We used to call the previous W140 as the best car in the world. (In then, it was not yet called "S-class") However, in terms of profitability it was never that successful. Ruled by the engineer's heart rather than accountant's brain, development cost resulted in double of the original budget to 1 billion pounds, making the W140 project inherently a loss. Sales no. also reflect the unsuccessful story of the W140, partly because of high price, partly because of its heavy weight, environmental unfriendly image. 

Having learned from this lesson, Mercedes created a very different car, W220, to substitute the W140. The first to be changed is the size of the car. Having seen the success of Lexus's LS400, which outsold all Germany luxurious sedans in the US, Mercedes made the new S-class to be much smaller than its predecessor and runs much closer to the mainstream rivals. Length / width / height have been reduced by 55 / 31 / 41mm. Furthermore, via using high strength steel, all-alloy engines and discarding the double glazing in the windows, the Foreman becomes Holyfield. Long wheelbase version of S500, for example, weighs 1855kg instead of the previous 2150kg, this means a reduction of 300 kg ! For comparison, Lexus LS400 weighs 1830kg, while BMW 750il weighs 2140kg. And of course, Holyfield is more nimble, eat less and win matches more comfortably.  

Gone is the concert hall-like cabin. The tilter windscreen and rear window make occupants subjectively feel their head room more restricted. In fact, those room was too BIG in the past and was never very useful. Similarly, the width of the old car was excessive. Occupants other than dressed-up American Footballers never need so much shoulder room. On the contrary, it just made your passenger felt lonely. The new car just reduces those useless space to achieve size and weight reduction. There are more sub-products, for examples, tilter windscreen and rear window contribute to the remarkable 0.27 drag coefficient (equals E240 and Lexus LS400), smaller dimensions contributes to the 40% increase of chassis rigidity thus benefit handling and ride, at last, a sleeker exterior styling can be implemented.  

Many magazines praised the technology used in the W220, however, I'm not completely agree with them. There are really many "electronic" blah blah blah, but most of them are not new items nor significant technology breakthrough. For examples: 

• AIRmatic air suspensions : use air-filled dampers to provide adjustable damping rate and ride height. Range Rover is using this for sometime.
• CCS cylinder cutoff for 5.0 V8 : to save fuel when the engine is running at light load, 4 of the cylinders will be cut off, others' ignition and injection timing will be adjusted to keep the engine running. Claimed to save 7-15% fuel. This is not a new concept, GM and Mitsubishi had tried it in before. After all, is it really important ? You pay the price of a V8 for a 4-cylinder ?
• Distronic and Speedtronic : a cruise control which keep distance from the cars in front and in behind via using radar. Not a big breakthrough.
• ESP stability control : already applied to many other cars.
• BAS brake assists : also many cars have it now.

The engines are the "3-valves" series already used in C-class and E-class. As said a thousand times, they shifted back to 3-valves configuration in order to pass the Euro2004 emission regulations. Smaller surface area of the single exhaust manifold quicken engine warm up thus reduce cool start pollutant. 90 degree V-angle was chosen to optimize the V8, thus the 3.2 litres V6 is added with balancer shafts. Variable-length induction manifold and variable valve timing are adopted to ensure the torque spread uniformally over a wide range of rpm. 

Due to the improved torque curve and reduced weight, all models become faster and more frugal. The S500 has been tested to take just 6.2 sec for completing 0-60mph, 15.1sec to 0-100mph. This is the fastest ever achieved by this class of cars. Who need those V12 monsters ?  

Rack and pinion steering replaces the long-serving recirculating ball. The result is improved steering feel and reduced cost. S-class still handles less good than the 7-Series. Not just in terms of steering but also in body control. But the gap is narrower than ever. What it overshadow rivals are the effortless performance married with the supple ride from the adaptive air suspensions, the smooth and quite engines and the class-leading built and comfort.  

Spacious cabin (compare with rivals instead of the W140) aside, you can hardly complain with the seats and the equipments. You might have seen a massager-incorporated seat in Infiniti, what about an electrically cooling plus ventilating seat ? 10 electic fan was hidden inside the back rest and cushion, operate to reduce perspiration. The  massager is implemented by the inflation and deflation of air cushions. Build quality and trimming material is first class, making the Lexus looks boring. Like several new cars we've already seen, say, Alfa 166 and Audi A8, the navigation screen also integrates audio control, TV, voice-phone and trip computer. It looks as sophisticated as the car itself.  

Undoubtedly, the S-class is again the best car in the world. 
 

S-class facelift

New S600

Mercedes has already developed a twin-turbo V12 for the Maybach super limousine. It is derived from the current V12, with a pair of KKK turbochargers and intercoolers added. It also uses forged connecting rods and stronger crankshaft to withstand the increased thrust. For the same reason, cylinder walls are thicken, thus reducing bore size by 2mm and therefore total capacity to 5.5 litres. To prevent embarrassing the Maybach, new S600 detuned the engine by using lighter boost pressure (1.0 instead of 1.2 bar), therefore dropping maximum power from 550hp to a still astonishing 500hp. That’s 80 more than its closest rival. However, the biggest advantage lies in torque - thanks to turbocharging - there is a massive 590 lbft delivering from 1800 to 3500rpm, almost 200 lbft more than rivals!! 

Bentley Arnage still produces more torque, but Mercedes S600 is lightweight and always feels faster. In fact, its performance is already in supercar league. Although top speed is again electronically limited to 155mph, Mercedes claims it could reach 191mph if limiter were not used. Acceleration is also supercar-quick: AMS magazine clocked a long-wheelbase S600 doing 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds and 0-100mph in 9.7 seconds. What does that mean? it means you can drive this super limousine alongside Ferrari 360 Modena until 155mph. 

What stun us is that S600 is simultaneously a top-class limousine. Its big-capacity turbocharged V12 is unstressed thus always spins smoothly and quietly, and without any turbo lag. So refined that you might feel Audi’s W12 sportier. Transmission is a strengthened version of the famous 5-speed automatic built by Mercedes itself. What a pity shift quality is no longer top-class when compare with ZF’s 6-speeder used by some rivals. 

To cope with increased performance, Mercedes this time equip the S600 with ABC (Active Body Control) suspensions instead of Airmatic suspensions. ABC was previously reserved for the CL coupe and SL roadster. It keeps S600 stable in cornering. But don’t forget that S-class has an inherently brilliant chassis - ride quality is first-class while handling is agile. This is the world’s best luxurious car. Now who need a Bentley or a Maybach? 

S350

S55 AMG

AMG may argue that their car is sportier, thanks to the fact that it can be ordered in short-wheelbase form while S600 is only available with LWB. The V8 is also lighter than the V12. In SWB form, S55 undercuts S600 by 150kg. Besides, they also deliberately tuned the suspensions stiffer (although both cars share the ABC active body control suspension), adding some aggressive air dam and skirts to aid visual appeal.  

The result is less favourable than S600. Basically, it feels sportier than the S600, but any car measuring 5 meters long and weighing 2 tons is not a good basis for driver’s car. Go for the smaller E55 AMG instead is much more sensible if you ask for real handling talent. On the other hand, the harder suspension setup of S55 AMG has spoiled the magnificent ride of the standard S-class - even lose out to E55 AMG, making it neither a comfortable cruiser nor a sporty sedan. 

Even though the AMG version of 5-speed automatic gearbox shifts 35% quicker, performance can only level with S600 when the engine is revved hard. Rev by rev, the S600 always uses its torque advantage to make overtaking effortlessly. That means in real world the S600 is quicker in straight line. It just lacks the visual appeal the AMG has. 

As both cars are priced very close to each other, our choice cannot be clearer: S600. 
 

S65 AMG

The AMG V12 can be installed into SL, CL and S-class just like the standard Mercedes V12. We have reported the first two already, now this time the S-class. S65 AMG is only available in the long wheelbase body. This inevitably put more weight on it - it is 65kg and 110kg heavier than CL65 and SL65 respectively. The 3-meters-plus wheelbase also makes the car bulkier to steer. Anyway, people should understand that it is an Autobahn rocket rather than a Nurburgring hero. To see its colors you should drive it on highway, give it plenty of space and a long long straight to exploit its stunning performance. In this way, you can see it sprint from rest to 60mph in merely 4.3 seconds. You will probably see a Ferrari 575M at the adjacent lane gradually slipping behind, inside which is a shocking face of its driver. 

Having over six hundred horsepower in a limousine chassis does not necessarily mean wheelspin, oversteer or simply the term "hot rod", thanks to the modern electronics used in Active Body Control and Electronic Stability Program. Like other AMG 65 models, the hottest S-class also gets huge brakes and a faster-reacting gearbox program. However, its size, height and weight will never allow it to handle like a proper sports sedan such as BMW M5 and AMG's own E55. So, what's the point of having such a powerful engine?  

Perhaps S65 AMG goes too far. There are always some people asking for neverending horsepower to show their superiority over others - no matter measured by performance or by wealth. S65 AMG is this kind of car. A statement of excellence. A statement of superiority. However, it is not necessarily the best car in the world. The standard S600 is definitely the better choice for comfort. Moreover, taking just 4.6 seconds to 60mph, it is already very quick, if not the quickest. This make S65 rather unnecessary.