Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart, Germany, Sep 07, 2010

Mercedes-Benz S-Class with three new engines: New benchmark for efficiency in the luxury class

With two all-new V6 and V8 direct petrol injection engines and the uprated V6 BlueTEC diesel, starting immediately the Mercedes-Benz S-Class redefines the yardstick for efficiency in its segment: the 225 kW (306 hp) V6 petrol engine in the S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY obtains a combined fuel consumption of only 7.6 litres of premium petrol per 100 kilometres (NEDC). The reduction of fuel consumption by about 24 percent compared with the previous model makes the luxury saloon the most economical petrol-powered model in its category. The CO2 emissions decline from 234 grams per kilometre to 177. The V8 biturbo engine of the S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY with peak output of 320 kW (435 hp) is content with 9.4 litres of premium petrol per 100 kilometres. This equates to a reduction in consumption of around 15 percent versus the predecessor; the CO2 emissions drop from 258 to 219 grams per kilometre. Tops in economy is the new S 350 BlueTEC. With a combined consumption of only 6.8 litres of diesel fuel per 100 kilometres – this works out to CO2 emissions of 177 grams per kilometre – it is eleven percent more economical than its predecessor and at the same time the most fuel-efficient S-Class of all time. Thanks to AdBlue® emission control the 190 kW (258 hp) V6 also ranks among the world's cleanest diesel engines and already meets the stringent EU6 standard now.


Mercedes-Benz achieves this clear leap in efficiency in the petrol variants S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY and S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY through the combination of the standard automatic start/stop function with the extensively updated 7G-TRONIC PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission and the newly developed BlueDIRECT technology package, the heart of which is the third-generation spray-guided direct petrol injection including multiple injection and multi-spark ignition. The two petrol engines are representatives of a new Mercedes-Benz engine family with a large range of displacements and outputs. Its trademark is a modular concept which permits the flexible integration of turbochargers and a combination with 4MATIC all-wheel drive and hybrid modules.

S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY: up to 24 percent lower consumption

The design highlights of the 3.5-litre V6 in the S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY include a completely new air intake and exhaust system in conjunction with a variable resonance intake manifold and optimised inflow and backflow. Result: with the same displacement, the output compared with the previous 200 kW (272 hp) model rose by 12.5 percent to 225 kW (306 hp), while maximum torque has increased by 5.7 percent to 370 Newton metres (predecessor: 350 Nm) and now is available over a broad engine speed range from 3500 to 5250 rpm.

Parallel to this substantial increase in power the Mercedes engineers achieved an even more impressive reduction in fuel consumption. The predecessor's NEDC consumption was already a good 10.0 litres of premium petrol per 100 kilometres, but now has been cut by almost a quarter. The new V6 petrol engine in the S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY is content with 7.6 litres per 100 kilometres. That adds up to savings of 2.4 litres or 24 percent and makes the S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY the most economical petrol model in the luxury class. The CO2 emissions also have fallen by 24 percent – from 234 to 177 grams per kilometre. The S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY combines excellent consumption figures with dynamic performance, managing to accelerate from standstill to a speed of 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. Top speed is 250 km/h (electronically limited).

The ultramodern V6 engine is naturally aspirated, but it is suitable for the future use of a turbocharger thanks to the modular design concept. The most striking change between the new V6 unit and its predecessor is a reduction in the V-angle between the cylinder banks from 90 degrees to 60 degrees. This enables the primary balancer shaft to be omitted, and as a result the driver registers an outstanding level of comfort.

Key figures for the new V6 petrol engine

Cylinder arrangement/number - V6
Displacement (cc) - 3498
Bore (mm) - 92.9
Stroke (mm) - 86
Compression ratio - 12.2:1
Output (kW at rpm) - 225 at 6500
Torque (Nm at rpm) - 370 at 3500-5250

S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY: more powerful, more economical, more efficient

The new V8 biturbo engine in the S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY generates 320 kW (435 hp) with 15 percent less displacement (4663 instead of 5461 cc), getting around twelve percent more power than its 285 kW (388 hp) predecessor. Torque rose from 530 to 700 Newton metres – an increase of 32 percent.

Despite substantial extra power, the Mercedes developers were able to cut the combined fuel consumption of the S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY noticeably. At 9.4 litres of premium petrol per 100 kilometres, fuel economy is 15.5 percent (short wheelbase) and 16 percent (long wheelbase) better than in the previous model. An outstanding figure for the luxury class, it is equivalent to CO2 emissions of 219 grams per kilometre.

The excellent efficiency goes hand in hand with superior performance: the S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY sprints from zero to 100 km/h in impressive 5.0 seconds. Top speed is 250 km/h (electronically limited).

Key figures for the new V8 biturbo engine

Cylinder arrangement/number - V8
Displacement (cc) - 4663
Bore (mm) - 92.9
Stroke (mm) - 86
Compression ratio - 10.5:1
Output (kW at rpm) - 320 at 5250
Torque (Nm at rpm) - 700 at 1800-3500

The Mercedes-Benz engineers achieved the combination of higher output and more torque from a smaller displacement mainly through the use of two turbochargers – one per cylinder bank. They force the intake air into the eight combustion chambers at an overpressure of up to 0.9 bar. The turbochargers are designed so that they provide high torque at low engine speeds.

BlueDIRECT technology makes V6 and V8 engines fit for the future

The power plants of the S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY and S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY are representatives of a new generation of BlueDIRECT V6 and V8 engines. With its new-generation V-engines, Mercedes-Benz is clearly demonstrating that with concerted further development, internal combustion engines still have a great deal of potential, and that V6 and V8 engines with their high level of refinement also have a future.

Centrepiece of the BlueDIRECT technology package is the improved third-generation direct injection with spray-guided combustion and piezo injectors. In combination with multi-spark ignition it taps further possibilities for improving consumption – in the V8 unit through a further developed homogeneous combustion process ("homogeneous split"); in the V6 engine through a new stratified combustion method with a much larger useful engine characteristic map and lean-burn combustion for optimum consumption ("homogeneous stratified mode"). As the name indicates, the HOS method is a combination of homogeneous-lean and conventional stratified combustion. The first injection takes place during the intake stroke so that a homogeneous base mixture is formed. The "stratified" injection proper takes place during the compression stroke prior to ignition, as map-controlled single or double injection.

Combining start-stop technology, shift point adjustment and thorough reduction of friction losses, the Mercedes developers have achieved improvements in road consumption of more than 20 percent. In addition they have reduced the power consumption of the engine accessories. Among other things the S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY and S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY get an optimised water pump with second-generation thermal management, a demand-controlled oil pump, a volume-controlled high-pressure fuel pump and an intelligent alternator management system with braking energy recuperation. To reduce the engines' fuel consumption further, the S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY and S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY also get the ECO start/stop function, which shuts off the engine when the car stops, at traffic lights for example.

S 350 BlueTEC: highly efficient, clean, powerful

The new S 350 BlueTEC develops an output of 190 kW (258 hp) from a displacement of 2987 cc. This is ten percent more than the previous model, which delivered 173 kW (235 hp). The torque of the V6 diesel has increased by 15 percent from 540 to impressive 620 Newton metres. Despite much improved performance, with a combined consumption of 6.8 litres of diesel fuel per 100 kilometres the S 350 BlueTEC beats its predecessor by 0.8 litres or eleven percent, making it the most economical S-Class of all time. The CO2 emissions likewise have fallen by eleven percent, from 199 to 177 grams per kilometre. The highly efficient V6 diesel gives the luxury saloon effortlessly superior performance: it sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds; top speed is 250 km/h (electronically limited).

Moreover, the S 350 BlueTEC ranks among the world's cleanest diesel models: BlueTEC is a technology developed by Mercedes-Benz to reduce emissions from diesel vehicles, in particular nitrogen oxides. To this end AdBlue®, an aqueous urea solution, is injected into the exhaust flow. This releases ammonia, which converts up to 80 percent of nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and water in the downstream SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalytic converter. As a result, the S 350 BlueTEC already complies with the emission levels which are planned for 2014 with the introduction of the EU6 standard. The AdBlue® tank is installed under the luggage compartment floor and has a capacity of 25.7 litres. The tank is replenished at the regular maintenance intervals every 25,000 kilometres.

Key figures for the new V6 diesel engine

Cylinder arrangement/number - V6
Displacement (cc) - 2987
Bore (mm) - 83
Stroke (mm) - 92
Compression ratio - 15.5:1
Output (kW at rpm) - 190 at 3600
Torque (Nm at rpm) - 620 at 1600-2400

Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist

In parallel with the CL-Class, Mercedes-Benz is also introducing two new safety systems for the S-Class which can help to avoid dangerous situations and accidents. When the wheels pass over a broken lane marking, the system activates an electric motor in the steering wheel which triggers brief vibrations – a subtle but effective warning signal. Active Lane Keeping Assist takes effect when the vehicle unintentionally passes over a continuous line to the right or left of the lane. In this case it gently brakes the rear wheel on the opposite side of the vehicle to counteract the drift away from the lane. Active Lane Keeping Assist employs the Electronic Stability Program ESP® for this purpose.

Active Blind Spot Assist is now available as a further new feature for the S-Class. This system warns the driver by means of a red signal in the glass of the exterior mirror when it detects that changing the lane may lead to an accident. Close-range radar sensors scan the area directly alongside and behind the car for this purpose. If the driver ignores the warnings and a vehicle in the neighbouring lane comes dangerously near – when cutting in after overtaking, for example – gentle corrective braking intervention will take place via ESP® on the wheels on the opposite side of the vehicle. This results in slight yawing of the saloon around its vertical axis as a result of the varying brake force distribution. Where an accident is nevertheless unavoidable, braking intervention by Active Blind Spot Assist helps to reduce the severity of impact.

Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist are available for the S-Class now as part of the Driving Assistance package Plus.

New leather appointments with stitching

To personalise the interior of the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz is also offering new, high-quality leather appointments which underscore the luxury saloon's exclusive character. A defining feature is the contrasting stitching on the PASSION leather package and the Exclusive PASSION leather package (standard for S 600). Colours and scope of appointments vary according to upholstery and package contents.

The PASSION leather package features the stitching on the fine leather of the seats and armrests as well as on the top and bottom of the instrument panel support and the door panelling, all of which are finished in ARTICO, a man-made leather which is pleasant to the touch. The Exclusive PASSION leather package features seats, armrests, instrument panel support, door linings, ruffled pockets and a rear shelf in fine leather with contrasting stitching. Alcantara is used for the roof liner and to cover the A-, B- and C-pillars.

Tailor-made high-end sound system

The new Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG sound system tailored to the luxury saloon's interior is available as a further new feature for the S-Class (standard for S 65 AMG). A combination of 15 loudspeakers and two amplifiers with a total output of 1200 W ensures a thrilling quality of sound from this high-end system. The algorithm of the digital sound processor allows a choice between high-end studio sound and surround sound, and the audio output can be focused exactly on the seat positions of the driver, front-passenger, rear seats or the centre of the interior.
Music can be enjoyed on long trips without tiring the listeners, thanks in particular to the dynamic compensation of driving noise. The digital sound processor analyses all the frequency bands and increases the volume according to the vehicle's speed – via individual adjustment of each loudspeaker and the different frequency ranges.

The S-Class with the new BlueDIRECT petrol engines can be ordered starting at the end of September. The S 350 BlueTEC already is on display in the showrooms of the sales outlets of the Stuttgart car brand and its authorised dealers. The price is 76,279 euros.