The details get even greater on the inside. The cabin is a plush, posh affair with only the best leather, immaculate stitching, wood accents and exceptional build quality. The twin-LCD information display, as in the S-Class, gives access to all the vehicle system controls. The dual glass roof set-up, Magic Sky Control, uses electro-chromic glass for operation. A fresh and fragrant cabin is paramount and the cabin air-filter and specially-created Agarwood fragrance ensure that is well taken care of. The four-zone climate control, too, plays no small part in maintaining a pleasant ambience.
The rear seats, however, are what this car is all about. The seats are inspired by business-class aeroplanes and recline as much as 43.5°. Adjustable calf support, and — in the S 600 — standard Chauffeur Package allow the left rear passenger to control the front seat, taking it forward and unravelling a foot-rest at the bottom, too. The good news continues with the 2+2 seating making room for a flowing centre console that houses tray tables, a 12V port, heating/cooling glass-holders as well as a refrigerator. You can even specify champagne flutes. ‘V12’ badging also finds its place on the perforated and ventilated leather seats, below the incredibly soft and supportive head-rests.
The two large LCD monitors also offer rear-seat occupants a choice of heating, cooling and massage functions while being seated; using a remote control, of course. The hot stone massage for back and/or shoulders truly relieves any stress you may have and makes you forget about the outside world for the duration. Then there’s another innovation. Safety is always among the top priorities and the new belt-bags are another innovation in this regards. Inflatable seat-belts at the rear help prevent injuries to the rib-cage in the — rather unlikely thanks to the plethora of safety aids — event of a crash.
Mercedes-Benz say this is the world’s quietest cabin, a good space to get some thinking done or simply relax. From where we were sitting it was hard to dispute. Of course, our infrastructure being the way it is, a bump and a thud did manage to filter through even this cabin.
Of course, there’s a way to drown them out completely: the 1,540-W Burmester 24-speaker 3D-surround-sound audio. With specifically-positioned tweeters, mid-range, loudspeakers and a sub-woofer, the system delivers an aural experience like few others, comparable to a theatre no less.
Another element which provides more aural bliss and, more importantly, motive force is the big V12 motor. Time to get in the front and see what this car could really do.
