The new S-Class Cabriolet (A 217) - First design sketch

Celebrating the world premiere at the IAA Frankfurt 2015, the S-Class Cabriolet is a totally new addition to the S-Class portfolio of the modern era. Mercedes-Benz stopped making open-top versions for the its flagship model beginning with the W 116 generation which launched back in the early 1970s.

The A 217 model series is derived from the C 217 S-Class Coupe and features four individual seats, a retractable fabric roof as well as additional body reinforcement to withstand the twisting forces which are inevitable when the roof is no longer fixed. As a consequence, the new S-Class Cabriolet will gain extra kilos compared to its Coupe brothers, which will also steal a part of the overall driving performance of the car.

Nonetheless, this slight inconvenience will be balanced by the majestic design of the vehicle, which has been penned by Robert Lesnik. The elegant aura of the roofless S-Class will be further enriched with the use of new, specially designed colour/material combinations for the leather upholstery and the trims inside the car. Furthermore, the level of technology will match that of the S-Class, meaning we will get the Intelligent Drive safety package, MAGIC BODY CONTROL, and all the latest communication devices, such as the newest generation COMAND Online with Touchpad and the Head Up Display.

Moreso, like other convertible models in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the new S-Class Cabriolet (A 217) will also feature MAGIC VISION CONTROL, AIRCAP and AIRSCARF, which further improve comfort and visibility while driving with the roof down. In the engine department, the lineup will comprise the Coupe powerplant as follows: S 500 Cabriolet with 455 hp, Mercedes-AMG S 63 Cabriolet and S 63 4MATIC Cabriolet with 585 hp and the all mighty Mercedes-AMG S 65 with 630 hp. Expect the new model to be priced well above the S-Coupe, which means a starting price of around 150,000 euros in Germany.

Image Source: Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog

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PREVIEW: Early illustrations reveal what could have been the W 213 E-Class

The 213 series E-Class is expected to touch ground by the end of 2015. Recently, a set of images showing some initial sketches (dated 29th July 2011) of the future E-Class have reached the internet, signaled by the W 213 lettering found on one of the drawings.

Signed by former Mercedes-Benz designer Hussein Alattar (currently working for BMW), the drawings reveal a fascinating, quite retro-style design for the executive class limousine. The current design philosophy is evolved into the next step, becoming even more progressive. The headlights resemble an arch and the radiator grille, although rounded, is pointing ahead. When seen from profile, the front section looks like the fascia of a shark.

The roofline looks dramatically arched, with the side windows being completely modified compared to the traditional design of the current days. The C-pillar is triangular and continues fairly close to the bottom end of the car. The third volume, the trunk, is shorter than expected and looks like it has been integrated into the whole architecture - fairly similar to a fastback sedan.

The profile is extremely neat and clean and it features larger and more pronounced wheel arches. While the front overhang is short, the rear overhang is long - a perfect antithesis with the long engine bonnet and the almost seamlessly integrated trunk. All in all, if ever approved by executives, the opera of Hussein Alattar would probably have looked sensational in flesh and would have brought a revolutionary view to the classic Mercedes-Benz design philosophy.

Image Credits: Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog

Copyright � 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.