Benz hasn't said much, but we do know the Mercedes 2007 S-Class will be 1.7 inches longer, almost an inch wider, and ride on a 124-inch wheelbase, about 3 inches longer than its predecessor.
These new dimensions create 1.5 inches of extra elbow room and slightly more headroom. Rear-seat passengers get an extra half inch of knee room compared to the preceding series. The trunk is bigger, too, up to nearly 20 cubic feet.
Behind the new engine will be the same driver-adaptive 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic that's also used in the 2006 M-Class. And as in the M-Class, the transmission will be controlled by a small electronic shift lever on the right side of the steering column. The design is very much like the one BMW pioneered in the 2002 7 Series, you lift the stalk up for "Reverse," push down for "Drive," and push a button on the end for "Park." Once under way, manual shifting is possible with buttons on the back of the steering wheel.
New Interior
The shifter isn't the only thing Mercedes lifted from the BMW design center, the interior looks like an homage to the present 7 Series.
In the center of the dash is an 8-inch high-resolution display for a new "Cockpit Management and Data System" (COMAND), which Mercedes says is more intuitive, and the system is operated by a COMAND Controller located on the lower center console. Sounds like iDrive to us, does it sound like iDrive to you? If you're like us, and hate the big knob, Mercedes says many vehicle controls are accessible by conventional hard keys, the multifunction steering wheel and optional voice control.
Among the new extreme features list are front seats that adjust 16 ways and offer several optional choices of ventilation and ergonomic adjustability. Optional Drive Dynamic seats will feature 25 individual pneumatic chambers and four levels of pulsating massage.
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There are only two things. I'm not crazy about this car. I am in love with this car. =)