Hello everybody,
I'm Matteo from Italy, i tried the new s400 hybrid last weekend and I made some pics.
Enjoy.
the video is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp0A8k4eexA

Grazie, Matteo.

Le piace?

1. Love the new steering wheel design and I love the woodgrain in the console area.
2. As far as the hybrid thing, I'll just say that is interesting.
3. I do notice in many of the pix of the 2010 model , including the one seen in the pictures, that the plexiglass shield in the grille (indicating distronic) only extends halfway up the center of the grille and in this case it also has the bullet holes in the bumper as if it does not have distronic. Looking closely at the interior picture which shows the cruise control stalk, I can't tell what that switch is. It doesn't look exactly like our current variable trailing distance adjustment knob. What's up with the mod on that?
4. I also like the new tailpipe design for the sub 600, 65 models.

Thanks for sharing the pictures!!

Some countries do not allow the bumper radars where MB combines the traditional acoustic Parktronic with the main Distronic radar. But I thought this should not apply for Italy but possibly Australia and some other countries.

On the cruise control stalk, are you referring to the speed limit feature with he mode led? That is a feature that has existed since at least W210 but for some reason MB does not put this to US cars.

Good to see the "customizable" button on the centre console is now dedicated to the rear window shade. I've always customized mine for this function anyway. What a pain if you had to access COMAND for such a simple task.

And yes, love the new steering wheel and wood on the centre console. Also noted the "AIRBAG" near the parking brake. I suppose that would be the knee airbag? I don't remember seeing that on my pre-facelift cars.

Si molto. (I like it toooooo much!)


About distronic. The car I tried had distronic, I also took a look under the hood and everything was in the right place

Isn't it just Distronic aka not Distronic Plus?

J

That definitely looks like just regular Distronic. I ve seen a few of the first 221's that have just distronic and not distronic plus. My owners manual speaks of just distronic and then describes distronic plus, perhaps this has to do with markets and what is legal radar wise etc. For instance in some countries Distronic Plus is not yet legal.

So in Europe these are gas hybrids? Why would one buy a gas hybrid over a diesel or the reverse?

I'm actually wondering about this as well. As said above, Mercedes actually has W221 with non-plus distronic and parktronic combo for market where radars behind bumpers are prohibited. But then, when I look at official pictures from MB of this facelifted S, even the S600 (with German plate on it) has distronic cover on the grille and parktronic bullet holes.. isn't Distronic plus standard on S600s?