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2014 Mercedes-Benz S550, your self-driving luxury suite awaits

  • There are about 16,000 actions, previously left to the hands and feet and eyes of the driver, which the S550 can now perform with complete autonomy.
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    There are about 16,000 actions, previously left to the hands and feet and eyes of the driver, which the S550 can now perform with complete autonomy.
  • These include starting, stopping, steering, braking, remaining in a lane, avoiding a head-on collision, avoiding a cross-traffic collision, fending off a rear-end collision, spotting street signs, reading street signs, spotting wildlife, parallel parking, right-angle parking, maintaining a safe following speed, spotting pedestrians, avoiding killing pedestrians and flashing the high beams at pedestrians spotted on the side of the roadway at night.
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    These include starting, stopping, steering, braking, remaining in a lane, avoiding a head-on collision, avoiding a cross-traffic collision, fending off a rear-end collision, spotting street signs, reading street signs, spotting wildlife, parallel parking, right-angle parking, maintaining a safe following speed, spotting pedestrians, avoiding killing pedestrians and flashing the high beams at pedestrians spotted on the side of the roadway at night.
  • The twin-turbocharged V-8, while displacing 4.6 liters in violation of traditional Daimler nomenclature, puts out a creamily potent 455 hp and a Caterpillar-esque 516 lb-ft of torque, which pulls the 17-foot, 4,300 lb. behemoth to 60 mph in a manufacturer estimated 4.8 seconds. (The inevitable S63 AMG, which we expect to see revealed at or before the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, should improve on this.)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    The twin-turbocharged V-8, while displacing 4.6 liters in violation of traditional Daimler nomenclature, puts out a creamily potent 455 hp and a Caterpillar-esque 516 lb-ft of torque, which pulls the 17-foot, 4,300 lb. behemoth to 60 mph in a manufacturer estimated 4.8 seconds. (The inevitable S63 AMG, which we expect to see revealed at or before the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, should improve on this.)
  • The exhaust does not bark, even if held to redline via the steering wheel’s paddle shifters in one of the transmission’s seven gears — instead releasing a maundering zephyric undertone, like that in a private jet or a Christopher Nolan film.
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    The exhaust does not bark, even if held to redline via the steering wheel’s paddle shifters in one of the transmission’s seven gears — instead releasing a maundering zephyric undertone, like that in a private jet or a Christopher Nolan film.
  • The 18-inch standard wheels keep their rubber properly planted to any surface, via a quartet of shocks and continuously adjustable air springs, with an optional assist from MAGIC BODY CONTROL, which emits indomitable laser frequencies that seemingly pulverize into flowing silicone any proximate road imperfection.
    5/29

    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    The 18-inch standard wheels keep their rubber properly planted to any surface, via a quartet of shocks and continuously adjustable air springs, with an optional assist from MAGIC BODY CONTROL, which emits indomitable laser frequencies that seemingly pulverize into flowing silicone any proximate road imperfection.
  • And what a lovely structure it is. We personally felt that the outgoing S Class, the W221, had an uncouth appearance that was half bluster and half blather, with goofy cartoonish eyeballs and steroidal muscle bulges that put us more in mind of Mighty Mousen than a real Masters of the Universe.
    6/29

    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    And what a lovely structure it is. We personally felt that the outgoing S Class, the W221, had an uncouth appearance that was half bluster and half blather, with goofy cartoonish eyeballs and steroidal muscle bulges that put us more in mind of Mighty Mousen than a real Masters of the Universe.
  • The new car, coded W222, smoothes out all of those crests, leaving a car that has an almost Italianate elegance without sacrificing any of the Teutonic purposefulness.
    7/29

    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    The new car, coded W222, smoothes out all of those crests, leaving a car that has an almost Italianate elegance without sacrificing any of the Teutonic purposefulness.
  • The car is larger than its predecessor, but its refined cohesiveness, and the absence of overwrought “design” details that have plagued recent Benzes, make it appear more taut. If anything, the truncated trunk, while nicely integrated, might be a bit too small for a car of this scale.
    8/29

    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    The car is larger than its predecessor, but its refined cohesiveness, and the absence of overwrought “design” details that have plagued recent Benzes, make it appear more taut. If anything, the truncated trunk, while nicely integrated, might be a bit too small for a car of this scale.
  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  • Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse, (W 222), 2012
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse, (W 222), 2012
  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
  • Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
  • Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
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    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
There are about 16,000 actions, previously left to the hands and feet and eyes of the driver, which the S550 can now perform with complete autonomy.
These include starting, stopping, steering, braking, remaining in a lane, avoiding a head-on collision, avoiding a cross-traffic collision, fending off a rear-end collision, spotting street signs, reading street signs, spotting wildlife, parallel parking, right-angle parking, maintaining a safe following speed, spotting pedestrians, avoiding killing pedestrians and flashing the high beams at pedestrians spotted on the side of the roadway at night.
The twin-turbocharged V-8, while displacing 4.6 liters in violation of traditional Daimler nomenclature, puts out a creamily potent 455 hp and a Caterpillar-esque 516 lb-ft of torque, which pulls the 17-foot, 4,300 lb. behemoth to 60 mph in a manufacturer estimated 4.8 seconds. (The inevitable S63 AMG, which we expect to see revealed at or before the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, should improve on this.)
The exhaust does not bark, even if held to redline via the steering wheel’s paddle shifters in one of the transmission’s seven gears — instead releasing a maundering zephyric undertone, like that in a private jet or a Christopher Nolan film.
The 18-inch standard wheels keep their rubber properly planted to any surface, via a quartet of shocks and continuously adjustable air springs, with an optional assist from MAGIC BODY CONTROL, which emits indomitable laser frequencies that seemingly pulverize into flowing silicone any proximate road imperfection.
And what a lovely structure it is. We personally felt that the outgoing S Class, the W221, had an uncouth appearance that was half bluster and half blather, with goofy cartoonish eyeballs and steroidal muscle bulges that put us more in mind of Mighty Mousen than a real Masters of the Universe.
The new car, coded W222, smoothes out all of those crests, leaving a car that has an almost Italianate elegance without sacrificing any of the Teutonic purposefulness.
The car is larger than its predecessor, but its refined cohesiveness, and the absence of overwrought “design” details that have plagued recent Benzes, make it appear more taut. If anything, the truncated trunk, while nicely integrated, might be a bit too small for a car of this scale.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse, (W 222), 2012
Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
Mercedes-Benz S-Class interior
Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 350 BlueTec (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)
Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID (W 222)

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 can drive itself.



This is not hyperbole, but an indubitable fact. Twist the key in the starter and slide the memory stick-sized column shifter into D, and sit back and relax. The car’s suite of stereoscopic cameras, radar sensors and ultrasonic gewgaws create what Mercedes — in a Snowden-level defection from Earth-bound physics — calls “6-D Vision.” This double-down dimensionality apparently endows the vehicle’s robot brain with an omnipotence once ascribed solely to God.



Bow deep, luxury shopper. The automotive world has a new deity. [By Justin Hyde, Yahoo! Autos]