IluvS500

Just noticed when I went on to look at the Bluetec

MercedesFTW

Too bad there's no MSRP!

IluvS500

yep TBA lol

AsianML

Can't build it either, last I checked.

kevine310

looking at the Canadian prices, the 4MATIC should be 2.1% over the MSRP of RWD.

Kar don

i think the best news is that it will still have the 7spd which was redesigned for a smaller casing to have no more 4matic "hump" inside the car.

Germancar1

MBUSA is down at the moment, I guess they're getting ready to update it for the S550 4Matic and the CL.

M

AsianML

Also running much faster than before!!

carsinamerica

MSRP is $88,750, plus destination. As for options, build-it-yourself, etc., the 4Matic is identically equipped as the S550. The only difference seems to be that you can't order the ABC suspension with the 4Matic model. Even the wheels are the same, which is a bummer for those of us who like to impress our friends by saying 'that's the AWD model' without seeing the badge. EPA fuel economy figures drop to 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway. So, the car should be in the $1,300 gas guzzler bracket (up $300 over the S550). That's a total price of $90,825 before you start piling on the options or local taxes, by the way (about 4.2% more than the S550, for a differential and a badge). Not too bad a premium, really.

carsinamerica

One thing I would like to know is this: in incorporating the front power-transfer setup, they had to tinker with the suspension (I think they may ahve switched to an SLA setup, but I'm not sure, any ideas?) and alter the steering rack. Does anybody know if they altered the steering ratio from the standard 17.8:1 for this model? I know BMW does that on their xDrive models.

Chucky300

Wait... NO ABC on 4matic models......... Personally.... That would deter me from buying this over the RWD. I am going to equipt my car with the finest snow tires available this winter, ill be fine. I obviously will admit 4matic is better for the snow - but for those spring/summer/autumn days on a winding road - without ABC is a much large "CON" than not having 4matic for those 2-3 months that may have snow in the forecase, but may not.

TeutonicCarFan

I have never ridden in a S550 w/o ABC but I can tell you from where I live, Buffalo NY (we had just lost power for a week bc of an early Oct snowstorm!) the 4matic makes a big deal in people's minds. There seems to be an increase in A8s, which I would attribute to their quattro and I think the lack of an AWD will hurt both Lex and BMW. BMW does have a big following here though there are many people who have both a 7-series and a truck for the winter. If I were buying one I would get the 4matic bc of all the inclement conditions. I could only imagine living in Nevada where they don't even know what snow tires are!!

P.S. On my car I have used different tires and I am extremely pleased with
hakkapeliitta by Nokian tyres. You can even get them studded for those black ice conditions....