2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Readies for Battle of Upgraded Flagships

HAVERHILL, MASS. (08/02/2012)(readMedia)-- With a redesigned 2013 Lexus LS and a refreshed 2013 BMW 7 Series both hitting the market this year, Mercedes-Benz appears ready to pull out all the stops with its upcoming sixth-generation S-Class. Due in the first half of next year, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is shaping up to be one of the flagship sedan's most significant redesigns yet and is expected to feature a variety of body styles that are each packed with new technology.

According to a report from Automobile magazine, the next-gen S-Class will likely be available in at least seven variants, including sedan and four-door coupe trims as well as convertible and six-door Pullman-style limo versions. A new modular Mercedes Rear Architecture will be lighter and stronger than the current rear-wheel-drive platform, featuring a four-link front suspension that separates steering and braking forces from the load on the springs and shock absorbers. Though a new family of six-cylinders is slated for Europe later in the S-Class' cycle, it is not yet known which engines will make it into the U.S.-spec models.

"Even if the 2014 S-Class were to keep the dynamic V6, V8 and V12 engines offered now, the changes to the chassis and suspension already point to a more dynamic and fuel-efficient vehicle," said James Buckley, general manager of Smith Motor Sales, a Haverhill, MA Mercedes-Benz dealer. "It is a big deal anytime an automaker redesigns its flagship sedan, and Mercedes-Benz's ambitious reworking of the next-generation S-Class show that it's well aware of the importance of the model to its lineup."

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class will receive a new dashboard that serves as an extensive control center, housing two large monitors, programmable instruments, a head-up display and expanded voice-control and gesture-control functionality. Intuitive technology extends outside the car as well, with dynamic LED headlamps, a new camera-based Magic Body Control dampening system and an updated active cruise control that can safely complete lane changes and passing maneuvers.

Mercedes-Benz recently unveiled another technology that is aimed at improving safety: its new Beltbag seatbelt-mounted airbag. Reported by Inside Line to be slated for debut in the 2014 S-Class, the Beltbag helps reduce the risk of injury to rear passengers by inflating to roughly three times its regular width during a frontal collision. That added surface area distributes the force more evenly to the passenger's chest, lessening the likelihood of injury from the belt during a crash.

As is, current 2012 and 2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class models already offer customers a dedicated suite of available safety technologies. The vehicle's PRE-SAFE system uses sensors to detect a potential collision, then it tightens front seatbelts and adjusts front head restraints to provide optimum protection. Meanwhile, DISTRONIC PLUS with PRE-SAFE Brake technology incorporates radar to identify slowed or stopped traffic ahead, prepping the brakes for full pressure or even automatically engaging them should the driver fail to respond.

"The existing S-Class is already at the forefront of proactive and reactive safety, and the next generation will build upon those technologies in addition to adding new ones," Buckley noted. "It takes a lot of time and money to develop technologies like the Beltbag, but drivers of S-Class and other Mercedes-Benz models can take comfort in knowing they have the most cutting-edge safety features available."

About Smith Motor Sales:

For more than 75 years, Smith Motor Sales has brought Mercedes-Benz ownership to customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Smith Motor Sales has remained an elite Mercedes-Benz dealer throughout the years through their commitment to customer service and their wide selection of new and used Mercedes-Benz vehicles, as well as their expert service and parts staff. Browse their inventory online at www.smithmercedesdealer.com, stop by their showroom at 420 River Street in Haverhill, Massachusetts, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SmithMercedes, or reach them by phone at 978-372-2552.