The all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet drips class

 

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the new S-Class Cabriolet, which becomes the sixth variant of the current S-Class family and the first open-top luxury four-seater from Mercedes-Benz since 1971. The new Cabriolet will have its world premiere at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September.  The show will also mark the premiere of the Mercedes‑AMG S 63 4MATIC Cabriolet, the S-Class Cabriolet’s masochistic cousin.

 The Cabriolet is for someone who’d be on the lookout for cars like the Bentley Continental GTC – a posh convertible to cruise around town, preferably not in the rain. Apropos to being a Mercedes, the S-Class Cabriolet is being touted as the world’s most comfortable convertible by its maker; a title that the upcoming Rolls-Royce Dawn will be eyeing feverishly.

We do not doubt Mercedes-Benz’s claim to that title one bit though, because, with the top down, there’ll be practically a new ecosystem for the occupants. There’s an automatic wind protection system dedicated to reducing noise levels, a neck-level heating system integrated into the front seats, heated armrests, heated rear seats, and of course, an intelligent climate control, which automatically readjusts itself, to create an “unnoticeable transition between closed and open top”. Furthermore, the occupants breathe cleansed and ionised air, with some fragrance thrown in more good measure. A low Cd value of 0.29 also keeps unwanted noises at bay.

Attention to detail also trickles down to the electrically retractable soft top, which works up to a speed of 60 km/h, for about 20 seconds. It’s mechanism has been honed to avoid the need for any additional closures on the soft top compartment lid, while the soft top itself descends and folds away into a part of the luggage compartment, being separated from very expensive leather bags via an electrically operated retractable cover. Every small thing which takes part to convert the top half of the vehicle is automatic, with no scope of manual intervention. The soft top is available in black, dark blue, beige and dark red.

Being a car with no roof, the S-Class Cabriolet puts measures like an a luggage compartment and rear floor made out of aluminium to good use, for added stiffness and weight shedding. Only 60 percent of its body-shell components are shared with the S-Class Coupé, and over 50 percent of the materials comprise of lightweight materials like aluminium and magnesium. Roll-over protection comes courtesy  rear head restraints featuring pyrotechnic initiation of the actuators, in addition to roll bars that are moved into position by a gas generator.

The Cabriolet’s profile tries to retain the coupé-style profile when the soft top is closed, while the rest of the design is similar to that of the S-Class Coupe. The interiors offer the broadest scope for individualisation; there is a choice of leather, nappa leather or designo Exclusive nappa leather plus six different interior colour concepts, including a maritime-inspired combination of deep-sea blue and porcelain. Mercedes says that the materials feature the highest standard of workmanship and are hand-crafted in character.

 The  4663 cc, V8 engine of the S 500 Cabrio, which makes 335 kW (455 hp) and a peak torque of 700 Nm from 1800 rpm, is mated to a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission. The S-Class Cabrio is fitted as standard with the full-support AIRMATIC semi-active air suspension featuring infinitely variable damping control, which is what wafting sounds like.

Like the S-Class Saloon and Coupé, the new Cabrio is available with numerous new assistance systems including PRE-SAFE Brake with pedestrian detection, DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot, Brake Assist BAS PLUS with Cross‑Traffic Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus and Night View Assist Plus, along with COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, which is able to carry out autonomous braking at speeds of up to more than 100 km/h.

 Alongside the S-Class Cabrio, Mercedes-AMG will also showcase the S 63 4MATIC Cabriolet in Frankfurt this September. Its 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine offers an output of 430 kW (585 hp) and peak torque of 900 Nm, which, coupled to an AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive system and an AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission,  decimates the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds.

Wight reducing measures over the standard S-Class Cabriolet include the use of a lightweight lithium-ion battery, AMG light-alloy wheels and the weight-optimised AMG high-performance brake system, the latter being more than 20 percent lighter. In addition, large parts of the shell and the front section are made of aluminium, as so is the vehicle’s rear end.

The S 63 will also benefit from more aggressive bumpers and a three-dimensional “twin-blade” radiator grille in silver chrome. The interiors will feature a different, three-spoke sports steering wheel, aluminium shift paddles, newly developed AMG sports seats and a high-resolution TFT colour display as an instrument cluster with two animated round dials. The S 63 Cabriolet will have its world premiere at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. It will go on sale in December, and the market launch will begin in the spring of 2016.

* Only available with left-hand drive; ** Ready-to-drive condition (fuel tank 90% full, without driver and luggage); *** Ready-to-drive condition (fuel tank 90% full, with driver (68 kg) and luggage (7 kg); **** Electronically limited.