Search the Community

With its S500 INTELLIGENT DRIVE research vehicle, Mercedes-Benz has become the world's first automobile manufacturer to demonstrate that autonomous driving in rural and urban traffic is possible. In dense 21st-century traffic, the autonomously driving S-Class is required to successfully cope with some highly complex situations involving traffic lights, roundabouts, pedestrians, cyclists and trams. What makes this ground-breaking achievement even more special is that it is realised not through the application of extremely expensive special technology, but by means of production-based technology of the kind already available today in new E and S-Class vehicles. The project thus marks a milestone on the way from the self-moving (automobile) to the self-driving (autonomous) car. The main advantages of autonomous driving are plain to see - it allows motorists to reach their destination quickly, safely and in a more relaxed frame of mind. Above all on routine journeys, in traffic jams, on crowded motorways with speed restrictions and at accident blackspots, an autonomous vehicle is capable of assisting the driver and relieving them of tedious routine tasks. One question remains. Are we really gonna allow cars to drive us in future? Watch the video below to see the autonomous S-Class work its magic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKqJccK_EkM

15th May 2013 was the world premiere of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Mercedes unveiled its new luxury sedan at the Airbus A380 Delivery Centre located in Hamburg, Germany. However, what attracts me besides the debut of the luxury German sedan itself is the odds that the German automaker is set to launch the coupe version soon. On its official Facebook page, Mercedes Germany has released a sketch of its new model. To me, the sketch looks like the 2014 S-Class coupe, well, although Mercedes-Benz didn't necessarily mention the term 'coupe', and the new model seems kind of wider than the previous generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe. Furthermore, it's known that the 2014 S-Class will also come in a convertible and coupe version. In addition to that, no matter how I look at it, the styling cues portrayed in the sketch don't seem to match those of the actual sedan being launched at the home country of Mercedes-Benz today. So, in short, I think it's safe to say that we should be getting ready to behold the launch of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe which will seemingly take place in the near future. Otherwise, I don't think the German automaker will be revealing the design of its new model in such detail.

The Mercedes S-Class' sales in Europe has fallen victim to the on-going economic crisis in the continent. Its sales have fallen by 27% over the past eight months to just 5,227 units. In addition, the age of the model does not help either. As a result, the factory that produces the S-Class in Sindelfingen, Germany, will cut down to one shift from the current two shifts until the next generation model enters production in 2013. "Workers manufacturing the S class will be reassigned to the C-class assembly line during this period," the company said in a statement. The W221 S-Class was introduced in the autumn of 2005 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, with export to other markets beginning in 2006. Since then, BMW and Audi have both introduced all-new versions of their flagship sedan, the 7-Series and the A8 respectively. The S-Class contributes the highest profit margin per car sold for the Stuttgart automaker and hence the pressure is on the 2013 model to continue to do so. The new Mercedes S-Class is expected to be unveiled in production form at the 2013 Detroit motor show in January, before it goes on sale next spring. The new luxury saloon was recently previewed by a new sculpture called Aesthetic S at the 2012 Paris motor show. Aesthetic S