Alx

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While browsing the MBUSA's auto show news, I noticed a new press release about the upcoming Mercedes S 600.

I won't go into the specifics of the vehicle, seeing as how we've already brought you a number of stories dealing with that very subject, but what caught my eye was the pricing info the press release contained.

According to MBUSA, the pricing for the S 600 will be $140,675 (compared to $86,175 for the S 550). Both prices include a destination charge of $775.

Time to sell some shares of Google.

For more info, you can check out a ton of pretty photos and the full press release below.


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- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


MERCEDES-BENZ FEATURES NEW S600 SEDAN AT CHICAGO SHOW

V12-Powered S600 Marks Rebirth of the 600-Class “Grand Mercedes”

CHICAGO – Mercedes-Benz is featuring their new 2007 S600 sedan at the Chicago Auto Show, the largest auto show in North America, open to the public February 10-19, 2006 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The first version of the new-generation S-Class with a V12 engine, the S600 model marks the renaissance of the legendary 600-Class “Grand Mercedes” and will join the V8-powered S550 that recently made its retail debut at U.S. Mercedes-Benz dealerships.

Fitted with greater levels of wood and leather trim, the new V12-powered flagship comes with nearly all S-Class options as standard equipment, including Distronic Plus, infrared Night View Assist, Parktronic, Keyless Go, rear view monitor, ABC active suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, four heated and power-operated seats, four-zone climate control, and a digital cellular phone with voice control. The new S600 also comes with two features that are totally new to the S-Class – rear multi-contour seats and luxury head restraints for both the front and rear seats. With the S550 priced at $ 86,175, the new S600 will make its retail debut with a suggested retail price of $140,675. Both prices include a destination charge of $775.


Twin-Turbo V12 Engine

Powered by a twin-turbo V12 engine that generates 510 horsepower and an overwhelming 612 lbs.-ft. of torque, the new S600 model blends the whisper-smooth performance of the flagship Mercedes-Benz four-door sedan with the astonishing power of a twin-turbo V12 engine. At the same time, the bi-turbo V12 comes clothed in luxury, convenience and refinement that define the market segment.

The V12 engine provides effortless thrust with turbine-like smoothness, featuring a vast torque band with peak torque beginning as low as 1,800 rpm. With the high-tech engine, smart TouchShift transmission and state-of-the art aerodynamics, the new S600 can reach 60 miles per hour in less than 4.5 seconds, quicker than many out-and-out sports cars.

The twin-turbocharged V12 engine was designed with the goal of developing the power characteristics of a much larger naturally aspirated engine. Sophisticated electronic fuel injection and ignition mapping help reach this goal, along with two intercoolers that are positioned downstream from the turbos. The 12-cylinder has a 60-degree “V” design, and therefore has the best possible inherent balance to compensate for vibration forces. The block, cylinder heads and oil sump are made from die-cast aluminum, with die-cast magnesium valve covers.

An aluminum bedplate design at the engine bottom end uses cast-iron crankshaft bearing cap inserts that are cross-bolted. This also allows the use of an oil pan completely decoupled from the crankcase, which, in turn, minimizes resonance or combustion vibration. Combustion noise is also minimized because a dual ignition system keeps pressure gradients within the chambers at low levels, and the presence of both turbochargers inherently dampens intake and exhaust noise.

Lightweight components include magnesium valve covers, aluminum crankcase sections, Silitec cylinder liners and lightweight hollow-bore camshafts with indexed, pressure-fit steel lobes.

Because of the V12’s prodigious torque output, the familiar five-speed Touch Shift automatic transmission went through a comprehensive fitness program to keep up. To handle the torque, the planetary gear sets have been widened, and the input and output shafts adjusted accordingly. Surprisingly, with all the beefing up, the transmission gained only 4.4 pounds.


A First-Class Cabin

Punctuated by sweeping lines of exotic wood accented with chrome trim, all S-Class sedans feature high-quality materials throughout the cabin, forming a luxurious yet practical environment that emphasizes easy access to vehicle features.
The centerpiece of the S-Class dash is an eight-inch, high-resolution display for a new COMAND system, positioned high in the dash and operated by an intuitive COMAND controller on the lower center console. Instead of requiring occupants to use the COMAND system exclusively, many vehicle controls are accessible in several ways – by conventional hard keys, the multifunction steering wheel or voice control as well as via COMAND.

Among the advanced features of the new car is a slot in the dash that accepts a memory card. Such cards never need to be charged, and some versions can hold up to 1500 digital songs. Its data can be displayed on the COMAND screen, and titles can be selected through either the COMAND system or the multifunction steering wheel controls.

The S600 front seats are electrically adjustable 16 ways, with 11 individual pneumatic chambers to help occupants find a perfect seating position, in-seat ventilation fans to keep them cool, and 14 more chambers that provide four levels of pulsating massage to relieve fatigue and help keep drivers alert. Also standard on the S600, Drive Dynamic front seats respond to every curve by providing extra support through the outside seat bolster. Even in a tight “S” turn, the side bolsters inflate and deflate in a split second to help keep occupants comfortably in position.


More PRE-SAFE® Features

The revolutionary S-Class PRE-SAFE® system that made its debut in 2002 on the S-Class automatically tightens the front seat belts during those valuable seconds just before a possible impact, and the front passenger seat (and optional power rear seats) move to positions that can provide better protection. If the system senses a possible rollover, the sunroof also closes. On the 2007 S-Class, when PRE-SAFE is activated in response to an impending rollover, side windows also close to provide better support for the window curtain air bags, and special seat cushions can inflate to provide greater lateral support for occupants and to help the side air bags provide even better collision protection.


New Distronic Plus Helps in Stop-and-Go Traffic

The well-known Distronic adaptive cruise control feature that can maintain a pre-set following distance behind the vehicle ahead is replaced by “Distronic Plus,” standard only on the new S600.

Integrated with PRE-SAFE, this latest version of the radar-based Distronic system operates at nearly all speeds up to 125 mph and can be especially helpful in stop-and-go traffic. Newly developed short-range radar with a frequency of 24 gigahertz sweeps the first 33 yards in a fan-shaped 80-degree pattern, working in tandem with a narrower nine-degree beam of longer-range 77-gigahertz radar. The two radar frequencies complement each other to cover a full range of more than 160 yards – more than 1½ football fields. During the approval process of the new 24-gigahertz radar frequency for automotive use, government agencies cited its potential to improve traffic safety, reduce injuries and ultimately save lives.


Brake Assist Teams Up With Distronic Plus

Making its debut on the 2007 S-Class, an enhanced version of the Mercedes-Benz Brake Assist system not only supplies appropriate braking assist during emergency brake application, but in combination with Distronic Plus, also adjusts brake pressure during pedal application based on the distance to the vehicle ahead. While conventional Brake Assist only provides full brake assist when triggered by the speed of brake pedal application (suggesting an emergency braking situation), Brake Assist Plus also considers the closing speed of the vehicle ahead based on radar signals from the Distronic Plus system.


Brake Assist Plus Can Reduce Rear Collisions by 75 Percent

In extensive tests conducted by Mercedes researchers using 300 drivers, the new integrated system reduced rear collisions in heavy city traffic by 75 percent. During testing, data recorders and cameras documented more than 250,000 real-world miles covered by 200 drivers in the U.S. and Europe, while 100 drivers participated in months of intense testing on the DaimlerChrysler driving simulator in Berlin.


Radar-Based Park Assist

Distronic Plus also incorporates 24 GHz radar-based Park Assist. This new option utilizes six radar sensors mounted behind the front and rear bumpers – eliminating the need for the visible “portholes” of the previous ultrasonic-based system. The result is clean, integrated and invisible, with greater range and sensitivity.


Infra-Red Night View Assist

Another standard feature on the S600 is Night View Assist, an innovative technology that can extend the driver’s ability to see ahead to nearly 500 feet. An industry first, and in contrast to passive systems that rely only on thermal imaging, this active system bathes the road ahead with invisible infra-red light from two projector beams mounted in the headlights. An infra-red camera discreetly mounted in the windshield receives the reflected images and displays them in a high-resolution display in the instrument cluster. The result is akin to a highly detailed black & white video image.


About Mercedes-Benz USA

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. In 2005, MBUSA achieved an all-time sales record of 224,421 new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history and achieving 12 consecutive years of sales growth. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

Copyright © 2006, MBUSA

Curb Zone

 

warot

Geez, I didn't know there was such a huge different of price between the S600 and the S550.
For that kind of money, I'd rather have the coming up M3 sedan AND an well equipped X5 4.4i (or some other SUV).
We are talking about a lot of money here.

By the way, the S looks really good in that color.

yomomwhat

yea but if you add all the standard stuff on the 600 to the 550 then the 550 will probably end up being more expensive....

i wonder how many W220 S55 AMG's were sold against W220 S600's.....i would love to know which one was most popular because i think they were similar prices

for that price you could buy like 20 average cars LOL and start a taxi business....LOL not that i would....

warot

$54k worth of options???
That S600 better come with a complimentary apartment.

Alx

Man, i hear that!!!

MB is just getting out of hand...

I dont think the newer '03 and up 600's sold well at all.

The Artist

600 is damn expensive.. to much imo..only good thing i see in that is exclusivity.. you wont see many of them rollin around..atleast not here in sweden

Merc1

Well for one the S550 with every option in the book would not cost as more as the S600, at least not in the U.S. The 2003+ S600s actually sold better than the pre-FL models, around 900-1000 a year in the U.S.

I don't see what the gripe is about the price here when all the options from the S550 are standard. The only likely option is the AMG sports package. The S600 is supposed to be expensive, not a bargain, that is what the S450 will attempt to do.

M

Porsche Guy

So with this in mind, what do you think the new S65 is going to cost?

Merc1

If everything is standard just like the S600, then about 175-180K for sure, up from the outgoing S65's price of 169K.

M

yomomwhat

go to the german configurator.....price up an S500L stick pretty much all the extras on and then look at the price of an S600....you can get it to the same.....the extras are not cheap ..................you can get an s500L to 143000 euros..same as an S600L...the one thing i am not sure about is the S600L spec....i thought TV's were all standard and that...i am sure i read it somewhere....but on the german versio they aren't oh well....but less stuff is standard on the s600 than i thought LOL but it can't be far off....it works with other MB models, its cheaper to buy the most expensive if that makes sense LOL

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