S-Class (W222/C217/A217) [Official] Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222)

[MAJESTIC]

This picture alone tells the whole story between the S and its competition:.

Yep.... effortless superiority

 

[HighestOfHigh]

This would be my choice without a doubt.

 

[Merc1]

A look back at Magic Body Control:

Suppliers and carmakers often invite us to tech days to show off their latest gadgets and gizmos. But while it's always great to speak with the engineers, the new technology often turns out to be little more than a gimmick or—even worse—yet another killjoy nanny system introduced to keep you “safe.”

So our expectations were not at an all-time high as we traveled to Stuttgart last week to drive the next iteration of Mercedes' Active Body Control (ABC) suspension. As we sat down with S-class project leader Hans Multhaupt and the company's super-brain, Prof. Bharat Balasubramanian—he’s the head of product innovations and process technologies at corporate research and advanced engineering (whew!)—the first surprise was the name of the system: "Magic Body Control.” What, not another ASSIST or something-TRONIC (capital letters Mercedes' own)? Nope, and this marks the beginning of a new nomenclature, where the brand's coolest high-tech options—defined, it says, as those with the most tangible customer benefit and the biggest wow factor—will use the "Magic" appellation from now on.

Mercedes' current ABC system uses a hydraulic piston to act on each steel coil spring to quickly and independently adjust the suspension on each wheel in reaction to the road surface, and it does a fine job keeping the ride smooth and occupants unjostled. But the key term there is “reaction”—the suspension deals with the bumps after the wheel has encountered them. What if the car knew what was coming in advance, with absolute certainty and down to every imperfection? The oil flow at each corner could be adjusted so accurately that any surface flaw could be practically neutralized.

That's exactly what Magic Body Control intends to do. A camera situated at the top of the windshield scans the road ahead, analyzing its flaws and blemishes, and feeds that data directly to the ABC system's control unit. The camera scans the area 15 to 45 feet in front of the car, and it can detect and measure imperfections as small as 0.4 to 0.8 inch. In doing so, the system knows exactly what the tires will encounter just fractions of a second into the future. The series-production use of a camera to gather road data is different from the laser-based approach used on the F700 concept, where the technology was called PRE-SCAN. The camera also feeds information to the Distronic cruise control. "We are putting a lot of effort into sensor fusion," says Balasubramanian. "It's a matter of programming the right algorithms."

Sounds Like Magic, but Does It Work?

Okay, so the system knows about the road surface, but how does it actually feel behind the wheel or from the passenger seat? Well, "magic" pretty accurately describes it. Drive a bumpy, lumpy road with the system turned off and then with Magic Body Control activated, and the difference is nearly unbelievable. We tested the system on truly nasty surfaces, and it ironed out the bumps to such an extent that we felt like we were essentially driving on a smooth road. On one run, we approached a visibly scarred road—the type where everyone in the car frantically searches for a handhold in anticipation—at a wildly excessive speed, and the suspension shrugged it off, keeping the body level and passenger compartment relatively serene. Wow factor, indeed.

What the system cannot do is iron out steep and very short bumps, such as roadside curbs, at least not to any extent beyond the regular ABC suspension. But the elimination of pretty much every other bump makes travel on highways and country roads so much more comfortable that it likely will give Mercedes a significant edge among luxury-minded consumers. We also were told that the technology was not created by a supplier and Mercedes will not offer it for sale or licensing. The brand, however, is considering offering the regular, non-magical ABC suspension to competitors.

Three years of work have gone into the new system, and it will be another three years or so before it becomes available to buyers in the next-generation S-class and CL-class. By then, Mercedes expects to shrink the components so that the system will take up far less space than on the prototype we drove, the trunk of which was stuffed with computers.

Would Magic Body Control appear in less pricey vehicles? Balasubramanian says that isn’t likely to happen any time soon, as those vehicles would need to already offer the base ABC suspension. Also, ABC is already some 30 pounds heavier than the S-class’s standard air suspension and packaging its bulky components in smaller vehicles would prove difficult. Mercedes was attempting to shrink the system as part of a development program inventively dubbed "ABC Compact," but that project was put on hold. We’d love to see what Magic Body Control could do if applied to a smaller, more sporting vehicle—improving at-the-limit stability over mid-corner bumps, for example—but a flagship has to reserve something for itself, right?

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/mercedes-benz-news-magic-body-control-system-driven


Amazing what nearly 3 years of development work can do. Remember when we were all gasping looking at the modified W221? This feature, provided it works in the real world and does so as advertised, will revolutionize the segment. Lexus will be first in line to buy a W222 S550 with this feature to reverse engineer it and BMW and Audi will take more than a passing glance I'm sure.


M

 

[Human]

This picture alone tells the whole story between the S and its competition:

Sorry, but this exact photo ^ proves (as far as I can trust my eyes) the WHOLE door is not covered in leather(bottom part look synthetic). Thus then and there it lacks behind the Ghost and Flying Spur. Pitty...

Btw, thanks for the Hi-res photo's Nevertheless fit and finish is absolutely stunning.


@klier as much as we both adore the rear bench, the standard one looks daft IMO. Below..

 

[Dawid21]

If someone had the opportunity to sit in the S class W222? I'm curious how impressions...

http://www.autoweek.nl/forum/read.php?4,5117959,5117959,page=1#msg-5117959

 

[BKK-ES]

I wonder why they change MBC system from laser to camera scanner. Cost? By the way, I really want to see the comparison between ABC and MBC.

 

[Human]

I wonder why they change MBC system from laser to camera scanner. Cost? By the way, I really want to see the comparison between ABC and MBC.

And with Airmatic standard is MBC (ABC based) the next and only option OR can you still have ABC as an option on the 6-cyl models?

 

[Dawid21]

Magic body control -Only in the S500 and S500 Long

 

[Human]

And with Airmatic standard is MBC (ABC based) the next and only option OR can you still have ABC as an option on the 6-cyl models?

Magic body control -Only in the S500 and S500 Long

I know MBC is for the 8-cylinder models only. BUT is ABC available on the 6-cylinder models as an option? I assume with MBC being based on ABC, just the new soft and hardware added i.e. the road scan camera etc. there is only the standard Airmatic (of which in turn also has been upgraded) available for the 6-cylinder models.

In the end if you buy a W222 6-cylinder you should have worked or studied harder for you will be left out of THE mayor technical toy (MBC) and feel you have failed yourself

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

LOL. I disagree. I find the limitation of ABC and Magic Body Control to the V8 models an archaic mindset by Mercedes. Case in point, my father could afford an S500 or S600, but would never consider a V8 as it is simply beyond what he requires. I'm sure there are many others out there who would happily option their S350's with Magic Body Control if it were available.

 

[klier]

^ For the price difference between S350 and S500 you can almost buy an A class

 

[Monster]

^ For the price difference between S350 and S500 you can almost buy an A class

Well if you are in Australia, the price difference between a S350 and the S500 can buy you an A45 AMG.

 

[LaArtist]

If someone had the opportunity to sit in the S class W222? I'm curious how impressions...

http://www.autoweek.nl/forum/read.php?4,5117959,5117959,page=1#msg-5117959

Oh its so grand!

 

[klier]

Well if you are in Australia, the price difference between a S350 and the S500 can buy you an A45 AMG.

Wow, an A45 is around 80k over here!

 

[Monster]

Wow, an A45 is around 80k over here!

Cars are massively over priced in Australia, it doesn't make sense because we need cars to go around. For your information the S350 is around 231k drive away the S500 is 315k

 

[Human]

LOL. I disagree. I find the limitation of ABC and Magic Body Control to the V8 models an archaic mindset by Mercedes. Case in point, my father could afford an S500 or S600, but would never consider a V8 as it is simply beyond what he requires. I'm sure theres many others out there who would happily option their S350's with Magic Body Control if it were available.

Luckily you did see the humor in my reply.

And here is another one for you: For a moment there, I did assume the MBC/ABC not being available to the 6-cylinder models hence the weight disadvantage of the system and the repercussions that will lead to more fuel consumption and higher CO2 levels..!?...or that was not such a stupendous thought on my part...?

BUT:

I disagree. I find the limitation of ABC and Magic Body Control to the V8 models an archaic mindset by Mercedes.

Sounds more likely

 

[SBS7511Y]

I guess the message MB is trying to send regarding the availability of MBC is that it is just something extra for demanding clients. After all, hasn't the airmatic system on the W221 offered relatively good ride quality?

 

[Serpens]

Thus then and there it lacks behind the Ghost and Flying Spur. Pitty...

Were you really expecting that in a car that costs at least $80k less than the cars you listed? The Flying Spur starts at $184,000 and the Ghost $256,000. I wasn't expecting the W222 to have as lavish of an interior as either of those, and I'm not sure why you would either.

 

[Yaz]

I figured... MBUSA seems to always make questionable decisions..... it's like they don't consult the owners at all sometimes... but I digress....

It might be a law or something now. Need for confirmation the vehicle is locked.

I don't like the chirp or the honk. Just a silent three time blinking by the turn signals will do. Just like the old days.

 

[SKY]

Jeeeez guys, it´s terrible to see how cars are priced in some countries.

Thank the magnificent governments and theis equally brilliant fiscal policies.