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The fate of the legend
According to the rooted habit, everything related to luxurious dimensionless limousines, the general public is inevitably associated with America. Therefore, the family of the most famous European stretch was famous under the name borrowed behind the ocean.
Pullman limousines with a silver star on the hood, an integral component of world automotive history, for decades they have been a symbol of absolute luxury and greatness of representative models. The pride and glory of the German auto industry, the Mercedes limousines Pullman got their name in honor of the American inventor and breeder George Mortimer Pulman, who built the most comfortable four -axle wagons for the violently developed railways of the United States in the middle of the 19th century. These real palaces on wheels were then famous in numerous westerns, and the word Pullman began to be used to indicate the highest degree of comfort in relation to transport in general.
The word Pullman was called the representative models of Mercedes since the 20s of the last century, but for the first time it became the official name of the flagship limousine of the brand in 1963, what kind of car it was! The unique Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman to become the German stretch of truly immortal fame guaranteed. Many heads of states around the world chose this limousine with their official transport, it was a special honor for all of Germany, which then fought to restore its own international prestige.
The car enjoyed authority among those in power and was produced for almost 20 years, far surviving the model on the basis of which it was built! And until now, the first six hundred Pullman is the object of worship among representative models, one of the glorious milestones in the history of both its brand and the whole country. In the market of retro-captains, 600 Pullman is in great demand, this is an excellent investment, especially if there was some eminent owner in the model biography, especially a politician. Even these days, there are many lovers of flaunts all over the world with chrome details of the glorified six hundredth Pullman at a bomond party or a secular reception. The unfading living classics of the automotive aristocracy!
This model left such a noticeable mark in history that the company did not dare to continue the tradition for a long time by creating a limousine Pullman based on new flagship models. Again, this practice resumed in the mid-90s, when they decided to make a small batch of stretchs based on the then S-class W140 in Stuttgart. The hundred forty Pullman did not achieve fame of the predecessor, but his armored versions began to be in good demand. For the servants of the people of Western democracies, the huge chic stretch of Mercedes was too pretentious and defiantly unexplored, but among the heads of states in the post -Soviet space, including the highest Russian leadership, this limousine enjoyed a special location.
The rapid changes taking place in the automobile world were also affected by the last generation of Mercedes Pullman, which was built on the basis of the current S-class W220. This representative of the glorious kind was thoroughly designed. Unlike previous generations, when the limousine was built on the basis of an existing business sedan, the creation of a long-drawn version of the W220 was provided at the design stage of the donor model. The supporting structure of the basic model was designed in such a way that it was easier to make a representative stretch from it. And the Pullman W220 development itself was originally carried out directly in the engineering centers of the concern in industrial standards.
The result did not disappoint. Modern Pullman, in general opinion, has the most harmonious appearance among the stretch. It is no secret that many limousines created by banal adding the central section completely lose the proportions and style solutions of basic models. Pullman W220 was drawn so that it emphasized the innate features of the S-class design. For this, as the stylists found out through numerous experiments with layouts, the optimal length of the central insert should be exactly 1 m. This average element, implanted between the front and rear doors, is approximately equal to it in length, so it does not violate the balance of profile forms.
But the main thing that guaranteed the machine such a successful and unusually proportional look for a stretch was a decision to raise the roof of the car by 80 mm. This was achieved, of course, by cutting the racks of the serial S-class body and literally jewelry of their height. A very expensive operation, performed only by hand, was painfully perceived by both technologists and Mercedes accountants, but in the end, such squeezing led to what we see. Pullman W220 looks surprisingly dynamic and lean. I can’t even believe that the length of this huge one is almost 6.2 m! The lightness is not only visual, but also physical: the equipped mass of this giant is a slightly more than 2.5 tons of an outstanding indicator for a car of such sizes (limousines of such length on the W220 basis from private Coachbuilders usually weigh 500700 kg more).
After a meticulous inspection of the machine from all sides, there is a feeling that the physiognomy and other characteristic features of the S-class design are just created for this impressive elongated body, and ordinary W220 sedans begin to seem short -oven. This indicates an unprecedented volume compensation for an increase in longitudinal sizes in the professional language of designers ... Such complex body transformations with, albeit not mass, but still serial production (hundreds of machines), only a team of high qualifications in manual construction of exclusive models and has significant resources.
Therefore, the company entrusted the production of Pullman to its court tuner AMG. Pullman did not begin to include the brand in the overall catalog, and the limousine remained an elite creation, which could only be purchased from a special order directly from AMG. There was a pricing strategy very typical of the tunger. The base factory price of Pullman with the V8 engine was 190 thousand euros (TAX-FREE), but it did not include any options related to the interior decoration of the cabin. And, of course, the client was taken as a multi -page list, which contained everything that this superlimus could not be himself. In other words, the customer usually chose almost all the options, and then the price increased to 300 thousand euros (Tax-Free), and some particularly demanding customers managed to bring it to 350 thousand euros. Nevertheless, Pullman remained Catalogue Car with a serial product, which offered a dozen colors of the color of the body and shades of the skin, but no fantasies and vagaries of the client, going beyond the catalog, were even considered.
After updating the S-Class in 2002, the former 5.8-liter offset engine V12 was discontinued. The new V12 BITURBO motor (see No. 4, 2003) with its violent temperament was not very suitable for a heavy length. Therefore, AMG has preserved in the program only a limousine with a 5-liter V8. Is it enough for 306 hp. For such a massive machine? Now we will find out, our test-pilot Denis Moren resolutely declares, sitting down on the driver's chair of the limousine. Wow, the driver can be envied: it's just a six -star hotel! In the front of the cabin, the same luxurious manual finish as in the passenger compartment.
The magnificent design using orebal veneer, and instead of plastic, as in a standard S-class, the panels here are completely lined with the most delicate skin, and special, from the AMG collection, which is not offered for ordinary Mercedes. Even the smallest details of the front panel are made of leather or wood. Chairs, of course, with electric massage and internal ventilation. This is a workplace! But ... I try to conveniently adjust the seat, but its longitudinal movement is limited by the wall of the passenger compartment. True, this feature is characteristic of all stretch limousines. It was convenient for me with my 182 cm of height ...
Let us return to the wonderful Mercedes V8. From almost idle speed, this exceptionally elastic motor without the slightest effort provides powerful acceleration, as if not behind the back of a long and heavy tail. Surprisingly, the excess, compared to the sedan S 500 l of the length and 750 kg of mass, practically did not affect the dynamic potential. Pullman accelerates to hundreds of only 0.8 s longer, but, as always in the case of limousines, behind the wheel of this much more massive machine, the dynamics are subjectively perceived much more acutely than on a basic car.
And what is the high -speed riding! In the Salon S 500 at 150 km/w, perfect silence and peace, and in the driver's chair Pullman at this speed it seems that you are a multi -kilometer passenger composition rushing at all pairs! The feed of the machine, visible somewhere far, far in the outer mirrors, and a significant mass give the impression that you control a long road train. But a lack of power is not felt in any mode. On the contrary, under the scraping rain with the ESP disconnected, it is very funny to observe how the rear wheels of this bulk rotate frantically, and the tail twitches rhythmically from side to side. On the autobahn, passports 250 km/h Limuin develops with hunting, and this monumental stretch on the maximum clip is noticeably superior to the standard S-class! True, the noise of the air flow, annoying at very high speeds and in ordinary W220, has Pullman with its raised roof especially annoying ...
Even small brakes are returned to reality, reinforced brakes come into effect very powerfully. By the way, Airmatic air suspension should not be compared with the active ABC super-system, installed on 12-cylinder Mercedes models. The Pullman chassis allows swinging, it is generally quite soft, but on significant irregularities sometimes suddenly disappears and passes hard shocks into the body. In general, the management of the 6.2-meter stretch is not any problem. You quickly get used to the dimensions, and even the diameter of a turn of 13.1 m seems large only in theory. In practice, the reversal of this mastodon is 180 (as befits a real Mercedes, the angle of rotation of the front wheels is very large) is admirable to the public: it is necessary, so long, but almost in place is spinning!
Completely different thoughts are born in the back seat of Pullman. The sharp sports style of driving Denis Moren, trying there, far beyond the separation glass, check the controllability of the limousine, does not particularly worry. The lulling atmosphere completely subordinates to itself. What work, what drawers, keyboards and screens of built -in computers, on -board phones and faxes can be discussed?! I don’t even want to think about all this multimedia. The smooth swaying of the stretch body is immediately immersed in a pleasant half -year. And much more than all these expensive electronic accessories of the cabin, delights a simple, but wonderful device.
With one click of a button in just 4 s all of the windows of the passenger compartment (including small windows) are closed with dense, very stylish curtains. The dividing glass, in which the head of a passionate crew enthusiastically looms is also closed. The curtains are almost opaque, you can turn on numerous cryphones on the ceiling and racks, and the interior instantly turns into a full intimate charm. Suddenly, the feeling completely disappears that you are going somewhere by car, this is a cozy home office, and a very high ceiling only strengthens this impression. Amazing! If you give the driver an indication not to rush and maneuver exclusively neatly, then the feeling of movement in space disappears completely! True, the moraine all the time drives the motor for high speeds, and the sharp metal rod V8, reinforced by AMG mufflers, clearly penetrates the VIP-hats, violating the atmosphere of rest and comfort and returning passengers to reality. Sports soundtrack is good at the brand sportsmen, but not on this steppe limousine ...
Unlike previous Pullman, it was decided to position as a luxurious mobile office. Therefore, the creators again preferred the Vis-A-Vis layout: in the 4-seater passenger compartment, two rows of seats are installed against each other. Moreover, the option with only one rear sofa (without medium chairs) was not even provided. Here, negotiations could be held without interruption from movement, so in the VIP salon a complete set of office equipment and multimedia miracles. According to Mercedes experts, the owner could use Pullman not only to travel with comfort alone, but also for business meetings, without losing a minute even on the road. So a little lower chairs for people sitting opposite the rear sofa (secretaries? Reporting subordinates?) An indispensable need, moreover, according to the manufacturer, this completely reproduces the usual atmosphere of his office.
That's just the distance between the sofas deployed to each other is only 70 cm. That is, when two people are sitting, they will no longer be able to stretch their legs. Of course, the helpful assistant will press his to the seat. And if this is a negotiation partner? In such cases, the interlocutor should sit on the back sofa, side by side with the hospitable owner of the limousine, marketer stated. It is possible, but V8 provides first -class overclocking dynamics, and not even the strongest pressing on the gas pedal (this, however, depends on the qualifications of the personal driver) leads to such an acceleration that sitting, turning to each other, is not too convenient. I would like to keep my head in a position straight, preferably firming it on the headrest.
And if you go from behind alone, I want to straighten my legs and put them on the edge of the chair standing opposite. But it is far away, and on every turn, the feet slide (but this already depends on the length of the legs). And the back door is narrow for convenient access to the middle row of seats located in the middle of the body. In general, because of these nuances, such a layout did not eventually justify itself. Such limousines are still mostly acquired by egoists, people who are interested in maximum comfort for themselves. They want to distract from everyday things on the road, enjoying the complete isolation of the outside world and abstraction from the process of movement! However, it was not these features that influenced the fate of the successor of the genus Pullman. Maybach is the main factor. At the moment when AMG began the commercial promotion of Pullman W220, the world learned about the upcoming debut of the new brand supervision. Of course, someone from the potential buyers Pullman decided to wait for outlandish novelty, especially since with the same price and length (the amg and Maybach 62 limousine is identical) Maybach is an original and initially elitist model, and not an elongated (albeit talentedly) option widespread S-class. By the way, it is thanks to the experience with Pullman that Maybach has only one rear sofa, but which, and the back door is very wide.
The disagreements that began with the announcement of the debut of Maybach inside the concern prevented AMG to more actively promote their stretch. It is impossible not to take into account the fact that the numerous private Coachbuilders created a whole galaxy of limousines on the basis of W220, selecting the solid part of customers who wanted to have an elongated S-class from AMG. In addition, initially the manufacturer did not plan to make armored Pullman, referring to the features of the design of the air suspension. But it was the office on wheels that many businessmen would like to see as protected as possible. AMG offered such owners to contact the subsequent booking of the purchased Pullman ... Everything is to the same competing independent Coachbuilders (Carat Duchatelet, Transco, etc.). And these companies offered the client their own option for lengthening the S-class, logically arguing that it is necessary to book a limousine properly from the first steps of the bookmark, and not analyzing the already finished unarous car ...
The release of these machines is currently stopped. In total, about 200 Pullman copies were sold. The most interesting question in this story will whether Mercedes refuses its grandiose heritage named Pullman, because the huge historical and image capital of the brand is associated with this. It is not yet clear whether the Stretch on the basis of the next generation of the S-Class will be created, which will appear at the end of 2005. Marketer has many ways to ensure the coexistence of both the independent Maybach brand and the flagship of the Mercedes brand Pullman limousine, diluting cars in different sectors.
In addition, the demand for stretchs of the S-class was, is and will be. There is a stable category of customers, which are attracted by the fact that Mercedes limousines are still very similar to a normal S-class, do not stand out in the stream too much and do not attract excessive attention of others. By the way, after the debut of Maybach, the sales of elongated W220 from private Coachbuilders not only did not decrease, but even increased. The future Pullman directly depends on the commercial achievements of the newcomer Maybach, whose prospects are by no means cloudless, because colossal agents were invested, incommensurable with the cost of creating an elongated version of the S-class. And Daimlerchrysler will not allow such a state of affairs if the sales of a new car are symbolic. Therefore, we will be able to judge the future Pullman only after a few years.
Some technical characteristics of Mercedes AMG S 500 Pullman Limousine
(manufacturer data)
Dimensions, mm: 6158x1855x1462
Equipped mass, kg: 2545
Base, mm: 4085
Max. permissible mass, kg: 3150
Trunk volume, l: 500
Engine type: gasoline V8 24-valve
Working volume, cubic meter. See: 4966
Max. Power, L.S./rpm: 306/5600
Max. moment, nm/rpm: 460/27004200
Transmission: automatic 5-speed
Drive: on the rear wheels
Tires: 255/45 ZR18
Front brakes/back: Disco ventilated
Max. Speed, km/h: 250
Acceleration time 0-100 km, s: 7.3
Top volume, l: 88
Ivan Vesnin
Source: Avtopanorama magazine