The German marque’s flagship S-Class is now available in a ‘Connoisseur’s Edition’ exclusively for the Indian market in both the S 350 d L and S 400 L variants. The Connoisseur’s Edition for the S 350 d and the S 400 is priced at Rs 1.21 crore and Rs 1.32 crore (ex-showroom, Pune) respectively.
This special edition comes equipped with a host of features that make the car safer and more friendly for the chauffeur-driven elite. For the first time in India an S-Class gets ‘Night View Assist Plus’. This feature supports night-driving by detecting pedestrians and large animals much earlier in the dark. The notification is displayed in the cockpit enabling the driver to take evasive action as soon as possible. The system works due to the combined efforts of an infrared camera in the windshield and a thermal-imaging camera in the radiator grille.
The addition of an executive rear seat diagonally behind the driver is bound to allow the passenger to travel in absolute comfort. The seat reclines almost completely at 43.5-degree angle and the additional thigh support in combination with the electrically extending footrest (available in the ‘Chauffeur package’) ensure maximum comfort. To prevent the passenger from sliding underneath the seat-belt in the event of a frontal collision, an air cushion has been integrated into the seat.
Another pleasing feature is the ‘Air Balance package’. This allows one to control the oxygen levels and the fragrance within the cabin. There are six choice of fragrances to choose from and the air can be enriched with negatively-charged oxygen ions, which supposedly has a refreshing effect.
However, the Connoisseur’s Edition does not come bearing engine upgrades. The S 350 d continues to be powered by the 3-litre, V6 diesel that produces 258 PS at 3,600 rpm and a maximum torque of 620 Nm between 1,600 to 2,400 rpm. The S 400 is driven by the 3-litre, V6 petrol which produces 333 PS between 5,250 and 6,000 rpm, and a maximum torque of 480 Nm between 1,600 and 4,000 rpm. Both these engines are mated to a 7G-Tronic Plus transmission.
Story: Joshua Varghese
