S-Class excellence starts at $85K

Mercedes-Benz hails the 2007 S-Class as a technological tour de force, but my money says that misses the point.

As befits its status as M-B’s flagship sedan, the ‘07 S-Class drips tech. However, great cars are all about emotion, and this is the most emotional S yet.

Its sinuous muscularity hints at the S’s newfound athletic prowess and, depending on exterior conditions, its sumptuous interior is either open and airy or cozy and atmospheric.

A coupe-like roofline sets the exterior tone, while flared fenders, a deeply sloping hood and tiered rear give us a more aggressive S-Class. Though nearly 2 inches longer, a half-inch wider and 1 inch taller than last year’s car, the new S appears smaller and more dynamic.

The interior has been redesigned with assistance from furniture designers and has the feel of a luxurious living room. The revised instrument panel and gauge pods are innovative and attractive and the wood that trims the dash and door panels gleams with the luster of high-quality furnishings.

The front seats offer 14-way power adjustment and an “active-lumbar” feature continuously and subtly realigns the occupant’s spinal column, relaxing the spine and reducing fatigue.

No occupant will feel neglected, though, as every seat in the house is sculpted for comfort and support. Moreover, the automatic climate control system reads sensors embedded in the seatbelt buckles to determine which seats are occupied and delivers optimal airflow to each. A sun sensor measures the sun’s angle of incidence and adjusts circulation to account for its effects.

Order the optional DVD-based entertainment system and each of the front-seat headrests comes equipped with a rear-facing monitor.

A 14-speaker, 13-channel, 600-watt harmon/kardon LOGIC7 surround-sound audio system is standard, playing back DVDs or CDs in either 5.1 surround sound or conventional stereo.

As always, though, the proof is in the driving and it’s here that the S-Class impresses most. M-B makes no secret of the fact that it has BMW’s 7-Series in its crosshairs and ups the competition with the best ride-and-handling package in S-Class history.

Technological improvements account for the fact that the S’s new 5.5-liter V-8 makes 26 percent more power than last year’s equivalent, without impacting fuel economy. It produces 381 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque, with maximum torque available from 2,800-4,800 rpm.

The base S450 V-8 makes 335 hp and 339 pound-feet of torque, while the S600 sports a 5.5-liter bi-turbo V-12 that turns out 510 hp and 612 pound-feet.

A new, seven-speed automatic transmission can drop three gears at a whack for maximum acceleration and is controlled by a 7-Series-like “Direct Select” gear selector; mounted on the steering column to free up space between the seats, it offers only Drive, Reverse and Park functions.

Sport and Comfort modes change the shift points and speed of shifts. In Sport mode, the S drops a half-inch on its suspension to reduce body lean during cornering.

If you want to row your own, a pair of buttons for that purpose is located on the back of the steering wheel.

For ‘07, the S-Class wheelbase has grown by nearly 3 inches, and provides the usual ride-comfort dividends. Additionally, the air suspension constantly adapts damping characteristics according to road conditions and driving style, providing a fine balance between comfort and performance, without negatively impacting either.

It seems to simply ignore rough road surfaces — even when they arise at the worst times, such as in the middle of a reverse-camber corner. No matter what you throw at the S-Class, it stays planted.

The power-assisted, speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering system is accurate and quick, but has a slightly artificial feel.

Much of M-B’s emphasis on technology lies in the arena of occupant safety. A new version of M-B’s PRE-SAFE strategy utilizes the radar-based Distronic Plus cruise control system to anticipate and prepare the cabin for an imminent impact. The front seatbelts cinch tighter and the front passenger seats (as well as the optional power rear seats) move into the safest possible positions.

If sensors detect a potential spin or rollover, the windows and optional sunroof close automatically and the curtain airbags and air chambers in the multi-contour seats inflate to protect fragile torsos.

The Distronic Plus system sounds a warning if the car closes in too quickly on traffic ahead and, if necessary, applies Brake Assist to help prevent a collision.

Distronic Plus is a radar-based system and is likely to be disabled if inclement conditions block the grille-mounted sensors.

M-B’s COMAND system continues its simplification process, speeding the time and reducing the brainpower required to move through its many functions, although some are still buried too many layers deep.

On balance, though, the new S is a marvelous blend of high-tech wizardry, road-worthiness and country club ambience. Rock-solid and beautifully detailed, it epitomizes the modern luxury-performance sedan.

Like science, technology may not be equipped to take the measure of the soul, but is, in the case of the S-Class, its able servant.