THE STYLISTICS OF STUTTGART
Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic Edition 1 Coupe

Have you noticed that Mercedes-Benz has been turning out one incredibly stylish car after another? It’s no secret that they have some of the most talented designers in its design team. They are the Stylistics of Stuttgart. And the latest vehicle to receive the signature of the Stuttgart stylists is the new Mercedes-Benz 4Matic Edition 1 Coupe. Reviewer Harvey Schwartz just has four words: Betcha, By Golly, Wow. Story and pictures by Harvey Schwartz The all-new 2015 MB S550 4MATIC Edition 1 coupe is incredible in all respects. Mercedes-Benz has left no stone unturned when designing and engineering this awesome full-size coupe. Gone is the CL name and now it is known as the S550 coupe. Wow! Where to begin? This all-new high performance and super luxury coupe has it all-no detail overlooked, inside or outside and under the sheetmetal-it is all 1st. Class. After just one hour behind the wheel, I was in love with the car. I’m 6 feet 3 inches and it fit me perfect inside and it is a thrill a minute and uber luxurious. From any angle the car is low, long and sleek with the wheels brought out to the edge of the fenders. Mercedes-Benz calls the all-new design ‘sensual purity’ and is emphasized by the hallmark Mercedes dropping line. The long hood with pronounced lines and power domes, the low greenhouse with its high beltline, the accentuated wheel arches as well as the standard 19 inch wheels, optional (my S550 had them) 20 inch wheels, and the broad visual effect created by the rear, reinforce the S-Class coupe’s aspirations as a masterpiece of automotive refinement. With a wheelbase of 116 inches, the coupe is 198 inches long, with a width of 75 inches and a height of just 56 inches. Its convex and concave modeled surfaces lend the S-Class coupe a sensuous character. The sculpted appearance lends its classic elegance that forms a perfect synergy with modern design language. The view from the side is marked by the dropping line in keeping with the emotional character of the car. It underscores the brand-typical proportions like a signature. The line is deliberately reduced to the basics and creates a sensual timeless look. Features of the silhouette include steeply raked windshield A-pillars, 3D wide pull-perimeter chrome frame surrounding the thick acoustic glass, aero-styled/power-remote/power-folding/heated/self-dimming sideview mirrors with LED repeater signal lights, flared fenders, chrome pull-out door handles, dome-shaped stretched roof line, frameless doors and aero-styled deep lower side extensions that help channel air down to enhance downforce and stability.

The creative interaction of diverse design elements lends the S-Class coupe a superior self-confident front fascia. The chrome surrounded grille features three-dimensional diamonds whose structure is defined by rectangular, chrome-planted elements, a thick center chrome strip with the Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star prominent including one louvre. Just below is another large air-intake that channels air to the twin-turbochargers from the chrome splitter, and at the sides are giant honeycomb intakes to cool the oversize front brakes. The full-LED headlamps with their iconic eyebrows as daytime running lamps lend it an extremely self-assured and distinctive look. On the S-Class coupe the eyebrows have been further refined with a semi-circular counter-curve. In combination with the standard LED intelligent Light System, the Edition 1 S550 Special Edition that I am testing also features unique headlamps with no less than 47 Swarovski crystals with 17 angular crystals form the flared-shaped daytime running lamps and 30 round-shaped crystals making up the turn signal lamps. The rear fascia with its surfaces, broad shoulders and distinctive character lines rounds off the emotive overall appearance. Moving the license plate mounting to the lower part of the rear bumper is a particularly striking modification. It allows the trunk lid to be made especially sleek. The arrangement of the LEDs in two horizontal rows in the two-piece tail lamps reveal cutting-edge technology and underscores the sporty character of the rear. Part of the light functions is located in the wings, the other on the trunk lid. The two-part rear bumper underscores the sportiness shown in the front design. The diffuser, painted in high-sheen black, meets in equal measure the requirements made by aerodynamics and by design. Up top of the trunk lid is a lip spoiler and down below are integrated, dual, rectangular chrome exhaust outlets. From any angle this coupe is stunning and aerodynamic!

The S-Class coupe features a standard panorama roof extending over two-thirds of the entire vehicle roof. It appears almost 150 percent larger than last year’s CL coupe. MAGIC SKY CONTROL makes it possible to switch the transparency of the roof at the push of a button, from light to dark. When light, the roof is almost completely transparent and allows an open-air experience, even in the coldest weather. When dark, light transmission i.e. the proportion of outside light that is allowed through into the interior is reduced to less than one percentage and thus effectively diminishes heating up the vehicle. In addition, it is possible to shade the interior completely by pushing a button for the roller blind. The stunning luxury and sporty good looks are backed up by its high-performance engine, transmission, suspension, steering and braking systems. Power to quickly launch the all-new S550 coupe comes from the magnificent 4.7 liter Twin Turbocharged, DOHC, all-aluminum V8 engine with direct injection and VVT. It generates a very robust 449 horsepower at 5250-5550 rpm and a ground-shaking 516 pound-feet of twist at 3500 rpm with 90 percent of the peak torque at just 1,800 rpm. It helps the all-new coupe rocket to 60mph from a standstill in just 4.5 seconds. Torque is channeled to all for wheels and the 4MATIC system features Torque Vectoring to get the most from any of the front or rear drive wheels. There are two drive modes including ECO with Smart/Stop electronics to shut the engine when stopped at a light or when driving in heavy rush hour traffic enhancing fuel efficiency; Comfort and Sport. When taking it easy and leaving the transmission in Drive and the button in Comfort, the shifts are smooth and sure and the suspension just eats up any and all road imperfections. When I want to quicken my heartbeat and challenge my mettle, I can push the Sport button use the steering wheel paddle shifters that remap the RPMs, gear changes, steering, transmission and the AIRMATIC suspension and get pushed back into my seat by a muscled person. Idle rpms are increased, automatic shifts and paddle shifting gear changes are lighting quicker, the steering wheel feels heavier, is more responsive with razor sharp feedback and the AIRMATIC suspension tightens up to give me more confidence with amazing road hugging abilities, straight-ahead at triple-digit speeds and when attacking steep curving roads. It sticks like glue, the ride is like on rails.

Besides the ultra-power and performance, a new exhaust sound is heard. The emotive sound of the dual exhaust system makes a decisive contribution to the sporty driving experience. The deeper sound components ensure a fuller, sportier sound. In the transversally positioned rear silencer of the twin-pipe exhaust system there are two flaps that can be opened and closed pneumatically depending on the engine speed. When the flaps are open, the exhaust gases are conducted through the rear silencer along a different path so that the vehicle sound becomes more powerful. The switching points of the flaps depend upon the driver program selected-in the Sport program the flaps open earlier than in the ECO/Comfort program. As soon as I push the start button the power of the sound is heard and it is music to my ears! New this year is the Active Curve Tilting function. The S550 coupe leans into curves much like a motorcyclist, thereby reducing the lateral acceleration acting on me and my occupants. On country roads this means greater driving pleasure and ride comfort. Quickly slowing the all-new S550 4MATIC coupe down from speed are massive brakes. Up front are 14.57 inch internally vented and perforated rotors clamped with 6-piston calipers. At the rear are 14.47 inch internally vented and perforated rotors clamped with dual-piston calipers. The brakes have a great linear feel when pushed and are enhanced with standard ABS, BA, EBD, Pre-Brake, Adaptive Brake Tech and Brake Drying. These massive brakes give me the confidence to take the S550 coupe further into curves then explode out, and straight-ahead heading into another curve. The Edition 1 S550 4MATIC coupe rides on giant 20X9 inch AMG front wheels wrapped with Goodyear 245/40R20 and 20X10 inch rear wheels wrapped with 275/35R20 inch Goodyear Eagle F1 Run Flat, low-profile tires for excellent grip and a smooth, quiet ride.

Like the new S550 4MATIC Edition 1 coupe’s spectacular performance attributes, the interior matches with incredible luxury and sporty cues. Sensual Purity with a combination of sculptural sensations creates an avant-garde design. A high class appeal, quality workmanship and exceptional touch and feel are a treat for me and my passengers so that the coupe’s interior represents the highest level of ‘modern luxury’. The car’s dashboard fascinates with its spectacular architecture giving rise to a vehicle of unique character in the upper coupe segment. The dashboard is divided into a very clear top-layer section with an expansive ‘wrap-around’ effect extending to the doors, and an extremely low, sculptural ‘floating’ lower section. The striking architecture was made possible by repositioning the airbag to a completely new location. This enables the large, 12 inch, two-part wide-screen format TFT display to be placed in a prominent ‘hovering’ position in front of this trim surface. Easy to see and understand changes are easily made to both 12 inch screens by using the console buttons and large circular switch. Additionally, it is stylishly highlighted with an ambience lighting corona. Under the display, the sporty elevated center console extends to the rear area with all lids and armrests lavishly covered in leather as found all over the front and rear. The use of the finest materials, surfaces, color combinations and seam designs contribute towards achieving a truly exclusive car interior. Air vents, switches, seatbelt extender rosette and trim elements are in electroplated ‘Silver Shadow’. This gives the trim elements a particularly high value appeal and enhances the 3D effect of their surfaces. In front of the armrest the standard touchpad features a black high-sheen surface and chrome-look surround. As on a smartphone, the touchpad allows all the head-unit functions to be operated using finger gestures. The touchpad also permits letters, numbers and special characters to be entered in handwriting-in any of the head unit’s languages. Diverse controls, e.g. or the multi-media system, are arrayed as keys in a semicircle in front of the large circular central control switch. Both the front and rear seats have a pronounced sporty character-designo diamond backstitching pattern Bengal Red Nappa Leather with Active Multi-Contours/heated/cooled and massaging, including three-person memory for both front buckets. These seats are so comfortable and so sporty with the deeply cut side bolsters active in the turns to supremely keep me and front passenger snug when in Sport mode and attacking steeply curving roads. The front-seatbelts are integrated in the rear side paneling without interrupting the waistline with windows open; seatbelt extenders make them easily accessible for front seat occupants.

There is a fluid transition between the doors and the rear side paneling, emphasizing the vehicle’s well-being quality. Here too, surfaces and controls are masterfully executed in top-quality materials, the configuration with the optional (I had it in the Edition 1), Burnmester High-End 3D surround sound system with 24 speakers including an 8-inch subwoofer, located under the trunk floor, offers a magnificent sound system with the extra-thick window glass closed. The optional head-up display (my S550 4MATIC had it), brings important information directly into my field of vision, presenting it on the windshield to ensure less distraction from the traffic situation. This system shows vehicle speed, navigation instruction and driving assistance system messages. Sports car cues inside also include a sporty, 3-spoke, leather/wood/metallic/power tilt/telescopic/flat bottom steering wheel that feels so perfect in my hands, alloy foot pedals with rubber inserts, designo Dinamica full headliner and the aforementioned paddle shifters. The all-new 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 4MATIC Edition 1 Coupe is one of the great full-size ultra-high-performance and ultra-luxurious fullsize coupes on the market. Whether in Comfort mode or Sport mode, it combines the best of what an ultimate driving experience is all about-just cruising around town, on the highway, or just tearing up curving roads in high style, comfort, confidence, connectivity and safety. © Story and pictures by Harvey Schwartz SUMMARY JUDGMENT Stone in love with you. Got something to say? Add your Facebook comment regarding this article here. For more information about Mercedes-Benz products, go to mbusa.com

SPECIFICATIONS Name of vehicle: 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic Edition 1 Coupe Price: Price: $119.900.00-base/$149,575.00 as tested including $925.00 destination. EPA fuel economy rating: 16mpg city/24mpg highway Engine: 4.7 liter Twin Turbocharged, DOHC, all-aluminum V8 engine with direct injection and VVT Horsepower: 449 at 5,250-5,550 rpm Torque: 516 pound-feet at 3,500 rpm (90 percent of the peak torque at 1,800 rpm) Drive configuration: Front-engined, rear-wheel drive Brakes: 14.57 inch internally vented and perforated rotors clamped with 6-piston calipers up front and 14.47 inch internally vented and perforated rotors clamped with dual-piston calipers in the rear; standard ABS, BA, EBD, Pre-Brake, Adaptive Brake Tech and Brake Drying. Wheels and tires: 20X9 inch AMG front wheels and Goodyear 245/40R20 tires 20X10 inch rear wheels and 275/35R20 inch Goodyear Eagle F1 Run Flat, low-profile tires Dimensions Length: 197.9 inches Width: 74.76 inches excluding mirrors Height: 55.75 inches Curb weight: 4,707 pounds