By: IOL Motoring Staff
Stuttgart, Germany - Mercedes-Benz has pulled the covers off the showroom version of its S-Class Coupé, and it remains gorgeously faithful to the concept car from last year's Frankfurt Motor Show.
Slightly shorter and lower than the statelier sedan, but sharing its 1899mm width, the S-Class Coupé asserts its muscular presence with a long and shapely bonnet, low glasshouse, frameless doors, high beltline and pronounced wheel arches. Yet here the devilishness is also in the detail of convex and concave surfaces that intermingle from head to tail.
Furthermore, the Coupé offers the option of a dazzling new headlight system where the standard LED Intelligent Light System can be combined with 47 Swarovski crystals that form the daytime running lights and indicators.
Two thirds of the Coupé's dome-shaped roof is covered by a panoramic sunroof featuring Magic Sky Control molecular technology that allows the proportion of light let through to the cabin to be varied.
"MAGIC" TECHNOLOGY
The large and luxurious two-door coupé joins its sedan sibling at the technological cutting edge, even taking a step further in places.
The optional Magic Body Control suspension, first seen on the sedan, now has a curve tilting function. This, according to Mercedes' development boss Prof Dr Thomas Weber, allows the vehicle to lean into bends much like a motorcyclist or skier, thereby reducing the lateral acceleration acting on the occupants.
As with the four-door, the suspension system is equipped with a feature that scans the curvature of the road up to 15 metres ahead and adjusts the suspension in accordance with the impending conditions.
MODERN LUXURY INSIDE
Mercedes-Benz is sure that the cabin of its grandest two-door represents the highest level of "modern luxury." That contemporary aspect is most apparent in the optional touchpad. Mounted in front of the armrest, it allows all of the head-unit functions to be operated using finger gestures.
For the front seats, customers can opt for a Seat Comfort package where the front seats feature the Energising massage function based on the hot-stone principal.
Furthermore, those in the back get to relax in one of two individual seats.
Naturally there's a long list of driver assistance systems, including Pre-Safe brake with pedestrian detection, Distronic Plus with Steer Assist and Stop&Go Pilot, Night View Assist and Collision Prevention Assist Plus among others.
TWIN-TURBO V8
Only the S500 version of the S-Class Coupé has been announced as yet, but expect more engine options to follow, including at least two AMG versions mimicking the sedan with a 430kW twin-turbo V8 in the S 63 and 463kW twin-turbo V12 featuring in the S 65.
Back to the here-and-now S500, this one is powered by Merc's 4663cc twin-turbo V8, credited with 339kW and 700Nm.
The full world première of the new S-Class Coupé takes place at the Geneva Motor Show in early March, while South African sales are scheduled to commence in November 2014.