The world has been waiting for the 2015 S-Class Coupe for quite a while. And now that it’s finally here, it’s hard to pay attention to it…as a whole.
Mercedes-Benz can blame its own active curve tilting function.
“The vehicle leans into bends much like a motorcyclist, thereby reducing the lateral acceleration acting on the vehicle’s occupants. On country roads in particular, this means greater driving pleasure and ride comfort for our customers.”
“There you have it. A two-door Benz that took dance lessons from a sport bike.”
There you have it. A two-door Benz that took dance lessons from a sport bike. Can’t wait to see one in action. Attendees of the Geneva International Motor Show (March 6-16) at least got to see it in the metal.
That’s not to say the rest of the car isn’t noteworthy. Its 4.7-liter biturbo V8 cranks out 449 horsepower and 516 pound-feet, all of which is routed through standard 4MATIC all-wheel-drive. Flaps in the exhaust can make that blown eight sound even stronger, depending on engine speed.
It happens to be a looker, too. “Sleek” and “fast” are words that come to mind. The Audi A5’s profile and the BMW 6-Series’s rump do, as well.
Being an S-Class, the new three-pointed starship is fortified with Mercedes safety systems, including PRE-SAFE® braking, DISTRONIC PLUS cruise control, Adaptive High-beam Assist and Night View Assist Plus. An LED head-up display is optional. Buyers can also choose between two Burmester sound systems.
U.S. deliveries of the new pillarless S550 Coupe, with 4MATIC only, are scheduled to start hitting garages this fall.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
