is. Everything will be built in right-hand drive also.

“As for a coupe or any other variants, there's nothing new at this stage. There might be more information when the car's premiered, but there's nothing that we have that we can communicate.

“It is at the point where we don't have that information right now; what we're concentrating on [is] short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase – locally – because we're still far from confirming spec.

“What we would like to do is offer everything we can to that end of the market. If there are six available to us well then we'll most likely take six.”

And the six variants for Australia are official.

“Yes, they said that today,” Stamoulis confirmed.

Could the sixth variant be something really out of left field – like a CLS-style sedan or Shooting Brake for the S-Class? If it were an S-Class variant to follow the two-door models, we might not see spy pics of such a model for another several months. Stamoulis felt such a vehicle would be unlikely.

“I wouldn't rule anything out, but it's not something I know about at this stage,” Stamoulis responded; he was unconvinced a Shooting Brake based on the S-Class platform could be justified from the perspective of return on investment.

The CLS Shooting Brake, he explained, isn't being sold in North America, so an S-Class Shooting Brake would be even less likely to sell in numbers sufficient to justify its development.

The Benz spokesman suggested that the sixth variant might refer to AMG models, at least one of which will be available to Australian buyers in V12 form.

“AMG will continue building the V12 – and V12 will be offered [in the S-Class],” he said.

On the subject of powerplants, what about four-cylinders and hybrids that have been mooted for Australia?

“We'll have more information come July, at the international launch, but at this stage it's very early, even in May,” Stamoulis replied.

The lack of information available for the new S-Class has an impact on what Benz can reveal about pricing for the new car too.

According to Stamoulis, M-B Australia is actively pursuing a strategy, as far as possible, to have safety equipment – and some comfort and convenience features – offered as standard for Aussie buyers. Without full agreement on the drivetrain variants to be offered, however, pricing adjustments are not set in concrete.

Unlike the recently upgraded E-Class though, pricing of the S-Class will not be contingent on the engines fitted, to the same degree.

“It's very difficult, because we also haven't finalised the engine spec, so E-Class engines are more critical to the pricing than S-Class [engines are]. We're still finalising engine spec, which plays a role in the price, but that also plays a role in what comes standard,” concluded Stamoulis.

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