On September 2nd, Mercedes-Benz released a new generation of S-Class sedan (W223). Unsurprisingly, this luxury car once again shocked the global automobile industry. Some foreign media commented that "the new generation of Mercedes-Benz S-Class redefines luxury cars in 22 and beyond" and "the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the epitome of future cars", and many domestic media also praised the new generation of Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
indeed, the new generation of Mercedes-benz s-class is equipped with many leading technologies, such as DIGITAL? LIGHT headlights, MBUX intelligent human-computer interaction system, fully active E-ACTIVE? BODY? CONTROL suspension, L3-class driver assistance system, rear frontal airbag ...
Just as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Daimler Group Kang Linsong (Ola? K? Llenius) said, "When designing these new products, our first consideration is to face the future instead of sticking to the past. Innovating and trying new things has become a unique existence and benchmark at this level. "
Reports about the new generation of Mercedes-Benz S-Class have been overwhelming on the Internet, so we don't intend to analyze it again today. Instead, we want to talk to you about the eighth generation of Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W22) and its complicated stories. Only by deeply understanding the "before and after" of W22 can we better understand the development course of Mercedes-Benz S-Class in the past 2 years and its future development direction.
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Great changes in Daimler and the birth of W22
From the late 198s to the early 199s, Daimler-Benz was the CEO? Edzard? Reuter tried to turn Daimler into a global technology company through crazy acquisition, and its acquisition enterprises involved in aerospace, defense industry, electronic technology, railway transportation, financial services, household appliances, software and so on. At that time, The New York Times described Edzard? Reuter's series of actions is a "buying frenzy".
Edzard? Reuter is not an automobile engineer, does not have engineer thinking, and is not as conservative as others; His only interest in Daimler's automobile department is that Mercedes-Benz automobile business can provide it with a steady stream of funds to pay for its expanding "empire". However, in the early 199s, the economic recession contained Edzard? Reuter's expansion plan, Daimler also suffered losses.
this forced Daimler to turn around and concentrate on the automobile business, and the S-class, the benchmark series of Mercedes-Benz products, became the top priority.
At the same time, personal computers and the Internet have begun to rise around the world, and many industries, including the automobile industry, have realized the value of new technology. The automobile technology based on chip technology has become a means to create brand differences and obtain higher profits.
Dieter dieter zetsche, then head of Mercedes-Benz passenger car business? Zetsche) believes that if the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W22) wants to succeed, it must have "lower fuel consumption, more space, higher safety, lighter weight, better performance ... In short, it must lead the competitors with groundbreaking technology, and at the same time lower the manufacturing cost."
At that time, dieter zetsche's team introduced the world's first keyless start car (KEYLESS-GO keyless start system) and the radar-based cruise control system DISTRONIC；; At the same time, it is also decided to introduce the cockpit management and data system COMAND the voice control system with GPS function, and active body control suspension on the W22. W22 has obtained 34 patents in the whole research and development process, including 4 electronic control units, which need three independent optical fiber pipes for communication. At that time, some insiders commented that "the technical content of W22 is four orders of magnitude higher than that of the previous generation."
In addition, the eighth generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W22) is also a model aiming at the new millennium. Besides integrating many advanced technologies, the design needs to cater to the aesthetics of consumers in the new millennium.
In the eyes of many domestic consumers, the seventh-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W14) is sedate, atmospheric and classic in design, which is very popular among the rich in China, so the seventh-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class is also affectionately called "Tiger Head Running" by China consumers. However, foreigners don't think so. Many foreign friends think that the lines of the eighth-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class are tough, just like Schwarzenegger's muscles. James tyler (James? Taylor) in his book Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cars from 1972 to 213 called W14 too big, too heavy and too grandiose.
Therefore, in the design process of the eighth generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the design style changed from the past to agility, sensibility and elegance, which is quite different from the sedate style of the previous generation. Domestic consumers also call the new S-Class "Butterfly Run".
today, when we see the W221 and the W222 being produced, you will vaguely see that they all have the design elements of W22. For Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the outline of the shape, the ratio of waist line to engine compartment, passenger compartment to trunk are the keys to its success for many years. The change of W22 represents that the buyers of luxury cars around the world are getting younger and younger, and young buyers hope to be different from the owners of previous S-Class, hoping that the S-Class can be more sporty and have a more dynamic appearance, instead of being too conservative. Therefore, the trend of younger appearance has been retained by Mercedes-Benz designers.
although it seems that it is a trend to make the configuration scientific and young, it was a bold decision in the 199s, especially when Daimler was in internal and external difficulties. In 1995, Daimler's board of directors approved the final design of W22.
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The worst W22
W22 has a high technical content, and it even needs the deep learning of the owner to fully master it. When the eighth generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class was delivered to consumers, it was accompanied by three user manuals, one about cars, one about COMAND, and one about how to use the telephone system.
At the same time, due to the adoption of a large number of advanced technologies, the W2 has many product problems, such as the failure of the active body control system or the rupture of the hydraulic pump, which will cause the body to tilt permanently; COMAND system modules frequently fail and need to be replaced frequently; There are many problems in audio system, and these electronic devices are easy to run out of battery power; Frequent bumps in the car body will also damage the optical fiber system of the car body; The crankshaft position of the W22 engine even has a sensor, and when the car is overheated, it will refuse to start ... < P > Some North American car owners commented, "In the first two years of using this car, only the maintenance cost was 1, US dollars." Consumer report (consumer? Reports) rated the reliability of W22 as "poor" and called it one of the "most unreliable luxury cars". In 199, Mercedes-Benz was in J.D.? Power? & ? Associates won the first place in automobile reliability research; By 23, the company ranked 27th, even behind Jaguar.
Despite all kinds of problems, Mercedes-Benz still insists on endowing the S-Class with more scientific and technological attributes. On the W22, Mercedes-Benz has used technologies that it can be proud of until today: COMAND navigation system, Pre-Safe preventive safety system, DISTRONI distance control system, AIRMATIC air suspension and adaptive damping system, and active body control system.
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More scientific and technological W223
Starting from W22, Mercedes-Benz has defined the development direction of S-Class cars, and the 11th generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223) has also continued to advance in this direction. It is worth noting that W223 was also developed under the leadership of dieter zetsche.
from the data, W223 also integrates many "black technologies", including DIGITAL? Head-up display of LIGHT headlight system, active body control system, rear wheel steering, automatic driving and driver assistance system, MBUX human-computer interaction system and augmented reality technology? AR-HUD, rear forward airbag ...
for example, DIGITAL? LIGHT headlights have become more intelligent. There are four light sources on each headlight, and each light source has 124? Gold? LED? The chip can adjust the irradiation range according to the navigation information; At the same time, its light source resolution has reached 1.3 million pixels, which can be turned into high-definition projection, projecting traffic signs and other patterns to the front. The difference rate of each light can reach 2.6 million pixels. In theory, this headlight can already play movies.
secondly, when there is a side collision threat, the fully active E-ACTIVE? BODY? CONTROL suspension can lift the car body 8 mm in a few tenths of a second, which reduces the load on the door structure and reduces the deformation of the car body and the load acting on the passengers.
in addition, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is more digital and intelligent. The five large screens include visual recognition, fingerprint recognition, voice control, gesture control and other functions. The MBUX human-computer interaction system will automatically recognize and adjust according to your eyes. The LCD dashboard in front of the driver has a naked-eye 3D effect, which can achieve a real 3D effect without wearing 3D glasses.
The innovative use of forward airbags in the rear row of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class can protect the passengers in the rear row, thus making the new S-Class sedan safer than before. Moreover, the new active ambient lighting system uses innovative light signals to illuminate everything around, and enhances safety by warning you of any danger. Ambient lights are linked with safety configuration, and turn into red warning when there is danger.
It is understood that the new generation of Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be launched in Europe in December, and will be launched in the United States and China in February 221.
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