The design: Sensual purity at its most beguiling
Stylistically self-assured presence, exclusive appointments and refined sportiness – the breathtaking two-door model combines the classic proportions of a large, sporty coupé with modern luxury and state-of-the art technology for sensual purity at its most beguiling.
“Our new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé is one of the most gorgeous coupés of all time, representing the most radical aesthetic departure from its predecessor,” says Gorden Wagener, Vice President Design at Daimler AG. “The sensuous flowing silhouette in interplay with the clear progressive design language forms a perfect symbiosis and expresses our philosophy of sensual purity with pithy precision.”
Sensual purity as an expression of modern luxury was the focus for the designers, embodying the design philosophy of Mercedes-Benz. The aim is to create clear contours and smooth surfaces that showcase high tech while radiating emotional appeal. The sensual purity is reflected in the core design values of tradition, emotion and progressivism. These make up the leitmotif which is accentuated differently depending on the model. Mercedes-Benz creates a bridge between the modern and the avant-garde, between tradition and progressivism. Each model series has an assigned role and a very specific character, depending on the attributes on which the design focuses. And yet a Mercedes-Benz is always recognisable as a Mercedes-Benz. Because in addition to incorporating new stylistic developments, in the interests of keeping tradition alive the designers draw from a gene-pool of styling features typical of the brand.
The exterior: flowing profile of perfect proportions
The flowing profile of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé embodies sensuous clarity in a modern way. It is characterised by typical rear-wheel-drive proportions, emphasised by the hallmark Mercedes dropping line. The long bonnet with pronounced lines and powerdomes, the low greenhouse with high beltline, the accentuated wheel arches as well as the large wheels (18- to 20-inch) and the broad visual effect created by the rear reinforce the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé’s aspirations as a masterpiece of automotive refinement. With a wheelbase of 2945 mm, the Coupé is 5027 mm long, with a width of 1899 mm and a height of 1411 mm.
Its convex and concave modeled surfaces lend the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé a sensuous character. The sculpted appearance lends it classic elegance that forms a perfect symbiosis with the modern-progressive design idiom.
The view from the side is marked by the dropping line in keeping with the emotional character of the vehicle. It underscores the brand-typical proportions like a signature. The lines are deliberately reduced to the basics. This creates a sensuous, timeless clarity.
The creative interaction of diverse design elements lends the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé a superior, self-confident front: in the centre of the vehicle front end is the further-evolved three-dimensional diamond radiator grille, whose structure is defined by rectangular, chrome-plated elements. It incorporates the central Mercedes three-pointed star and one louvre.
The full-LED headlamps with their iconic eyebrows as daytime running lamps lend it an extremely self-assured and distinctive gaze. On the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé the eyebrows have been further refined with a semicircular counter-curve. In combination with the standard LED Intelligent Light System, unique headlamps with no less than 47 Swarovski crystals are available. 17 angular crystals form the flare-shaped daytime running lamps, with 30 round-shaped crystals making up the turn indicator lamps.
The side profile is defined by the dome-shaped stretched roof line and the frameless doors. An elegant 3D continuous chrome frame surrounds the glass areas that are uninterrupted by B-pillars. This underscores the Mercedes-typical coupé look.
A muscle above the rear axle extending from the side wall generates a sense of lightness and dynamic spirit even at a standstill. The positively arched surfaces and lines of the side walls flow into the rear end with a dramatic tapered effect.
The rear end with its surfaces, broad shoulders and distinctive character lines rounds off the emotive overall appearance. Moving the license plate mounting to the lower part of the rear bumper is a particularly striking modification. It allows the boot lid to be made especially sleek in this area. The three-pointed star is, so to say, free-standing and can thus be made more prominent for greater effect. In addition it pivots outwards in order to locate the reversing camera and the optional 360° camera in an elegantly functional manner.
The arrangement of the LEDs in two horizontal rows in the two-piece tail lamps reveals cutting-edge technology and underscores the sporty character of the vehicle rear, careful attention to detail and the car’s premium value. Form and function fuse into a perfect unity. Part of the light functions is located in the wings, the other in the boot lid. This characteristic arrangement makes the vehicle highly recognisable by night, too.
The two-part rear bumper underscores the sportiness indicated by the front design. The diffuser, painted in high-sheen black, meets in equal measure the requirements made by aerodynamics and by design. Below it there is, as in the front bumper, a horizontal wing in silver look. Integrated in the diffuser are the premium-quality tailpipes.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé features a panoramic roof extending over two-thirds of the entire vehicle roof; with a surface area of around 1.2 m2, it appears almost 150 percent larger than on the predecessor model. MAGIC SKY CONTROL (optional extra, expected to be available from the third quarter of 2014) makes it possible to switch the transparency of the roof at the push of a button, from light to dark. When light, the roof is almost completely transparent and allows an open-air experience, even in the coldest weather. When dark, light transmission, i.e. the proportion of outside light that is allowed through into the interior, falls to less than 1 percent and thus reduces heating-up of the vehicle by up to 10 °C. In addition, it is possible to shade the interior completely by means of a roller blind.
The interior: modern luxury as avant-garde design
The interior design of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé is likewise an expression of the Mercedes-Benz design idiom – sensual purity. An enthralling combination of sculptural sensuous volume elements and components, and the clear geometry of its basic architecture create an avant-garde design idiom. High-class appeal, quality workmanship and exceptional touch and feel are a treat for the passengers’ senses, so that the car’s interior represents the highest level of “modern luxury”.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé’s dashboard fascinates with its spectacular architecture, giving rise to a vehicle of unique character in the upper coupé segment. The dashboard is divided into a very clear top-layer section with an expansive “wrap-around” effect extending to the doors, and an extremely low, sculptural “floating” lower section. This striking architecture was made possible by repositioning the airbag to a completely new low location. This concept enables the large, two-part wide-screen format TFT display to be placed in a prominent “hovering” position in front of this trim surface. In addition, it is stylishly highlighted with ambience lighting. Under the display, the sporty elevated centre console extends to the vehicle rear. All lids and armrests are lavishly covered in leather.
The new “Super Sport” steering wheel impresses with its powerful, galvanised spokes which create maximum depth for the steering wheel, as if they flowed out from the steering column.
The use of the finest materials, surfaces, colour combinations and seam designs contributes towards achieving a truly exclusive car interior. Air vents, switches, belt extender rosette and trim elements are in electroplated “Silver Shadow”. This gives the trim elements a particularly high value appeal and enhances the three-dimensional effect of their surfaces.
In front of the armrest is the touchpad (optional) with its black high-sheen surface and chrome-look surround. As on a smartphone, the touchpad allows all the head-unit functions to be operated using finger gestures. The touchpad also permits letters, numbers and special characters to be entered in handwriting – in any of the head unit’s languages. Diverse controls, e.g. for the multi-media system, are arrayed as keys in a semicircle in front of the central control element.
Both the front and the rear seats have a pronounced sporty character, the two rear seats are designed as individual seats. The Exclusive package optionally includes seats in designo Exclusive nappa leather with a striking diamond backstitching pattern on backrests and seating surfaces. The front seat belts are integrated in the rear side panelling without interrupting the waistline with windows open; seat belt extenders make them easily accessible for the seat occupants.
There is a fluid transition between the doors and the rear side panelling, emphasising the vehicle’s feel-good factor. Here too, surfaces and controls are masterfully executed in top-quality materials; the configuration with the Burmester® surround sound system and Burmester® High-End 3D surround sound system offers a special highlight in form and function.
New interior colours such as Bengal red, saddle brown and porcelain allow individualisation of the interior. The standard ambience lighting with several lighting moods gives the interior a feel-good character. Customers can select from seven light colours, five dimming levels and four dimming zones.
