10 Things You Need To Know About The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

by Benjamin Hunting

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January 9, 2014

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5 min. Reading Time

There are few automotive events quite like the introduction of a next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Aside from being recognized as the most desirable full-size luxury car on the market, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is also seen as a technology leader, a vehicle that often debuts advanced safety, comfort, and driving features first before they eventually trickle down into more affordable models. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is no exception to this rule, and stands out as the most impressive edition of the sedan to date.

Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

01. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Is A Brand New Design

The previous version of the German automaker's flagship sedan may have been maligned for its overly-conservative styling, but the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class suffers from no such handicap. The word that springs to mind immediately upon viewing the new S-Class is 'sleek,' which is an impressive accomplishment for such a large vehicle. A long hood flows back to a sharply sloped greenhouse that is complemented by a sharp style line along the side of the automobile, and LED lights front and rear provide all of the requisite headlight and tail light illumination for the car. In fact, there's not a single light bulb to be found on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class - every twinkle inside and out is accomplished via LEDs.

02. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Features V-8 Power

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class comes with a 4.7-liter V-8 engine that should be familiar to anyone who has driven the previous edition of the car. Boasting similar displacement, this twin-turbocharged unit offers 455 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, which represents a sizeable increase over the 2013 model. A seven-speed automatic transmission is standard with the S-Class, and thanks in part to an automatic engine start/stop system, the Mercedes-Benz achieves an EPA fuel mileage rating of 17-mpg in city driving and 25-mpg on the highway. All-wheel drive can be ordered as an option with the car, which can hit 60-mph in a very quick 4.8 seconds.

03. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Will Offers A Hybrid Model

Cognizant of the fact that it takes more than just the shock and awe of exceptional acceleration and power to woo ultra-luxury audiences these days, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class will eventually be offered in a hybrid version. Dubbed the Mercedes S500 Plug-in Hybrid, the model matches a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine with a single electric motor to produce in the neighborhood of 400 horsepower. This impressive performance allows the full-size hybrid sedan to check in at roughly a second slower than the gas-only model in the sprint to 60-mph, while also offering 18 miles of electric operation on battery power.

04. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Can Be Had In An AMG Edition

Of course, shock and awe never goes completely out of style, and to maximize its effect we have the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG. In case you ever need to get somewhere yesterday, and in the utmost style, the S63 AMG steps in with a 5.5-liter turbocharged V-8 engine that delivers an exceptional 577 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed automatic transmission once again handles the gear-shifting duties, while all-wheel drive becomes standard in order to better manage the car's gobs of power. A sport suspension system keeps Mercedes-Benz planted to the ground, and 60-mph arrives from a standing start in less than four seconds for the S63 AMG.

05. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Features Magic Body Control

You don't have to order the AMG edition of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class in order to enjoy a trick suspension system. The 'regular' Mercedes-Benz S-Class is available with the Magic Body Control system, which is an active suspension that works together with an array of cameras to examine the road ahead and prepare the car's shock absorbers for the terrain that they are about to encounter. This three-dimensional system is remarkably effective, allowing the car to absorb bumps in the road as if they simply didn't exist, although larger insults such as potholes still make it through to the cabin.

06. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Delivers Advanced Night Vision Technology

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class provides a feature called Night View Assist Plus, which is intended to not only keep drivers safe from encroaching wildlife, but also protect pedestrians from a potential collision with the automobile. Night View Assist Plus makes use of a camera that detects the heat signatures of people and animals along the sides of the road, allowing the car to discern between the two and either warn people by way of special flashing lights that make the S-Class more visible, or not flash them in the case of animals to avoid spooking the creatures into action. It's also possible to view the thermal images on the car's large LCD monitor should visibility out the windshield be severely compromised.

07. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Provides Extensive Interior Room

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class falls into that segment of the market where owners are as likely to be driven inside the automobile as to drive it, and as such it delivers impressive amounts of back seat comfort and room. The right rear position offers 43.5 degrees of recline thanks to the Executive Rear Seat package, which also comes with a extensible ottoman, and it's possible to fold the right front seat forward for an unobstructed view of the road ahead. The car additionally provides heated armrests and console lids, along with a heated seat massage feature designed to melt away your cares as the S-Class eats up the miles.

08. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Comes With Startlingly Advanced Safety Features

As if Night View Assist Plus wasn't impressive enough, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class also offers a host of other advanced safety features. A camera system that provides 360-degree coverage of the area around the car - up to 50 yards ahead with astonishing detail - helps the car identify potential collisions and react to avoid them faster than a human being would be able to. Three different radar systems focused on varying distances ahead of the automobile work in concert with the cameras to provide even more overlapping eyes to keep passengers safe. Of course, all of the expected safety gear - including a blind spot monitoring system, active cruise control, lane keeping assistance, and automatic high beams - are tied into these electronic sentinels as well.

09. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Offers Unique Customer Perks

Owning a 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class doesn't just bring with it the privilege of driving such an impressive automobile, it also opens up a world of special treatment from Mercedes-Benz dealers and service personnel. Cognizant of the fact that the success and acceptance of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class are extremely important for the brand, Mercedes-Benz bigwigs have authorized dealerships to provide special perks to owners of the car to keep them happy in the face of unfortunate circumstances. This includes the ability to spend up to $2,500 per 'incident' on benefits and gifts should one of the new vehicles have to undergo unexpected maintenance, or if owners have complaints about their automobile.

10. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Is A Glimpse Of The Future

We mentioned in the introduction that the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the latest in a long line of automobiles that have typically introduced next-generation technologies prior to their general acceptance throughout the rest of the industry. For this most recent edition of the S-Class, the relevant features are its Magic Body Control suspension, which represents a significant leap forward in terms of active shock absorbers, as well as its lead-follow cruise control system, which can actually steer the car as well as accelerate and brake it at certain speeds. Some point towards this latter feature as being a precursor to the autonomous automobiles that are edging closer to reality.