Bigger and better

The new S-class Mercedes has grown an inch or so - it's larger, taller, wider ... and has some superb safety and intelligent features, says Paolo Rossetti

The three-pointed circled star on the hood of a Mercedes is a beacon of status and wealth the world over - and the venerable S-Classe is the one model that is most widely.

The new S-500 is a blend of old and new, maintaining the prestige yet ushering in new tech and styling.

The sweeping roofline and rising beltline are powerful and familiar, while the smooth wheelwell flares, bold character line and smaller light clusters break some new ground. The large grille remains the signature. The rear end is also extremely well designed. Absolutely a work of art.

The new car is also larger than the outgoing model. Everything's grown an inch or so: the length, the height, the width, and even the wheel diametres.

The result is that rear-seat passengers will enjoy even more limousine room, as legroom has increased by a good two inches, while shoulder room is also increased by 1.5 inches.

The S-500 sports a 5.5 litre engine, and I hear you asking: so shouldn't it be called the S-550? Well, Mercedes has always been a little on the quizzical side in its nomenclature, and to put that in perspective, the next model up is the S-600, which also runs a 5.5 litre engine, so you see, they both couldn't be the S-550, which does not even exist. All clear now?

By the way, the S-600 engine is a V12, while the S-500 engine is a V8, so even with the same displacement they are in a different class!

Our S-500 has a beautifully smooth V8 5461cc engine, capable of a horsepower output of 387 at 6000 and maximum torque of 530 Nm on a flat curve between 2,800 and 4,800 rpm - which means it can generate maximum torque across the most important revolution range.

Smooth is one thing, and power is another - but the S-500 combines the two into an explosion of the senses.

It's a fantastic driving machine - perfect balance and poise at any speed up to when it becomes simply impossible to see far enough ahead.

It is in the intelligent use of technology that I thought the S-class really sets itself apart and jumps forward a generation.

From cool-vented seats that have several massage settings - and I mean finger-like knobs that knead from your lower back right up to your neck - to a reversing camera; from night-vision to adaptive cruise control; from all sorts of ecteteras, the S-500 is as advanced a car as can be produced.

Let me explain a few of the systems in action behind the scenes.

In addition to the usual assisted braking found on other cars, the S-class Brake Assist Plus uses forward-mounted radar to calculate the gap to vehicles ahead; so if the system determines that the gap is too small or the closing speed ahead is too high, it alerts the driver.

If BAS Plus determines a collision is imminent, it automatically calculates the amount of needed braking force and, the instant the driver touches the pedal, immediately brakes at the required level - even if the driver pushes the pedal too lightly.

The new radar-guided cruise-control system also has the ability to automatically bring the car to a complete stop, if need be, when the cruise control is being used, perhaps if the driver loses consciousness.

My test route for "deserving" cars includes a nice climb up the switchbacks of Jebel Hafeet. That put the air suspension, independent on all four wheels, and Active Body Control (ABC) to the test.

But the absolute coolest high-tech system on-board I felt was the night-view assist system. Using two active infrared and invisible headlamps to illuminate the road ahead, the infrared video of the view in front of the vehicle is magically displayed in the instrument cluster.

To conclude, Mercedes gives birth to a new world leader - the S-500 is a superb vehicle at the top of its class.