2015 Mercedes-Benz S 600

The latest version of the Mercedes-Benz S 600 has just made its world debut at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Being the top-spec model in the S-Class range, it comes as no suprise the S 600 comes well armed, with both power and refinement featured in equal measure.  Ola Källenius, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars said of the new S 600: “The S-Class has always been the embodiment of our claim to deliver the very best in terms of both technology and design. And our flagship model, the S 600, epitomises the focus of our development work, the ‘Essence of Luxury’, in a way that no other model can. Our customers in North America and Asia in particular will enjoy this new top model with its exciting V12 engine.”

With an output of 530 hp, the V12 biturbo engine in the S 600 packs a bigger punch than its predecessor did with 517 hp. The displacement of the engine has increased from 5,513 to 5,980 cc. The maximum torque of 830 Nm is available from 1,900 rpm. The S 600 now for the first time features the ECO start/stop function as standard, which contributes to the car reaching the Euro 6 emissions standard.

But as well as having a monster engine, the S 600 also has the refinement and technology S-Class buyers have come to expect. From March, all the functions of the head unit can be controlled by fingertip gesture, as with a smartphone, from the new, optional touchpad. In addition, the touchpad allows letters, numbers and special characters to be entered in handwriting – in any language that is available on the head unit. The touchpad thus offers an additional, full-function input option over and above the existing COMAND Controller and LINGUATRONIC.

A head-up display is also available, it displays important information directly in the driver’s field of view on the front windscreen, so ensuring that the driver’s attention is distracted less from the road ahead. The system provides information on speed, speed limits and navigation instructions, for example.

Replacing COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST on the S-Class now is COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS as standard. In addition to the adaptive Brake Assist system, which helps to protect against collisions at speeds of over 4 mph, this system now features a further function: if the danger of collision persists and the driver fails to respond, the system is able to carry out autonomous braking at speeds of up to 124 mph, thereby reducing the severity of collisions with slower or stopping vehicles. The system also brakes in response to stationary vehicles at a speed of up to 31 mph and is able to prevent rear-end collisions at up to 25 mph.