gavriil

Now these are new pics that have been shown to focus groups.

The rear is Maybach like according to these guys.

A simpler iDrive system will be there. Brushed aluminim is combined with wood in the interior this time. Hmmm...

LCDs in the back of every seat with DVD players right under the LCD and still on the seat! Wow.

The photo-chromatic panorama roof from the Maybach appears here as well.

They will implement a steering wheel transmission shifter, ala BMW 745…

There were two antennae on the back of the car. Hmmm...

A new feature mounted as a lever to the left of the headlights was ‘night view’ (similar to Cadillac/Lexus night vision).

gavriil

And another look.

ItalianStallion

BADASS. now that looks better.

gavriil

For reference purposes, here is the pics from the other thread I posted.



According to the guys from the focus groups above, the rear of the car does look like the 745's trunk. So the following pic from the previous thread I posted, is probably accurate.

Crazy Bimmer

ahh the newer pictures are MUCH better!! Thank god!! Some nice toys...car companies are going all out now. WOW.

nate'sCLS

look at the diff. in height compared to the 4x4 lexus

gavriil

4X4 Lexus? That's an LS430.

They had the LS430, the A8 and the 745 there while they were doing the focus groups and everyone liked the Mercedes better, by the way.

About the LS430 here is the news:

Apparently Lexus insiders have admitted that they screwed the design of that car while everything else they did was above expectations. So next year, there will be a HUGE makeover (more than a facelift). It will be a LOT more exciting according to the spies. Also, it will take an HP bump and it will be rebadged as the LS500. That does not necessarily mean the engine will go to 5 liters though. I am guessing 335 HP.

Zoot

Nate is just implying that the LS430's height is so high, it looks like a 4x4...

gavriil

If that's the case....sorry mate...er...Nate.

shaHn78

gavriil

For whatever is worth, Toyota is much larget than BMW and Mercedes' car unit (not counting Chrysler). Of course, if you look at it on a Lexuse vs BMW vs Mercedes level, I see what you mean.

Johnny Rad

Gabriel / gavriil - You've got the total inside skinny on hot rides!

What's the deal with the center, vertical line through the dash grate? And what's with stealing BMW's and Acura's double spoke rims? What's wrong with AMG rims?! Hope BMW de-techs their iDrive regardless of MB's new Command Center. Overall, it's a nice light re-style of the current version ... nothing too crazy, but certainly polished up.

As for the current / old S-class, I think it was aged quite gracefully - especially the AMG sport versions.

gavriil

I like the 2003 CLS wheels better actually.

gavriil

Red Nj-s

is that a toyota camry?

bigperson

its es300 from the front and a cadillac from the back, but whatever it is :shakehd:

Awais

worst photoshop ever!

Python2121

disgusting winshield angle

Nicky Pass

I'm not so sure about that ass end!!!

danny25

that's waaay too long, looks like Maybach length.

Rod

What's with the Cadi-ish rear end? They should also keep more traditional Benz headlights.

ItalianStallion

my thoughts exactly.

KavexTrax

haha, my thoughts exactly.

gavriil

Mercedes-Benz is testing its new luxurious S-Class which will make its first appearance in 2005. This new Mercedes flagship will be packed with the latest innovations and have a sleek design.

Sources say that thew 2005 Mercedes S-Class, code-named W221, won't be bigger than the current car.

It will have a longer wheelbase with the front and rear wheels pushed further to the edges. This will result in improved interior space.

Its design will have styling cues of the GST concept car which means that it will look radical different from the current S-Class.

Apparently the Merc will feature a prominent waistline, which will run from the bonnet to the boot underneath the side windows. Auto Express says this will disguise the true height of the boot without destroying the overall elegance.

In the front the it will have new headlights and a flat wide grille. Despite the design similarities with the GST the new S-Class will also have a bit of Maybach design features.

The rear design will be more rounded and will reflect that of the E-Class.

DaimlerChrysler is reserving the most dramatic changes on the next S-Class for under the skin. To challenge the radical BMW 7-series the car will be a showcase for the latest technology.

Merc's first priority with the S-Class is to make it one of the safest cars on the road. Auto Express reports that It will feature an advance protection system known as Presafe II.

Its safety system includes standard pedestrian airbags, which will sense in a split-second if the car is about to hit someone.

This pedestrian airbag will deploy from the grille to cushion the impact.

New technology will also help the 2005 S-Class to prevent an accident in the first place. Mercedes will fit the car with infrared sensors which will alert the driver if the car gets too close to an object.

These sensors will be connected to an on-screen display which will show the driver where a possible collision may take place.

On top of all these safety measure the car will have no less than 16 airbags.

The next S-Class will keep some of the current engines but Mercedes will also introduce two new units. A new 300kW+ 4-litre diesel and a new twin-turbo 6.5-litre petrol engine, with a power output of more than 410kW will be available.

The next Mercedes S-Class will be showed at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show and it is expected that the range-topper will have a price tag of about R1m.

gavriil

I told you that for Europeans, pedestrian safety is getting to be a big deal

gavriil

"300kW+ 4-litre diesel" = 402 HP
"
...and a new twin-turbo 6.5-litre petrol engine, with a power output of more than 410kW" = 550 HP

Zapata

Honda is doing the same thing in Japan. Although nothing like airbags

danny25

that's pretty bad when you got that many dumb ass pedestrians in Europe that you have to build in airbags for them too..... come to think of it, they're probably all American turists.

Red Nj-s

Europe is so liberal, and insane. Airbags for a passenger? Why don't we just make cars out of styrofoam that can't go above 5 mph?

This S-class looks awkward btw.

123

Shut up camaro boy. Why do you have to bring politics into everything? Pedestrian safety is actually a big problem.......for example, Atlanta drivers do not look out for people at all while they are crossing the road (the people have a walk signal).

KCPreki11

Looks like a Big ASS Intrepid.

95gt

sorry got to agree with "camaro boy" on this one. Hitting other cars/people is a driver issue not a car issue. Till american drivers learn to pay attention more, good luck, pedestrians need to play defensively. Man does that seem like a waste of money (bumber airbags). Wonder how much that added to the cost of the car

fahoumh

these pictures don't give much so I'll reserve judgement until I see the final production model

gavriil

Mercedes Benz is less than 18-months away from revealing the next-generation S-Class, even though the current version is still relatively new. The W221-Series range will make its public debut at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, and a CL coupe version will follow about a year later.

Although this car will remain the same length as the current model - so as not to affect Maybach's sales...it's wheelbase is to be extended for greater interior room, with shorter front and rear overhangs. There will be a lot more space in the rear and access will be far easier thanks to larger rear doors. Inside, expect all the latest gadgets such as E-Class sourced multi-contour seats, an electro chromatic glass roof, night vision, a top-of-the-range hifi system from Danish Bang and Olufsen, full multimedia facilities including bluetooth wireless telematics, command driver information & communications systems (controls yet to be finalized), radar-operated speed-sensitive cruise control and emergency braking. There is also the ability to communicate with other cars fitted with the same system, to warn of road conditions ahead. To support all these systems, the S-Class will have a new 42-volt fibre optic network, incorporating a 12-volt starter/generator to run the climate control system effectively from start-up.

Power comes from a variety of direct-injection petrol and diesel units, with the petrol engines featuring the CGI (Charged Gasoline Injection). Initially there will be V8 and V12 engines, including a 500 bhp bi-turbo V12, similar to that in the Maybach. The 3.2-litre 6-cylinder and 4-litre V8 diesels will both get dual supercharges, boosting power to 260bhp and 300bhp respectively. There is still no decision on smaller engines and we may have seen the last of the V6 units in an S-Class. If a less expensive model is required, it may well be a 3.5-litre version of the V8 to compete with BMW's forthcoming unit. All motors will be hooked up to the new G7 transmission as standard. Keeping a watchful eye on proceedings will be the very latest versions of MB's traction control and stability systems. Stopping power is provided by massive 14" fast-cooling ceramic brakes (which are so large, the smallest wheels will be 18").

The only blot on the horizon is styling, which is supposed to remain typical sleek and elegant S-Class, although design features will reflect both the Maybach and the upcoming GST (Grand Sports Tourer, the MPV/4x4 hybrid). The headlamps in particular will resemble the Maybach's, and the high, pronounced waistline is similar to that of the GST's. The big worry is that this car will end up looking like Frankenstein’s monster (NOT!), ala BMW 7-Series. The real difficulty is that at this end of the marketplace, style is everything as BMW have found to their cost. The car is destined to make it's appearance at a few more styling clinics around the world and the rumors are that a bad reception will force some hasty design changes.

Expect to be shocked in the dealers though because even the basic, smaller-engined S-Class will probably be wearing an $85K price sticker.

cusdaddy

I read this obsession in Europe around pedestrian safety is starting to hurt designs as the sleek front ends have to be raised significantly. I think it's good to design for safety, but some of this is going a little overboard IMO

cusdaddy

That's a damn big projector on those headlights on the picture above

Chaptorial

If its goona look anything like that blue one, eh. Those headlights don't look good at all. IMO.

pimpscls

im not feeling it the current one is hotter

gavriil

It's All In The Mind For Merc
By Mat Watson

If you think that the current Mercedes S-Class is well appointed, just check out the gadgets planned for the next-generation car. Unveiled at last week's Tokyo Motor Show, the F 500 Mind has been designed to test a range of exciting new technology for better safety, driving pleasure and comfort on future Mercs.

With its high roof, muscular front wings and bold shoulder line, the car is similar to the forthcoming luxury MPV/off-roader, the R-Class. However, most of its innovations are likely to be reserved for the S-Class flagship.

Power comes from the 240bhp V8 diesel unit available on the current European-spec S-Class, but economy has been improved by 20 per cent by mating this engine to an electric motor that drives the car at low speeds.

And although the newcomer is the same length as the existing S-Class, interior space has been improved by the use of drive-by-wire technology. The absence of mechanical pedals means the front seats can be positioned further forward, giving more rear legroom.

What's more, getting in and out of the back should be easy, thanks to the lack of B-pillars, and doors that open either barn-style or conventionally. In the rear, the Merc has a special foldaway bench, complete with a laptop, so engineers can test their innovations. But when they've finished working, they can watch DVDs or play video games on the low-reflection Plexiglas monitor.

Up front, the cockpit has a raft of features to assist the driver. The centrepiece is the multi-vision instrument screen, which allows the user to decide exactly how important driving information is displayed. It also projects a black and white image of the road ahead when the car's night-vision system is activated. Meanwhile, information for the entertainment and sat-nav systems is displayed on a separate central screen.

These functions can either be operated by a touchpad or through the on-board voice recognition technology. And thanks to a clever device that concentrates sound by the driver's ears, passengers won't be disturbed by traffic info or route guidance announcements.

gavriil

As reported by Autospies, there will be an iDrive-like feature in the next S Class.