samedi 18 mai 2013
World Premiere: The smartest Mercedes S-Class of all time
The new S-Class has landed, enjoying a spectacular world premiere at the Airbus headquarters in Hamburg. Remaining faithful to tradition, the new model is brimming with high-tech features.
Designated the W222, the latest generation of Mercedes’ flagship saloon promises to be the safest, most luxurious and most intelligent S-Class of all time. Building on the still-impressive feature roster of the previous model, the new car scans the roads and surroundings ahead using numerous cameras – automatically adjusting the damping and lighting to suit. Tick the right boxes on the options list and you could allow the adaptive cruise control to keep an eye on things while your seat mimics a hot-stone massage.
A strong emphasis has been placed on rear-seat comfort (hence features such as seatbelt holsters that ‘greet’ you); all the more necessary since the W222 will effectively also be replacing the Maybach line. Five bodystyles are scheduled, with coupé, cabriolet and extra-long-wheelbase variants joining the existing standard and long-wheelbase models.
At launch, engines will range from an electrically assisted 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel (S300 BlueTEC Hybrid) to the 4.7-litre V8 of the S500. Following soon afterwards will be the S63 (twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8) and S65 (6.0-litre V12) AMG versions; 2014 will see the arrival of an S600, as well as a Plug-In Hybrid S500 capable of attaining up to 70.6mpg.
Drivers will be able to get behind the two-spoked wheel of the W222 S-Class from September, with prices starting at around £68,000.
| Related Links Many different generations of the S-Class can be found in the Classic Driver Marketplace |
Text: Jan Richter Classic Driver
Photos: Mercedes-Benz
Orologi da Maranello: Ferrari watches
Watches and cars go well together. They appeal to the same customer base and have a mechanical symbiosis that transcends mere marketing appeal. Over the years, the Ferrari badge has appeared on a variety of collectible timepieces. We take a look at some of them.
In the beginning there was Girard
While Longines produced a limited number of special ‘Ferrari watches’ (sometimes used as gifts by Enzo himself), it took Girard-Perregaux, under the careful direction of car collector and rally driver Prof. Luigi Macaluso, to make a proper collection worthy of the association. In fact, to many, the ‘GP’ Ferrari watches are the best (and most collectible) of them all.
An Italian marriage
Florentine watchmaker Panerai took over from Girard-Perregaux, stylishly modifying its famously over-sized divers’ watches to reflect some design features of contemporary cars built by the Prancing Horse. It also sponsored the company’s historic racing series. The connection with underwater adventure might be considered thin – perhaps the tie-up proved once again that Italian industrial ‘blood’ is thicker than water.
The Big Bang
You either love them or hate them, but there's no denying that the ‘Big Bang’ series of watches by marketing genius Jean-Claude Biver of Hublot has been a phenomenal success. The company is now the latest official partner of Ferrari, and to honour the latest LaFerrari hypercar the Nyon-based watchmaker has made a suitably outrageous watch. The 'Hublot LaFerrari' will run for 50 days without stopping… all for the oh-so-reasonable price of 300,000 euros.
Made at home
Ferrari sits alongside Rolex and Coca-Cola as one of the most well-known brands in the world. It’s understandable, therefore, that via its worldwide chain of retail outlets it should offer a more affordable watch. So, whether you are in London or Abu Dhabi, a quick visit to your local Ferrari Store will provide you with one of the company’s own-brand 'Granturismo' watches which, we have to say, look pretty good.
| Related Links Read our special feature on the Ferrari V8s |
Text: J. Philip Rathgen (Classic Driver)
Photos: The Brands
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