GDawgC220

S-class goes topless, and it’s a ragtop.
November 2006

A convertible version of Mercedes-Benz’s S-class luxury sedan might be on its way to production. Expected to debut as a concept vehicle at the Detroit show in January, the cabrio will eschew a retractable hardtop in place of a traditional clothtop. If it makes it into production, the S-class cabrio is likely a year away from showrooms.

http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/...nvertible.html

MB Fanatic

Awesome, another winner, along with a headturner.

JLP

Why not?
This thing will be huge in SOBE and LA........how many full size 5 seater luxury convertibles are out there? They will have that market all to themselves.

shadowgriffen

That's pretty insane to make a convertible flagship...

It's gorgeous no doubt but still pretty

myfirstbenz

I think it is great. Looks fine as a 'vert. Better to hack the top off than put some of those god awful body kits and rims on it. Like the old 300d's from the 50's.

EMPIRE2007

If this thing goes on HARDTOP~ I will trade mine to new one.

alboogiee

If you check the actual mag in small small print is says "artist's rendition" so I doubt there is anything firm...yet

AsianML

It looks okay with the top down, front view. But put the top up, and it reminds of the old Cadillacs.

Booooooooooooooo!!!!!

ruffrob

With the right rims,and exterior color ,all the naysayers will have that jawdropped look of amazement. It's only a matter of time....

Oxygen

So what happens when you roll it over?

ruffrob

You get up ,dust your convertible off,and drive away...

TeutonicCarFan

Not sure whether I like it or not. I LOVE long autos but I feel it almost looks too long? It would have to be something I would need to see in person to decide. A 4 door conver. though that is awesome, no more putting the seats forward

myfirstbenz

too long? get the SE instead of the SEL Would I buy one if i could afford it? no, but i still think it will look great.

myfirstbenz

I rolled my 400E almost a year to the week... In my case, the car slid on the hood and windshield and not on the roof, so... the odds of rolling such a car in the first place are low, then add to that how you would end up on your top.

egxpimp

not feeling it...specialy if its rag top

CY

Like I said before, it may look good and be cool, but it would be a joke to have the S as a convertable....I would probably never buy a MB again. If they did do it it would be a CL not a S...they share the same chassis, why would they use the 4 door instead of the super coupe...which would actually make sense?

carsinamerica

Umm.... So you'd never buy an M-B again, even though you presumably have one that you like, because of a model you don't have to buy? Oookay then.

The answer is that 4-door convertible used to be very fashionable, very elitist things. Laundaulets and phaetons all spoke of prestige and wealth. Lincoln's Continental 4-door convertible was the premiere Lincoln vehicle in its time, and that was the last factory 4-door 'vertible. The reason to use the S-Class for the job is that it would be unique and uncompromising. Rich people don't like to be scrunched, and scrunched is the operative word for the rear seats on a CL. So, if you want the sun in your face and you carry passengers, a 4-door convertible would be the only choice. In the modern era of safe cars, 4-door cabrios present unique technical and safety challenges, and I'm sure M-B thinks that it would be a fantastic feather in their cap to be the first to build one to meet all regulations in forty years (Gennadis and the like don't have to be tested for crash purposes, etc.).

To those who pine for a hardtop: it's extremely unlikely. To store a folding metal roof of that size would probably consume the entire trunk of the car. Plus, it would be insanely complicated, and you'd be running even greater risks of jams and the like.

I doubt I'd want one, but it's sure to be an intriguing vehicle, regardless of whether they put it into production. Can't wait for Detroit to see for myself. For the very limited market niche, it should be a very exclusive and interesting choice.

TeutonicCarFan

what he said

Nevada Jack

Add the suicide doors, a hard-top and a sub-$100K price and I will call my dealer...LOL

I agree it could only be a soft-top. I read somewhere it would be loaded with all the goodies and have special interiors making the price quite above the current sedan...and if they decide to put the V12 in it...it will really be an "elitist" ride.

boylston

Put my vote in for suicide doors.

carsinamerica

I like the idea, but do you think it could work? Without the roof, I would think that a B-pillar (even if it only came as high as the windowsill) would be almost essential to preserve structural integrity. Let's face it, suicide doors were given the name for a reason. Now, I suppose it could have rear-hinged coach doors, but retain the B-post, a la Rolls-Royce Phantom, but that seems like unnecessary re-engineering when you could more or less keep the standard doors.

I think that it might ONLY be offered with the V-12: it's going to be very heavy. To reinforce a chassis with a 120"+ wheelbase will take a lot of bracing. The 550 engine would be the minimum thing for the job if they wanted to retain any performance edge.

Now all we need is a name....
S-Class Phaeton would confuse people.
S-Class Landaulet will make Americans think of foam vinyl roofs.
S-Class Cabriolet is dull.
SCS-Class, perhaps?

MB Fanatic

Much of the design could borrow from new engineering techniques that were made for the new CL W216. Remember it too does not have a B pillar.

The 550 engine would more than be adequate, however I get the feeling that it will be available as a 600 for some reason, perhaps to remain its exclusivity. Nevertheless, I cant wait to see what it will look like next year.

AsianML

Maybe if they gave it a big engine with a SWB.

carsinamerica

True, but it does have a roof, where most of a modern car's rigidity is found, and it's shorter. My guess is that it would add at least 500 pounds.

AsianML might be on to something with the SWB idea, though.

My big worry is that it'll have a basket-handle. Let us pray not.

Anyone want to hazard a guess as to whether it'll have two windshields? Phaetons always did, and the rich don't like have their expensive coiffes disturbed.

velvet fog

Yo G, dat ***** be off da HOOK!!!