TESTED 16.12.20, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE ON SALE NOW: MERCEDES-BENZ S500L

摘要

New generation of the definitive luxury limo arrives in Britain with a straight six. "Hey Mercedes, I'm stressed" is all you need to say. In response, a swirly pattern will appear on the huge central touchscreen, the seats will begin massaging your back and the stereo will start playing soothing music. Ironically, trying to work out how to control all of these things is what made me stressed in the first place. The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, tested here in the UK for the first time, is a hugely complex piece of machinery from an interior technological standpoint. More so than from a conventional automotive engineering standpoint, at least in this S500 form. Heavily electrified versions of the S-Class are coming, but the S500 has a 3.0-litre turbo petrol straight six, driving via a nine-speed automatic gearbox to, in this 4Matic variant, all four wheels. It makes 430bhp and 3891b ft. Mild-hybrid 48V starter-generator aside, it's conventional technology.