Photo: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
By the end of the year, Mercedes-Benz will add yet another member to the S-Class family, with the Cabriolet set to bring us a delay of the cold season at the Frankfurt Motor Show where it is expected to debut.
We've spied the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet before, but this time we'll be focusing on the part that should make it one of the best open-top creations in the world, namely its cabriolet hardware.
When we drove the E-Class Cabriolet, we experienced a new level of open air driving freedom. The wind noise and the draught felt smaller compared to any other cabrio we had driven before, Bentley Continental GT Convertible included.
This was owed to two main elements: the power wind stopper at the back, which was not just easy to operate, but also left the rear seat space untouched (manual systems basically delete the rear seats in terms of human use), as well as the (optional) Aircap.
You can bet on both of these elements making their way into the brand's flagship cabriolet. In fact, the adjacent images show the Aircap - the panel at the top of the windshield frame can be raised, revealing a wind deflector such as those used by vehicles with sunroofs. We've included a photo of the system in action (E-Class) in the gallery below.
Once placed above your head, the canvas top of the S-Class will provide an astonishing level of aural and thermal comfort. After all, the S-Class Coupe is the quietest car in the world.
In case you're wondering why a folding metallic roof such as the one on the SL or the SLK hasn't been introduced, there are two main reasons. The S-Class Cabriolet is a GT by definition, so the deeper luggage space wound caused by the use of such a system wouldn't have fitted the status of the car.
Secondly, such systems may be prone to squeaking over the years. Once again, a risk that, no matter how reduced, can't be put next to the S-Class moniker.
Besides, the canvas roof has become part of the three-pointed star brand DNA. Speaking of which, it's interesting how we've gotten to the point where an S-Class could drive itself (remember the fully autonomous sedan prototypes?) and employ such a retro roof solution at the same time.
Speaking of this comparison, the newcomer will follow the fixed roof model's upper-class engine philosophy, thus using only V8 and V12 propulsion. Yes, this means the Cabriolet line-up will stretch from the S500 to the S65 AMG.
So, don't let all the ice and snow in these spy pics trick you - the test driver couldn't be more comfortable in there...
When we drove the E-Class Cabriolet, we experienced a new level of open air driving freedom. The wind noise and the draught felt smaller compared to any other cabrio we had driven before, Bentley Continental GT Convertible included.
This was owed to two main elements: the power wind stopper at the back, which was not just easy to operate, but also left the rear seat space untouched (manual systems basically delete the rear seats in terms of human use), as well as the (optional) Aircap.
You can bet on both of these elements making their way into the brand's flagship cabriolet. In fact, the adjacent images show the Aircap - the panel at the top of the windshield frame can be raised, revealing a wind deflector such as those used by vehicles with sunroofs. We've included a photo of the system in action (E-Class) in the gallery below.
Once placed above your head, the canvas top of the S-Class will provide an astonishing level of aural and thermal comfort. After all, the S-Class Coupe is the quietest car in the world.
In case you're wondering why a folding metallic roof such as the one on the SL or the SLK hasn't been introduced, there are two main reasons. The S-Class Cabriolet is a GT by definition, so the deeper luggage space wound caused by the use of such a system wouldn't have fitted the status of the car.
Secondly, such systems may be prone to squeaking over the years. Once again, a risk that, no matter how reduced, can't be put next to the S-Class moniker.
Besides, the canvas roof has become part of the three-pointed star brand DNA. Speaking of which, it's interesting how we've gotten to the point where an S-Class could drive itself (remember the fully autonomous sedan prototypes?) and employ such a retro roof solution at the same time.
How about the rest of the car?
The camouflage on the rear end still doesn't allow us to see just how different the posterior of the Cabriolet will be to that of the S-Class Coupe.Speaking of this comparison, the newcomer will follow the fixed roof model's upper-class engine philosophy, thus using only V8 and V12 propulsion. Yes, this means the Cabriolet line-up will stretch from the S500 to the S65 AMG.
So, don't let all the ice and snow in these spy pics trick you - the test driver couldn't be more comfortable in there...
Google News