Report: Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec joining lineup for 2011

[HighestOfHigh]

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed to Autoblog that the S400 hybrid won't remain the only efficiency-minded member of the S-Class family for long. The S350 Bluetec will be coming to the U.S. market for 2011 as the first diesel S-Class since the mid-1990s. The S350 will use the same 3.5-liter turbodiesel V6 already used in Mercedes' ML, GL and R-Class SUVs. That engine is rated at 210 horsepower and 400 pound-feet and includes a urea injection system to treat the NOx emissions in the exhaust.

We expect the S350 to at least match – if not beat – the 22 mpg real-world results we achieved with the S400 gas-electric earlier this year, and it will probably have similar performance thanks to its exceptional torque. There is no word on pricing, but we anticipate it will sticker at or below the S400's $87,950 base price for 2010.

- Report: Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec joining lineup for 2011 — Autoblog

 

[bum-man]

Wow I think they got pretty much all the details wrong about the engine when it's an article about an engine, sad... Autoblog sucks.

 

[ree]

Wow I think they got pretty much all the details wrong about the engine when it's an article about an engine, sad... Autoblog sucks.

Can't see wrong informations here…only that it is 3.0 Litre instead of 3.5!

 

[Wolfgang]

Weren't the data for the USA S350 BlueTEC already posted in this thread?

http://www.germancarforum.com/mercedes-benz-lounge/33248-what-s-new-2011my.html

 

[Merc1]

Yep.

M

 

[Wolfgang]

CAR published an S350 CDI first drive. 82% of the S-Class UK folks go for the six cylinder diesel?
Interesting. Will probably be much less in the USA.

First drives

Mercedes S350 CDI BlueEfficiency LWB (2010) CAR review

Visually, there's little to pinpoint the 2009 facelift of the S-class; a more arrow-shaped radiator grille here, a fresh bumper and exhausts there. But myriad changes were ushered in under the skin, with many of Merc's technical innovations from its new models such as the E-class cascading upwards. It's normally the reverse in Stuttgart.

This S350 CDI variant is new, too, replacing the much-loved S320 CDI that was Britain's best-seller by a country mile taking up 82% of UK sales. Don't be deceived by the typically German numeric imperialism; this remains a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel, equipped in this spec with some BlueEfficiency goodies to trim CO2 and fuel consumption.

What puts the BlueEfficiency into the Merc S350 CDI?

A suite of small changes are designed to make the S-class more efficient. The automatic transmission disengages at a standstill, for instance, reducing the load on the engine and quietening things down; it re-engages the second you take your foot off the brake. Lower rolling resistance tyres are pumped up to 2.6 bar, while smoother door mirrors, headlamp seals and an undertray drag the aero figure down to 0.27. It’s a slippery customer, the new S-class.

The result? The S350 CDI averages 37.2mpg and pumps out from 199g/km of CO2. Our particular BlueEfficiency model was the lounge-worthy LWB model with a rather confusing Eco-Power Engine Kit (a £1584 performance upgrade pack – on a green eco special!) that nudged consumption and emissions up to a still impressive 36.7mpg and 204g/km.

So is the S-class still a smoothie to drive?

You bet. It’s easy to see why the S has become the default choice for limo buyers in this market. It’s a brilliantly comfortable place to sit, with excellent seats that adjust every which way, intuitive infotainment systems and a hushed whisper that makes it hard to believe you’re powered by diesel. It’s massive in the back, and the quality of leather, wood and fittings is outstanding.

The S350 CDI is so relaxed and pampers away the worst road scars, isolating occupants in a hermetically sealed leather lounge. Although I’ve yet to drive the new A8, in my mind the S-class must be the most refined of the class. The 7-series may be more dynamic and the XJ set the dynamic benchmark for enthusiastic drivers, but there’s something uniquely pampering about the big Merc limo.

In fact, I’d question the need to buy any other S-class. This base model has ample performance (7.8sec 0-62mph, but it feels faster in the mid range) and you’d need to be in a huge hurry, or have more money than sense, to choose one of the larger petrol or AMG models.

What about all these new gadgets?

It’s the usual Merc fayre: gizmos that we’ve seen elsewhere have finally been added to the S-class, such as adaptive high beam, a system to check for driver drowsiness, night vision that picks out pedestrians and a Splitview monitor so driver and passenger can watch different screens on the multimedia device.

We might worry about the longevity of these systems in future (would you buy a loaded 2010 S-class in a decade or two’s time?) but there’s plenty of fun to be had tailoring your exact spec of car to meet your needs.

Verdict

The new, facelifted 2010 S-class is a triumph of evolution. Merc hasn’t changed much because it wasn’t broken. What it has added simply amplifies existing core strengths. The S-class’s appeal and sales dominance seems assured for a while longer.

Mercedes S350 CDI BlueEfficiency LWB (2010) CAR review | Road Testing Reviews | Car Magazine Online

 

[Merc1]

The S-Class is just perfect right now.....the design is going to be a classic for Mercedes I think...and most importantly the car has proven to be a quality item in the real world. Nothing is more important for the S-Class than satisfied, repeat buyers and glimmering quality.


M

 

[Merc1]

Autocar - Mercedes S350 Bluetec Review






















What is it?

It’s the UK’s most popular S-class model by far, scooping up more than 80 per cent of sales. And Mercedes-Benz is now giving buyers further reason to choose the S350 CDI, or S350 Bluetec, to give it its new name.

Changes to the 3.0-litre common-rail diesel engine – including improved injection efficiency, added turbocharger boost pressure and reduced compression ratio – boost power by 22bhp at 254bhp. Torque rises by 59lb ft to 457lb ft, developed at 1600rpm, as before.

What’s it like?

The upshot is added off-the-line performance, even more impressive mid-range shove, relaxed cruising attributes and a level of mechanical refinement that encroaches on that of petrol S-class models.

Mercedes has also fitted its latest urea injection system. Concentrated within the catalytic converter, it turns up to 80 per cent of nitrogen oxides expelled by the engine into harmless nitrogen and water. A 25.7-litre tank for the urea solution is mounted in the spare wheel well and needs retopping every 15,500 miles.

The engine changes are backed by a revised seven-speed automatic gearbox with stop-start. It helps make the S350 Bluetec achieve a combined 41.5mpg and a CO2 rating of 177g/km. It also fires off shifts in a more determined way than before.

With the introduction of the S350 Bluetec, Mercedes is rolling out a number of innovative new options, including Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist.

Should I buy one?

It’s not exactly cheap, at £58,440, but the S350 Bluetec’s balance of performance and economy continues to make it the pick of the standard S-class range.


Mercedes S350 Bluetec - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk


M