Test drive Mercedes Benz S-class w220 2002-2005 sedan

Your six acres

The second freshness, as you know, does not happen. The second youth - if you try. Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse & Cl tried and updated in Stuttgart.
There is something, flesh-nothing, ”the classic of German philosophy taught, and all the innovations of S-Klasse and Cl affected their essence than forms.
The imperious spirit. The representative limousine Mercedes-Benz is an indisputable sales leader in his class. For example, in the USA, its share in this market segment is 40 percent, in Japan - almost 60, in Germany - 55.
It is enough to stand on Kutuzovsky Prospekt at rush hour to understand: in our country, the preferences of a wealthy public are generally certain. However, over the past year, German automotivemen pleased the thicknesses of the premiere with a whole bouquet. First, the BMW seven appeared, then completely unexpectedly - VW Phaeton, now here is the new Audi A8. It was as if new workers, young and assertive were picked up in a respectable German bureau.
The six hundredth folklore in the 140th body lasted seven years in production, the current W220 has already hit four. When asked when? Daimlerchrysler, of course, is not called specific dates, but they assure that work on the new representative Mercedes is already boiling. In the meantime-no, not restyling, this word was not pronounced in Stuttgart-just S-Klasse 2003 of the model year.
Here to walk. They say that the landscape architects never draw on the plan of the land plot of the track, they look at where the citizens themselves trodden, and only after that they will be bridge. So, at the first acquaintance with the car, it seemed to us that Daimlerchrysler designers this time acted in the same way, observing what tuning companies offer the owners of Mercedes. A new plastic body kit, a richer interior decoration, embroidered with a sporting engine, new discs, chrome lining on the thresholds-as if the standard W220 was simply taken and applied a package from some Lorinser or Carlsson. All this is so, but only partly.
Outwardly, S-Klasse has changed little. In front is the new bumper, the lower air intake of which makes the body visually larger. The radiator grill became higher and changed the angle of inclination. Bixenon headlights are now hiding behind crystal transparent glasses, which, coupled with new reflectors, makes the S-Klasse optics sparkling even without electricity. The buildings of external mirrors are also new, in the lower part of which light bulbs appeared, illuminating the site in front of the door, so that the driver or front passenger would not enter something. The rear lights made of red glass received not two, as before, but four horizontal shoots of white color.
The spirit of contradictions. In the interior, designers used four dozen innovations, however, they did not announce the entire list out of modesty. Let's try to find them ourselves. First of all, the liquid crystalline monitor on the central console is noteworthy. A large 6.5-inch screen is now standard equipment for all S-Klasse modifications. The inscription Mercedes-Benz has disappeared from under the screen-already it is clear that not Hyundai.
The steering wheel, alas, remained the same. Alas, because it does not always manage to keep it degree in the place where the company recommends: four fingers between the knitting needles, large - above the buttons. If you grab the steering wheel more sporty, then the palms just fall into the place where the skin goes into wood, which is not too pleasant and convenient. But the steering wheel now has an electric heating option. Another innovation designed to keep the owner’s palms in clean and comfort is to open the trunk by pressing the button in the salon or on the remote control, a similar procedure for its contactless closure is the option.
Finally, buyers are offered an exclusive interior decoration of Designo Couture, which implies particularly valuable varieties of wood, like leather, alcantara and nubuk. I admit, one of the options did not look very much: the tree was so glossy and shimmered, which created the illusion of a thick layer of dust, and Nubuk left traces of all awkward touches. However, someone noticed that it is so convenient to record phones. Well, perhaps.
CHOOSE ME. But none of the competitors in the classroom offers so many engines, types of transmission and body lengths today. The weakest today will be a diesel V6 with a volume of 3.2 liters. However, this second -generation CDI, according to the manufacturer, will not only develop 204 hp, which is slightly larger than the power of the previous diesel engine, which was installed on the S320, but also consume a hundred of only 7.7 liters of diesel fuel. The four -liter diesel V8 turned out to be so cut that its maximum speed had to be drowned with electronics. Power - 250 hp Acceleration to 100 km/h - 7.8 seconds.
There are now four gasoline engines. Three hundred twenties will no longer be. Moreover, the six -cylinder S350 does not correspond to the nameplate: its operating volume is 3.7 liters, and the power is 245 hp. Two more-this is the S430 with 280-horsepower V8 and the five hundredth, which has 306 horses.
Six- and eight-cylinder models can have all-wheel drive, which is also new-S-Klasse 4-Matic has not yet known. Four leaders are ordered as an option if the owner wants to get a greater smoothness and safety on a slippery road from a car. True, if the full-wheel drive five hundredth is not inferior to its classic counterpart in dynamics, then the S350 4-Matic starts up to hundreds for 0.3 seconds. Slow, and his maximum speed is smaller.
 
The gamut of gasoline engines is crowned, of course, the six hundredth. The new V12, equipped with a double turbocharging system and intercooler, is able to develop 500 hp. The power compared to the predecessor model increased by more than a third, twice aside. There will be no all -wheel drive version of the six hundredth. As well as short - all twelve -cylinder models now have a wheelbase increased by 12 cm. All the rest - with the exception of the S320 CDI - a stretched salon can have as an option.

Lukes opened in the ceiling. First of all, we plopped into active multi-circuit seats of a long S500. Last year, 61 percent of all S-Klasse sold had an elongated base-therefore, most of the cars are bought for passengers, but most of the bodily joys for some reason is available to those who sit ahead. Computers are mounted in the front seats S-Klasse, which, depending on the angle of rotation of the steering wheel, transverse acceleration and speed, inflate or blow the air cavities in the backs of the seats to provide optimal side support to the driver and the front passenger. As on E-Klasse, a similar function of seats is an option, and, we admit, it did not make much impression on us.
Located in the driver's place, you experience Deja Wu. Designers and designers in some incredible way manage to preserve this corporate identity: in large sedans twenty years ago, and in the current one you can not even look at the star on the hood, each piece of the body indicates that you are in a Mercedes.
About the six hundredth should be generally written by a separate poem. More than two tons, which in complete silence shoot up to a hundred in just 4.8 seconds, deserve it. Therefore, we will not exchange for plebeian walls such as eh, such an engine and with simple mechanics, but let's talk about the technical innovation that DaimlerchrySler specialists pay even more attention than the fantastic power of the S600.
Critical seconds. At an airfield near the city of Offenburg, we were given the opportunity to experience a new preventive PRE SAFE passenger protection system. If the ESP and Brake Assist sensors record the appearance of a critical situation, the result of which can be an accident, electric motors tightly pull the seat belts; Pillows of the seats of the front and rear passengers - if the latter have separate with electroregulation - move back, the backs of their seats are put to an upright position, as in the plane during take -off and landing, and the open hatch in the ceiling is closed. All this actually works. Only for some reason, such a picture was drawn to us: after the rain, he rides around the city, maneuvering in a dense stream, six-hundredth, and his passengers quilting his belt, straightens, and even the hatch clasps over his head. Moreover, you cannot turn off the whole economy. And the designers, by the way, are already thinking about which following elements to add to Pre Safe.
By secret, we were informed that in line - closing windows and preventive protection of the knees of the front passengers. Thank God that is not a catapult.
Our CL is capitalism. We will not about the sad, especially since we have a compartment for the dessert, which we were given half an hour to see and ride the same amount.
Restyling touched almost the same compartment elements as the sedan: a new design of dual headlights made of non -fired glass, a new front bumper, mirrors, rear lights, a large TV and a new design of buttons inside. On our copy was a pleasant, entirely leather steering wheel. But the silence in the salon of the image of the coupe did not fully correspond: nevertheless in the sports car, the roar of the engine is one of the components of the fan.
The CL 500 coupe is equipped with already a well -known V8 capacity of 306 hp. The CL 600 power unit is like the six hundredth, however, despite the fact that the compartment is easier and shorter, its dynamic characteristics are exactly the same.
The first cars will appear in Moscow in October. The prices recommended by dealers are already known. For CL 500, CL 55 AMG and CL 600 they will ask for $ 119.6 thousand, $ 161.7 thousand and $ 165.8 thousand, respectively. Quota for Russia - 12 cars this year and 100 - in 2003.
But for sedans - no restrictions. And prices differ even more, so you can choose for every taste, as well as the color of the credit card. The cheapest is S320 CDI: $ 69.6 thousand will be taken for the base. The same 400 CDI diesel - $ 91.1 thousand per short and $ 98 thousand per elongated.
The price of the S350 and S430 starts at $ 75 thousand and $ 87.4 thousand, respectively. Full-wheel drive and a long base will add to these figures another $ 5-7 thousand. In the first case, and $ 4-5 thousand in the second. In a word, the more powerful the engine is, the less you will have to pay extra for 4x4 and a long interior. So, in a short five-hundredth with the rear-wheel drive, $ 97 thousand will be asked, the S500 4-Matic will cost $ 100 thousand, all the same in a long version-$ 105.3 thousand.
At the top of the pyramid, as expected, S 600 Biturbo, for the basic configuration of which you need to give $ 151.7 thousand - more than two times more than for the weakest version in the same body. It is probably worth it, especially if life has succeeded.
 
Text Dmitry Gronsky, photo of the author and Daimlerchrysler

Model/Modification MB S500 4-Matic L MB S600 MB CL 600
Daimlerchrysler/manufacturer/country Daimlerchrysler/Germany Daimlerchrysler/Germany
BODY
Type sedan sedan coupe
Number of doors/places 4/5 4/5 2/5
ENGINE
Basin with electronic injection gasoline with electronic injection, double turbocharged gasoline with electronic injection, double turbocharged
The location in front, longitudinally in front, longitudinally in front, longitudinally
Working volume (cubic meter) 4966 5513 5513
Number/location of cylinders 8/V-shaped 12/V-shaped 12/V-shaped
Power, kW (L.S.) at about./Min. 225 (306) at 5600 368 (500) at 5000 368 (500) at 5000
Moment (Nm at about./Min.) 460 at 2700 460 at 2700 800 at 1800
TRANSMISSION
The drive is full rear
Automatic gearbox Steptronic, 5-speed automatic Steptronic, 5-speed automatic Steptronic, 5-speed
SUSPENSION
Front independent, on four transverse levers, an independent pneumatic, on four on four transverse levers, an independent pneumatic, on four on four transverse levers, pneumatic
The rear independent, multi -link, pneumatic independent, multi -link, pneumatic independent, multi -link, pneumatic
STEERING
Type gear-rake, amplifier with a variable characteristic of a gear-rake, amplifier with a variable characteristic of a gear rack, an amplifier with a variable characteristic
Min. The diameter of the turn (m) 12.2 12.1 11.5
Brakes
Front/rear circular ventilated/disk ventilated/disk disk ventilated/disk ventilated
ABS 4-channel, electronic system of distribution of brake forces 4-channel, electronic system of distribution of brake forces 4-channel, electronic system of distribution of brake forces
Дополнительные системы безопасности Active Body Control, Electronic Stability Programm, Brake Assist гидравлическая система экстренного торможения Active Body Control, Electronic Stability Programm, Brake Assist гидравлическая система экстренного торможения Active Body Control, Electronic Stability Programm, Brake Assist гидравлическая система экстренного торможения
Dimensions/volumes/weight
Length/width/height (mm) 5163/1855/1449 5163/1855/1444 4993/1857/1398
Wheel base (mm) 3085 3085 2885
Equipped mass (kg) 2000 2135 2075
Front/rear tires 225/55 R17/225/55 R17 245/45 R18/265/40 R 18 245/45 R18/265/40 R 18
Front/rear discs 7.5j x 17/7.5j x 17 8j x 18/9j x 18j x 18/9j x 18
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 250 250 250
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 6.5 4.8 4.8
Economy
Average fuel consumption (l/100 km) 12.9 14.8 14.7
The price in Moscow from $ 105.3 thousand from $ 151.7 thousand from $ 165.8 thousand.

 

A source: "Autopilot"