Mercedes-Benz S-Class (C217)

Mercedes-Benz C217
Mercedes-Benz C217
	File:Mercedes-Benz C217 fr.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Production	2014–present
Model years	2015–present
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size luxury grand tourer (S)
Body style	2-door coupé; 2-door convertible
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive; Front-engine, all-wheel drive
Related	Mercedes-Benz W222
Powertrain
Engine	4.6L V8 (turbocharged); 5.5L V8 (turbocharged); 6.0L V12 (turbocharged)
Transmission	7-speed 7G-Tronic Plus automatic; 9-speed 9G-Tronic Plus automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,945 mm (115.9 in)
Length	5,027 mm (197.9 in)
Width	1,899 mm (74.8 in)
Height	1,411 mm (55.6 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Mercedes-Benz C216

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé (C217) is a full-size luxury coupé (Grand tourer) manufactured by Mercedes-Benz beginning in 2014.

The C217 model succeeded the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (C216) and is the current version of the S-Class coupé. It is also the first Mercedes coupé to carry the S-Class name since the 1990s.

Development

Concept S-Class Coupé (2013)

The Concept S-Class Coupé was unveiled in 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show to showcase the appearance of the upcoming S-Class coupe model. It features an all-new design compared to the previous CL-Class model, utilizing the brand's Sensual Purity design philosophy first developed for the W222 S-Class in 2009.^[1]^[2]

Production car unveiling

The production version of the S-Class coupe was announced and unveiled in February 2014, with its first public showing at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014.^[3] Mercedes showed the S500 model (known as the S550 in the United States market) at the Geneva show.

At the New York Auto Show in April 2014, Mercedes made the first public showing of the S63 AMG 4MATIC model.^[4] The S65 AMG model, which includes a V12 Bi-Turbo engine, was unveiled in July 2014.^[5]

Safety & Technology

It features all the latest driver assistance and safety systems introduced in 2013 on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222), including Traffic Sign Assist with wrong-way driving warning function.

Suspension

The C217 coupe continues to offer the AIRMATIC semi-active air suspension as standard. The C217 introduced an update to the hydraulic fully active Magic Body Control suspension (which debuted on the W222 sedan model), called Active Curve Tilting. This new system allows the vehicle to lean up to 2.5 degrees into a turn, similar to the way a motorcycle leans into a turn. The leaning is intended to counter the effect of centrifugal force on the occupants and is available only on rear-wheel drive models^[6]^[7]^[8]

Lighting

Like the W222 sedan, the C217 coupe includes full-LED lighting on the exterior (including full-LED headlamps with Intelligent Light System and Adaptive Highbeam Assist PLUS) and interior of the vehicle. Optional headlight features include 47 Swarovski crystals in each headlamp: 30 crystals for the turn signals and 17 for the daytime running lights.^[9]^[10]

Equipment

Nine airbags as standard
ESP Dynamic Cornering Assist
Traffic Sign Assist with Speed Limit Assist and wrong-way driving warning function
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST (as standard)
ATTENTION ASSIST (as standard)
ADAPTIVE BRAKE (as standard)
DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist
Brake Assist system BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist
NECK-PRO crash-responsive head restraints
PRE-SAFE, PRE-SAFE Brake, PRE-SAFE PLUS, PRE-SAFE Impulse, Pre-Safe with pedestrian detection and City Brake function
Beltbags
Active bonnet
Active Lane Keeping Assist
Full-LED headlamps with Intelligent Light System and Adaptive Highbeam Assist PLUS
Night View Assist PLUS (pedestrian/animal detection) with flashing Spotlight Function
Head-up display
COMAND Online with Touchpad
Active Parking Assist
Active Blind Spot Assist
Crosswind Assist
Torque Vectoring Brake
Backup camera
Electric parking brake with emergency braking function
Direct-Steer Electromechanical steering with Steering Assist
MAGIC VISION CONTROL wipers

Models

S500/S550

The C217 S-Class coupe launched with the S500 model, known as the S550 in the United States market. The vehicle features a twin-turbocharged 4.6L engine paired with a 7-speed or a 9-speed (only for rear-wheel drive version^[11]) automatic transmission. In most markets, the S500 is fitted to a rear-wheel drive drivetrain with optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive; in the US, 4MATIC is standard.

S63 AMG

US-market S63 AMG Coupé

Through the Mercedes-AMG sub-brand, the second S-Class coupe model launched is the S63 AMG. Featuring a 5.5L turbocharged V8, the S63 is the performance model V8 within the S-Class lineup. Like the S500, the S63 is offered with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, though with only all-wheel drive (without Magic Body Control) in the United States.

S65 AMG

The S65 AMG is currently the top-of-the-line S-Class coupé model. It features a 6.0L turbocharged V12 Mercedes-Benz M279 engine paired with a 7G-Tronic automatic transmission. The V12 model is available only with rear-wheel drive (4MATIC not available).

Convertible

File:Mercedes-Benz S 500 bei der IAA 2015 in Frankfurt.JPG

S-Class convertible at the IAA 2015

The convertible (codenamed R217), which was unveiled at the International Motor Show Germany in 2015, has so many lightweight reinforcements that its driving behaviour is similar to that of the Coupé. Safety is maintained by a roll-over system, which is pyrotechnically actuated behind the rear passengers if required.^[12]