rusnakmb

Hi,

The 06' S350 will be coming to dealership near you.

DMI+RY

S350? In W221 body?

Incendiary

To the US? That's a bad move on MB's part, I think. 6-cyl engine in high-lux cars won't cut it nowadays, I think.

BTW, any word on SWB and LWB models for the W221 in the US? Or are they sticking to offering only LWB in the US, the only country in which they offer no choice whatsoever? I'd rather have a SWB S430/S500 than a LWB S350...

rusnakmb

Hi,

It is still the old body style. But the 3.5L engine will be avaliable. Just like the old S320.

vraa

It won't cut it at all.
S-Class is getting dilluted. The RL was a flop (old style).

djantlive

S350, hmmm. S430 has similiar fuel economy to 350 already right? So, 350 would only attract lower car price buyer, which would have chosen E320 or ML350.

If MB was to target fuel economic buyer, 320 would be a better idea but I guess that engine is getting phased out soon.

I doubt if the market is there but more choices isn't bad. MB's plants crank out so many engine choices already so it won't cause production complexity.

rusnakmb

The S350 has been selling at Asia market since last year. It is way better than the old S320 (lack power). I think it should be good choice to save money.... I would say the price will be like in $69k.

Phillip711

kinda late if you asked me. Most people would be waiting for the W221

Incendiary

Won't the MY06 be the W221, though?

Phillip711

from the post it seems like it's going to be in the current W220 body. But if they start putting in the the next generation W221 then that could boost up sales for the S class, like the W140 S320.

Ted Baldwin

To the US? That's a bad move on MB's part, I think. 6-cyl engine in high-lux cars won't cut it nowadays, I think.

...........Remember that the new MB "350" engines make about 268HP. This is similar to the 275HP made by the S430.

Ted

Heffel70

I had the understanding the S350 models overseas had a 3.7L engine.

schwarz

yes, 3.7L is what's available in australia for the S350. i don't think this engine is used in any other benz cars.

rusnakmb

Hi,

Just check with update. Yes, it is a 3.7L S350 with 241hp and 251lb-ft torue. And it is a SWB (short wheel base). The equip is as same as S430 but without rear power sunshade.

It is not using the new 3.5L V6 with 268hp.

The avaliable date will be in March, 05 as a 06' S350W. The price is going to be very competitive to Lexus or Jag. It should be around $67 to 68K.

Incendiary

Ah, finally a W220 SWB in the US. Too bad it's only available in a V6 engine, though.

55fanatic

hey guys, a friend of mine told me that his dad was at a dealership in LI new york and the sales guy told him about a 2 door Sclass that is coming out... any truth behind this or is there another NEW 2 door that mercedes is about to release... Im an M class person so I dont know as much about S classes. Any help you could give us would be greatly appreciated

RezaH

So, the CL class is also being updated with new S Class. But they are not coming to US until Fall of 2006 as a 2007 model.

55fanatic

Thanks for the confusion, thats what I had thought. My friend was pretty persistent to tell me there was a NEW 2 door mercedes was releasing with an S class emblem, the only things I could think of at the time were the new Sclass, clS and a new Sl... I think the sales person was speaking about a CLS and his dad misunderstood him

EclassOzz

when exactly is the new w221 coming out? i know everyone is sayin fall or 05 or winter of 06,but has mercedes already announced an official release date or is everything just speculation?

S-Clusiv

Was the CLS first going to be called a CLE because I remember word of a CLE coming out..correct me if im wrong

S55inPA

a V6 S class just doesn't make sense.
even in the SWB form it will still be priced
too high to be considered competitive.
i can hear the car mags now commenting
on how expensive and underpowered this
car would be compared to the competition.
an S430 in the SWB would be the logical
decision. V6's are for Acuras.....not MB's!

Incendiary

To be fair, this is probably the first generation of S-classes that hasn't had a 6-cylinder in the US yet. 300SE/300SEL and S320 in the W140 variant come to mind...

topspin4hand

The $68K price tag leads me to agree with you. Someone said this car would attract "lower price buyers". I don't think that's necessarily right. If I'm paying that much money, I'll pay the extra $8K for the V8 because the car's so big. The V6 / V8 decision is different the Big S than it is for the E, imo.