Test Drive: 2014 Mercedes S500 | Dro4Cars

The History Behind The 2014 Mercedes S-Class?

Mercedes – Benz launched the first S-Class in 1972. Before this year there were three models which could be associated with this flagman model: ‘Ponton’ 1954, ‘Fintail’ 1958, and ‘W108’ 1965. The ‘S-class’ is an abbreviation from the German language word Sonderklasse which means ‘a special class’. This car is really special because this is a high level in automotive production and design to be a representative model for the business and political field.

2014 Mercedes – Benz S500 - headlights. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

Mercedes-Benz presented the prototype F700 of the current S-Class at the ‘2007 Frankfurt Motor Show’. The prototype had a futuristic design with vertical headlights which reminds us of the old times. The strangest thing in F700 was that three of the doors open normally but the right-back door opens in the opposite direction. I’m very happy that this innovation hasn’t come true.

What Is My Opinion About The 2014 Mercedes S500?

This was the very first time when I drove an S-Class. The feeling I got when I saw the Mercedes-Benz logo on the front hood from the driver's seat is amazing. There were power seats that you can adjust from the door panel. This is kind of a trademark for some Mercedes models. There is a huge space for driver and passenger next to it which is normal - you are in an S-Class. When I saw the pictures of the new Mercedes Benz S-Class I thought that the dashboard with the instrumental cluster is ugly: “Why did they have to integrate a 31.2” tablet in this car?!" I can't believe it. But, actually, in life, it looks better. The tachometer and speedometer are very readable. The second-night camera can be shown between them. The multimedia monitor is separated from the instrumental cluster and can split the display. This means that the driver can use the navigation system and the passenger can watch TV for example.

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - All Systems

Although this car is designed for pleasure riding, the driving itself is really great, too. The driver is assisted by a lot of systems. One of them watches your behavior in diapason from 60 to 200 km/h and if the system detects any deviation it can offer you to take a rest. It’s called ‘attention assist’.

The tested S 500 was equipped with a ‘stereo camera’ that recreates human vision.  This system can recognize and allocate, in terms of space, vehicles, pedestrians, and different types of traffic signs, even the road marking. The last parameter, which follows the road marking, is used in the ‘steer control’ system. This system gives the steering wheel impulses to locate the car in the middle of the road marking, despite that I drive the car.

‘Distronic plus’ detects the distance from the front car. In case of the distance decreases, the car will slow, even to a complete stop. Also, this system can detect if another car enters in your line which can be dangerous on a highway. I had a similar situation when I did the test drive but I wasn't pretty sure about this system and decided to slow down before the car's computer. When I touched the brake this system was deactivated and I had to slow down. I wasn’t prepared to make a crash test of a brand new Mercedes-Benz S 500. : )

 How Do The Safety Systems On The Mercedes S-Class Work?

Let’s put it this way – all of these detecting systems are radars. The radar systems send an impulse with a definite frequency. This impulse has a set speed and the computer calculates the time and distance of the impulse from the previous or front vehicle. After that, the computer analyses the traffic situation and makes decisions. Actually, this car is surrounded by radars.

2014 Mercedes S500 PRE-SAFE systems. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

2014 Mercedes S500 - The PRE-SAFE System 

This is a system that increases the safety of the car. If there are hazards the PRE-SAFE system prepares the passengers and the car for collision. The seat belts will attach the body to the seat. The passengers will be moved in the collision direction. Also, the passengers will be protected from harmful objects crashing into the car. This system can predict if there is a possibility of objects going into the car and in respect protects the passengers from harm. The same system tracks the objects in the car, for the same purpose. If there is an open window, this system will close it.

Another function is that this car can detect if another vehicle approaches at high speed. In this case, the rear hazards will be activated to warn the oncoming drivers. This is very useful because I had a situation in which some bus driver stopped in the trunk of my car.

This car is equipped with eight airbags located as follows:

-        in front: the driver and passenger with side airbags;

-        in back: the passenger's side airbag.

The window airbags are applied for side windows.

The brakes of the new S500 are the most important thing in dangerous situations. As standard at your disposal is BAS (Brake Assist System). As usual, there is an ABS that helps not to lose traction while driving. The BAS Plus can calculate the brake pressure in case the driver hits the brake but the car has to stop faster. When the driver's foot isn't on the gas pedal, the brake pads are closer to the ventilated disc – ‘adaptive brake’. This is good because in this way the time for stopping is less. Yes, with milliseconds but in critical situations, this will have a huge effect. Another interesting thing is a dry system for brakes which works simply. If a wet agent is detected on the disk, the system applies a lot of brake impulses that don’t interfere with the driver.

The 2014 Mercedes S500 With LED Intelligent Light System

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - front view. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

When we talk about lights, the most important thing is the light beam. With the older headlights with conventional bulbs, the reflector, which is behind the bulb, is very important, too. Because the reflector is а means to distribute the light beam.

The headlights in Mercedes-Benz are LED and the LED intelligent light system controls the light beam. This system can determine if there is oncoming traffic and will low the main beam so as not to dazzle the driver. If the driver catches a slow-moving car the light beam will go around the car that the Mercedes driver approaches. And all of this will be done automatically. It's amazing.

The all-new 2014 Mercedes S-Class - Engines

 The 2014 Mercedes S-Class is available with the following engines:

	S 350 BlueTec	S 500	S 63 AMG	S 63 AMG 4MATIC	S 400 HYBRID
Fuel	Diesel	Petrol	Petrol	Petrol	Petrol
Cylinder arrangement/number	V6	V8	V8	V8	V6
Total displacement in cc	2987	4663	5461	5461	3498
Rated output1 in kW (hp) @ rpm	190 (258)@3600	335 (455) @ 5250 - 5500	430 (585) @ 5500	430 (585) @ 5500	225 (306) @ 6500*
Rated torque1 in Nm @ rpm	620 @ 1600 - 2400	700 @ 1800 – 3500	900 @ 2250 – 3750		370 @ 3500 - 5250
Transmission	7G-TRONIC PLUS		AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission		7G-TRONIC PLUS
Tyre size	245/55 R 17	245/50 R 18	255/45 ZR 19 front axle  285/45 ZR 19 rear axle		245/55 R 17
Fuel consumption in l/100 km
Urban (long-wheelbase version)	7.3-7.0 (7.4-7.1)	12.8-12.1 (12.8-12.1)	13.8 (-)	- (14.1)	7.4 – 6.6 (7.4 – 6.6)
Extra-urban (long-wheelbase version)	5.1 – 4.7 (5.2 – 4.8)	7.1 - 6.4 (7.1 - 6.4)	7.9 (-)	- (8.1)	6.5 – 6.1 (6.5 – 6.1)
Combined (long-wheelbase version)	5.9 – 5.5 (6.0 – 5.6)	9.1 – 8.6 (9.1 – 8.6)	10.1 (-)	- (10.3)	6.8 – 6.3 (6.8 – 6.3)

            *Electric motor 20 kW.

All engines are electronically controlled at 250 km/h. The tested car was S500 and here’s a bit more on the acceleration.

It’s unbelievable. I was left completely speechless for a long time. When I drove the car, with me was a co-driver and he said that this car is designed to isolate you from the outside world. This man is absolutely right. Speed doesn’t matter. It looks the same when I drove at 50 km/h and over 130 km/h but the feeling of acceleration is different.

The 7G-TRONIC PLUS Transmission Changes The Gears Very Smoothly

This gearbox is designed for low consumption of fuel but at the same time, it gives you powerful acceleration. When I did a kick-down the reaction was sudden. I didn’t realize when the transmission downshift the gears. The driving modes are Economy, Sport, and Manual. The driver can choose from economic to dynamic drive. The driver can shift the gear by the paddles behind the steering wheel – just like in sports cars. Also behind the steering wheel is the DIRECT SELECT gearshift controller with the following options: P – park; R – reverse N – neutral and D – drive.

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - side view. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The Suspension Of The 2014 Mercedes S 500

The AIRMATIC is an air suspension system that is equipped as the standard in Mercedes-Benz S-Class. This system works in combination with stepless damping control system. It's created to decrease the road roar and tire vibrations. The damping is adjusted on each wheel to the actual driving situation. The driver can choose between comfort or sport modes.

The Comfort Inside The 2014 Mercedes S 500

TheThe 2014 Mercedes S500 - steering wheel. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

Regardless of whether we speak of the driver or the passenger seats, the S-Class is comfortable by the standard. The front and rear seats are like armchairs and can be power adjusted for personal needs. I was impressed when I drove this 2014 Mercedes S500 and during the turnings, the backrest side frames supported my body so I'm not to tilt in the turning direction. This function works at a slower speed too. By the way, there is an ionization system and a few perfumes of choice which can create a fine atmosphere. 

The Story of Bertha Benz And The Innovations of Mercedes

The innovation. Probably many of you know the story about Bertha Benz, the wife of the founder of Mercedes-Benz – Karl Benz. Bertha Benz was the first woman to drive a car in the world. The very first trip was from Mannheim to Pforzheim, 125 years ago.

Now the Mercedes-Benz presents an intelligent system that can drive the car autonomously. The test was made on the same route – from  Mannheim to Pforzheim. There is a detection system that can recognize the traffic signs and can analyze the traffic situation.

The 2014 Mercedes S-Class - Dimenssions:

Length (long-wheelbase): 5,116 mm (5246 mm) | 201.41 in (206.54 in);
Height: 1,496 mm | 58.90 in
Width (with mirrors): 2,130 mm | 83.86 in

Wheel-base (long): 3,035 mm (3,165 mm) | 119.49 in (124.61 in)

Front/rear wheel-base: 1,624 mm / 1,637 mm | 63.94 in / 64.45 in

There are a few engines to choose from including the AMG model. I did a test drive of the S 500 by my standards it's a very good car for the very first luxury model. The 7G-Tronic transmission of the 2014 Mercedes S-Class changes the gears smoothly and when kicked down the pedal the 2014 S-Class accelerates immediately. The acceleration is awesome, I have no words to describe it. There are sixteen different rims and six of them are with the AMG logo. The size begins from 17” to 20”.

As I’m writing this, I think about what will be the next model on my collection list. And the most important question is - What can the BMW 7 Series say? 

2014 Mercedes S500 - Gallery

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - rear and side view. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - rearview. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - tail lights. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - side view. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - night view assist. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - infotaiment system. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - air vents, climate control buttons, and Menu button.
| Image: Dro4Cars.com |

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - central console. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - remote control for the infotainment system. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - some storage space below the cental console. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - rear seats climate control. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - driver's door. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - front armrest storage compartment. | Image: Dro4Cars.com

The 2014 Mercedes S500 - dashboard. | Image: Dro4Cars.com