Full luxury pack: The new Mercedes S-Class Test

What matters is what really counts: The already knew Helmut Kohl, in his avowed S-class users, but preferably in the passenger seat. Perhaps the former chancellor would change in the luxury Mercedes reprint in the rear. There namely future plays the music in the series 222. The focus of the development internally V 222 called long wheelbase version was more with 13 centimeters. A concession to the export markets, where the current long version represents up to 70 percent of sales. In other words: The solvente Chinese prefers to sit back. But another goal was in the specifications very top: The new S-Class is to set technical fragrance brands. Just as once, as the previous models ABS, ESP or the airbag made socially acceptable. The best or nothing: If the upper-Benz implement the brand motto?

Well packed two tons
I slip this in the imaginary role of James, the discrete chauffeur. For many years I sit behind the wheel of various S-Class long-wheelbase versions, to drive the difficult boss employed by the world's history. New XL-S-classes are not, incidentally, already at the first official S anno 1972, it was requested a few more inches. Over 40 years later, the long-stretched limousine to 5.25 meters, the width is 1.90 meters. These are a few inches longer than the time of his hotly disputed W 140 of 1991, but about whose great-grandson nobody gets upset. Perhaps it is because the Mercedes designers had a better day and have the new S-class tailored a sporty, elegant dress. The visual impact of the predecessor W 221 is not to be overlooked, at least the car looks less plump than the dimensions suggest. Mercedes is actually proud to have reduced the weight by up to 100 kilograms. Sounds great, but at best, has an effect like once three weeks diet with Helmut Kohl. As a chauffeur I of course still look in the trunk, 510 liters fit into it. To close the lid electrically, however, how many extras for the S-class costs extra charge.

Big Screen
But my boss did not allow for options rags. Taste can not be bought with money of course: The interior of our S-Class shines in a mixture of light leather with shiny silvery ash. Sure I have warned him how fast the dirty. But who pays, is right. And three guesses who can clean everything. So be it, it makes my job little to be desired. I look at two gigantic 12.3-inch screens. Links tachometer and speedometer are artificially animated, between is plenty of space for information of all kinds. Law often takes the Navi-view most of the space, but also on-screen media to be selected or made vehicle settings. For this purpose, located on the center console, a large rotary control / push button, it is post direct selection buttons for the main functions. But I can tell you that were working overtime due to go through all the items of the menu. Some getting all it needs, when many extras on board. Some things are new even for me: heated armrests in the doors about. Or the heat distribution of the seats. Additional scenting the indoor air or a massage? Doable. At the material selection and processing in the cockpit there is nothing wrong. But wait, there are two things I've noticed: the cheap automatic selector lever I know from the A and B-Class, also the glossy black border around the instrument display also looks not exactly sparkling.