2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe and Cabriolet revealed

The updated Mercedes-Benz S-Class family is complete with Coupé and Cabriolet versions unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show.

The two-door versions feature the same innovations as the big luxury sedan including the latest Generation 4.5 driver assistance systems and widescreen digital cockpit and infotainment display. The dual 12.3-inch displays are now housed behind a single glass pane, as first introduced in the current E-Class.

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The 2018 Mercedes S-Class Coupe and Cabriolet also get a new steering wheel with touch sensitive controls and the latest version of the COMAND infotainment system that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone pairing and wireless charging.

The advanced driver assist tech has been integrated with the car’s sat-nav so the system knows when to autonomously brake, accelerate and turn the steering wheel for upcoming curves and intersections.

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The software is also governed by the selected driving mode, with the car braking later and harder if you’re in Sport or Sport+ than it does in Comfort.

Exterior design changes are subtle and include a revised bumper and new, full LED headlights while the rear gets new tail lamps, unique to Coupe and Cabriolet, with graphics featuring organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology that emit a seemingly floating dynamic light sequence that varies depending on whether the car is being unlocked, turning or braking.

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The Coupe comes in four variants, the S 450, S 560, AMG S63 and AMG S65, while the Cabriolet has the three senior engines, making do without the V6 S 450 option. All except the S 65 run on the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system.

The S 450 Coupe’s 3.0-litre V6 produces 270kW/500Nm and is coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission which boasts a relatively high combined fuel efficiency of 8.9L/100km thanks to a new gliding function that automatically disconnects the engine from the running gear allowing it to coast under certain conditions.It’s quick too, turning the land yachts into speed boats with a 0-100km time of 5.5 seconds.

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Unfortunately, it’s not likely that the S 450 will make its way to Australia when S-Class range arrives at the end of the year.

The S 560 replaces the S 550 model and is powered by a 345kW/700Nm 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8. The same block appears in the S 63 but is tuned to push out 450kW/900Nm. Sprint times for the S 560 and S 63 are 4.6 and 3.5 seconds respectively.

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The range-topping S 65 sees a 463kW/1000Nm 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 shoehorned under the bonnet. Its 4.1-second 0-100km/h time is 0.6 slower than the V8-powered S 63 but sprint times would be the last thing on your mind when enjoying its rapturous roar especially in the soft top.

That massive surfeit of torque is going to make acceleration – in any gear – utterly effortless, and if being cool is not having to try hard, then there’s not a lot that’s going to ruffle the S 65’s feathers.

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