Test drive Mercedes Benz S-class w221 2005-2009 sedan

Mercedes-Benz S 430 4MATIC

Still, a useful thing is competition. It is she, and not human laziness, as many believe, is an incentive to the development of technological progress. The emergence of a full-wheel drive version of Mercedes-Benz S-class is associated precisely with the most severe competition in the premium segment, because until recently, only Audi AG could boast in this category in this category.

Talking about the appearance of this car is like repeating alphabetical truths, but nevertheless there will be people who will try to refute these truths. We will not plunge into reasoning, especially since since 1998, when the new S-class saw the light, everyone was able to appreciate both the strengths and weaknesses of its design.
What can not be taken away from him is elegant: he is strict, like a piano in an elite cigar club, he forced many to break the biblical commandment, do not create an idol and became the subject of blind worship and boundless respect. But we will leave emotions, because we have the next modification of a cult car, with the help of which they plan to destroy the Audi hegemony in the Stuttgart in the all -wheel drive sedans segment.

The Mercedes all -wheel drive transmission is based on the electronic system, which combines the anti -boom system, the ABS and the stabilization system. Intersose and inter -long differentials are free. The torque is distributed between the axes in the proportion of 40:60, so the car retains almost all classic habits. The role of locks is played by the 4TS and ESP anti -wings system.

Naturally, all this cuisine is controlled by the central computer, which, tracking the readings of many sensors, gives commands to systems. Further, according to the classical scheme, known for many SUVs. If the sensors record the loss of the wheel clutch with the road, the electronics will smoothly slow down the wilted wheel and redistribute the force on the wheels in the best conditions. How it works on all-terrain vehicles, we have seen many times, but how it works at the S-class, we had to find out.

The weather turned out to be in handy: snow, turning into slush, and an ice crust in some areas. Better and you can’t come up with. In a long list of advantages of all -wheel drive, you need to make a touch process from a place on a slippery coating with a separate item. Standard S-class and on very serious winter tires performs this exercise with any classics inherent in slipping even with a loaded rear axle. And with all -wheel drive, a heavy car with the ease of a sports compartment breaks out of ice captivity to the accompaniment of the worked out electronics.

It is impossible to feel the process of redistribution of traction, it remains only to state the fact that the difference between the two modifications of the car in this case is very large. On a straight line 4Matic behaves in the same way as its rear -wheel drive fellow, moving in space with dignity and providing maximum comfort. You can add a little sports notes and increase the rigidity of the shock absorbers using the key on the instrument panel, but then vibration is far from friendly to passengers. In corners at an average speed, the 4Matic behaves, as befits a car with such a material part: describing the arc, it shows a tendency to demolish the front axle, but only a tendency.

To curb the car is quite easy, and electronics in which case will not be long in coming. But to active reduction in the spirit of sportsmen, the full-drive S-class is still not located, the car clearly does not like sharp and quick manipulations of the steering wheel, to which it meets the snack. But in general, from now on, it is unlikely that anyone would have thought to name the S-class unprofitable for winter operation. Thanks to the complete drive, riding on slippery road surface is now the same simple matter as riding on asphalt. Yes, and with overcoming obstacles it has become easier: it is worth pressing a small key on the central console, and Airmatic active suspension will raise the car a few centimeters. It is clear that only a low border can be an obstacle, but nevertheless ...

Mercedes cannot be cheap! This phrase has long been uttered by one of our oligarchs. This is also confirmed by the price tag on the S-Class 4Matic: a car with a 4.3-liter engine and a giant list of additional equipment that has been on our test, costs 114 thousand euros. The price is approximately the same as that of the Audi A8 with an engine of 4.2 liters and a quattro drive. It is clear that duelists will fight to the last. I wonder what they think about this in BMW?.

Some technical characteristics of Mercedes-Benz S 430 43matic
(manufacturer data)
Dimensions, mm: 5045x1855x1450
Base, mm: 2965
Front/behind, mm: 1575/1575
Diameter of the turn, m: 11.7
Engine type: gasoline V8 24-valve
Working volume, cubic meter. See: 4266
Max. Power, L.S./rpm: 279/5750
Max. moment, nm/rpm: 400/3000
Drive: for all wheels
Transmission: automatic 5-band
Tires: 225/55 R17
Max. Speed, km/h: 250
Acceleration time 0-100 km, s: 7.4
Fuel consumption (EU), l/100 km: 9.2/12.5/18.3
Top volume, l: 88

Maxim Rakitin
 
   
 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine