Driven in ‘Eco’, the S 350 d feels far from sedate but encourages a relaxed demeanour; at least, that’s what I could tell from the rear seat as I began my exploration of the centre console that doubles up as an arm-rest and even has a wireless charging pad. Who needs a middle seat anyway? Efficiency, then, goes up to 13 km/l. Factor in the 70-litre tank and an overall 10, and it will go 700 km before needing a refill. I wouldn’t need to stop either. There I was, in the rear left seat with a reclined backrest, a selection of massage functions on the screen behind a front passenger seat far ahead of me. There are two remote controls. The Ottoman left rear seat ― and there is only one ― lets you indulge in the essence of what the S-Class has always stood for. It’s closer to the Maybach, this one. And they don’t do diesel MMs. The right seat, behind the driver, compensates with a third memory setting button where the facing one has a business-class style recline button.
There are several functions accessible at your fingertips in the new S-Class, and there really isn’t any reason to feel the need to exit. The boot can hold up to 510 litres of baggage once the spare wheel and its retainers are disposed of. This time round, there’s no power-close boot-lid. Again, that’s not something most security check personnel are familiar with. Besides, it saves a few seconds and many a grimace at a forced manual closing. Silver lining.
What does all of this ultimately cost? Rs 1.33 crore is the answer. It’s assembled here, at Chakan, near Pune, but inflation and taxation get the best of us. That shouldn’t be a cause for concern for someone looking for a luxurious statement that can also get them from point A to point B very quickly and refreshingly. There aren’t too many who would look away from the S-Class. It was, is, and, from what we know, will continue to be a statement. The torch has been passed, and not just on the headlamps. The new S-Class has arrived.
Need to Know: Mercedes-Benz S 350 d L
Price: Rs 1.33 crore (ex-showroom)
Engine: 2,925 cc, in-line six, turbo-diesel
Max Power: 286 PS @ 3,400-4,600 rpm
Max Torque: 600 Nm @ 1,200-3,200 rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed, automatic, rear-wheel drive
Weight: 1,990 kg
LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT…
The new S 350 d marks a return to the straight-six engine after almost two decades and three generations of the S-Class. The easier-to-package V6 units will soon be consigned to history to make way for the new modular family of engines. The OM 656 steps in as the successor to the OM 613, which made its début in the 1999 S 320 CDI; a 3,222-cc single-turbo in-line six that made 197 PS and 470 Nm. The new engine takes the game further. Much further.
The OM 656 uses a bore of 83 mm and a stroke of 92.3 mm to displace 2,925 cc — okay, fine, 3.0 litres, with its six cylinders in-line. It employs an aluminium engine block with steel pistons, each of which feature a combustion bowl design to improve performance. It also gets Camtronic on the exhaust valves for improved breathing and performance. Exhaust gas treatment goes up a notch further with Selective Catalytic Reduction that incorporates AdBlue injection. There’s a diesel particulate filter for maximum soot reduction. Oh, and the engine puts out 286 PS and a full 600 Nm that peaks at a lowly 1,200 rpm and stays till 3,200 rpm.
Moreover, this engine is now being assembled in India. It is the first BS VI-ready diesel engine to be made here, and it can run on BS-IV fuel. It’s also the most powerful engine Mercedes-Benz India have ever put together here. Speaking of power, there’s also a ‘400 d’ with 340 PS and 700 Nm — the most powerful production Mercedes diesel engine ever, more than even the OM 628 4.0-litre V8, which topped out at 320 PS. Not available here, for now.
