Designing The All-New S-Class Mercedes Benz

Designing The All-New 2014 S-Class Mercedes Benz

Mercedes-Benz just introduced a super-detailed video that showcases the design process it incorporated into developing the all-new 2014 Mercedes Benz S-Class. 

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has historically been the model that incorporates highly innovative features that over time make it into less expensive models, and often times end up on other manufactures models. 

An example of this would be Mercedes introducing ABS brakes in 1978. Mercedes did not invent ABS, but along with Bosch, developed the modern ABS system and was the first to make it standard on the S-Class in 1979 in the 280SE (W 116). In 1984 Mercedes-Benz ABS standard in all their vehicles.

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the first car ever made that does not use any traditional incandescent light bulbs. Instead, the whole care uses LED lighting. As a matter of fact, the 2014 S-Class has close to 500 LED lights, of which 300 are located inside the passenger compartment, which can change in seven colors, with four dimming zones that have 5 dimming levels. The headlights each have 56 LED lights, and the taillights have 25 each!!!

Until the Lexus LS came along in 1989 the Mercedes S-Class was the King Of The Hill, but ever since, Mercedes and Lexus have been going head to head, with Lexus winning–in my opinion.

Lexus is so well aware of this, for the first time they went past the typical six year complete model overhaul, and kept the current Lexus LS model for a 7th year. Why? I suspect it is because Lexus was concerned with the all-new 2014 Mercedes S-Class and knew Mercedes was aiming over Lexus' head, and it appears Mercedes pulled out all the stops, and leapfrogged the Lexus LS, by a long-shot. 

Speaking of long-shots, the new standard S-Class is 206.5 inches long, which also contributes to is largesse. Contrast this with the standard 2013 Lexus LS which is 200 inches long. Contrast this with the longer wheelbase 2013 Lexus LS L which is 205 inches long.

The new S-Class Mercedes-Benz now smokes the Lexus LS in performance, luxury and technological prowess. It will be fascinating to see how Lexus responds in 2015. Until then, it looks like Mercedes just took back the crown, and it appears to have plans not to give it back. 

There are of course, other competitors to the Mercedes S-Class, in particular, the Tesla Model S, which is probably more innovative since it is all electric, but it lacks the 2014 S-Class Luxury features. While there are other competitors worth mentioning like the BMW 7 Series, and perhaps the Audi S8, I think it is safe to say the 2014 S-Class is now the one to beat. The all new S550 S-Class does 0-60MPH in a respectable 4.8 seconds, which is significantly faster than its outgoing predecessor which did it in 5.4 seconds. Also, the all-new 2014 AWD AMG version of the S-Class rockets from 0-60 MPH in only 3.8 seconds!!!

I remember watching 60 Minutes many years ago, and they referred to the Mercedes Benz S-Class as being the car that men own, who tell other men what to do.

I highly recommend watching this fascinating video!

2014 Mercedes-Benz S65 AWG W222

Testing Hard At the Nürburgring Ring