NEW DAIMLER S CLASS FOR 2018

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Benz’s plutocrat barge will be the first model to house some of the company’s new generation of inline six-cylinder engines, although those won’t be coming to the U.S. until later. We will get a new entry-level S-class, to be called S450, that will employ the M276 twin-turbocharged V-6 as found in today’s GLS450 and the SL450, where it’s rated at a generous 362 horsepower. To put it into perspective, that’s just 27 horsepower short of the iconic 6.0-liter V-12 launched in the W140 S-class. Europe, by contrast, will see the new and tech-laden M256 3.0-liter straight-six, rated at “over 402 horsepower” and employing an electric turbocharger, a large exhaust turbocharger, and an integrated starter-generator. While it won’t be offered in the U.S. initially, we expect to see it migrate to our market over the next few years. Mercedes-Benz V8-Biturbo-Benzinmotor, M176 ; Mercedes-Benz V8-biturbo engine, M176; Those who think that the prestige of an S-class demands the extra power and cylinder count of a V-8, the smallest engine available today, should watch for a variation of the M176 4.0-liter V-8 (shown above), which was developed by AMG but is slated to replace the current S550’s 449-hp 4.7-liter eight-cylinder in Benz-badged models, too. It will employ a cylinder-deactivation system to operate as a V-4 under low- and medium-load conditions, and it will be far more fuel-efficient than the outgoing engine. Moreover, we hear it will wear a nameplate that should please the traditionalists among Mercedes-Benz owners. Both the six- and eight-cylinder engines will be mated to Benz’s own nine-speed automatic transmission. Beyond those innovative powertrains, we expect the S600 to continue with its awesome 523-hp 6.0-liter V-12. The S550e (photo below) will likely remain unchanged for a while mechanically, but should share in the exterior and interior updates coming for the 2018 model year. 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 plug-in hybrid As to the high-powered AMG versions, the AMG S63 will move to a version of AMG’s own M176 4.0-liter V-8 in place of its current 5.5-liter V-8. And the AMG S65 keeps its brutal 6.0-liter V-12, rated at 621 horsepower. Beyond the new powertrains—don’t expect any of Europe’s awesome diesels for the U.S. market—changes are relatively marginal. There will be new head- and taillights, new front and rear fascias, and some new wheel designs. Inside, the S-class will use larger TFT screens in front of the driver, and they will now be visually connected under a common piece of glass. Today’s unusual two-spoke steering wheel will go away in favor of a more conventional design featuring—you guessed it—three spokes. And, as we’ve reported before, the S-class will be playing catch-up with the mid-size E-class in terms of advanced safety and semi-autonomous driving technologies. Dissected: 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-class 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 vs. Highway 401 Mercedes-Benz S-class: Research, reviews, specs, pricing and more! Watch for the new models to appear at dealers in the summer for the 2018 model year. The changes will be mirrored in the V-8– and V-12–powered Maybach derivatives of the S-class. We expect prices will remain close to those on the current S-class, which range from $97,525 to $173,375 in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, with the exception of the new S450 base model, which should be priced competitively against the six-cylinder BMW 7-series in the low $80K arena. The performance-oriented Mercedes-AMG models can be appreciably more expensive. 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