Mercedes-Benz W221 | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer |
DaimlerChrysler (2006-2007) Daimler AG (2007-2013) |
Production | August 2005 – June 3, 2013 |
Model years |
|
Assembly |
Sindelfingen, Germany Toluca, Mexico (SKD) 6th of October City, Egypt (EGA) Pekan, Malaysia (DRB-HICOM) |
Designer | Gorden Wagener (2001) |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Full-size luxury car (F) |
Body style | 4-door sedan |
Platform | Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 2.1L diesel 204 PS (150 kW) L4 3.0L diesel 235 PS (173 kW) V6 3.5L 272 PS (200 kW) V6 4.0L diesel 320 PS (240 kW) V8 4.7L 435 PS (320 kW) V8 biturbo 5.5L 381 PS (280 kW) V8 5.5L 517 PS (380 kW) V12 biturbo 6.2L AMG 525 PS (386 kW) V8 6.0L AMG 612 PS (450 kW) V12 biturbo |
Transmission | 5-speed 5G-Tronic automatic 7-speed 7G-Tronic automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 3,035 mm (119.5 in) LWB: 3,165 mm (124.6 in) |
Length | 2006–08 SWB: 5,076 mm (199.8 in) since 2009 SWB: 5,079 mm (200.0 in) 2006–08 LWB: 5,206 mm (205.0 in) since 2009 LWB: 5,209 mm (205.1 in) |
Width | 2006–08: 1,871 mm (73.7 in) since 2009 1,872 mm (73.7 in) BlueHybrid: 83.3 in (2,116 mm) |
Height | 1,473 mm (58.0 in) |
Curb weight | from 1,955 kg (4,310 lb) [S320 CDI] to 2,270 kg (5,000 lb) [S65 AMG] |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W220) |
Successor | Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222) |
The Mercedes-Benz W221 is a chassis code of S-Class, the successor of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W220) and the predecessor of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222). The S-Class are the flagship vehicles of Mercedes-Benz and each generation typically introduces a range of technical innovations and developments that over time will find their way into smaller cars.
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The W221 S-Class' exterior styling is distinctly different from the W220. The W220 somewhat broke with tradition in being smaller than its W140 predecessor, whereas the W221 is once more larger in all dimensions than its predecessor, offers more interior space and has improved performance. The W221 looks are often said to be more imposing than those of the W220. The rear styling is similar to the Mercedes-Benz Maybach – the larger saloon from Daimler AG's other flagship brand, which was presented to the public in 1997. Development began in 1999, with the design work beginning in 2000 at the Advanced Design Center in Tokyo, and the final design by Gorden Wagener at the Sindelfingen Advanced Design Center being approved in 2001, frozen for production in early 2002 and patented in Japan on May 21, 2003 under 1208488 and in Germany on December 4, 2003. A final design prototype W221 was presented in December 2002 to Autospies journalists at a consumer design clinic, 2.5 years prior to the official production model unveiling in June 2005.
Inside, the W221’s interior is also significantly different from the preceding model, even more dominated by leather, wood and metal. Where the W220 still had a fair amount of plastic fascias and switches, the W221 has replaced most of these by more luxurious materials such as wood, leather and metal. The interior features an instrument cluster with two large flat panel screens, one for the hard disk based COMAND system which includes the navigation screen and one replacing the analog speedometer by a graphical representation of it, which can display a range of additional information and can also be replaced by the Night View Assist display. Below the central COMAND screen are silver effect air vents, and a square, analog clock within the vents. Below the vents are metal tab switches with a black field behind them, to control the HVAC system (these functions are all also accessible via the COMAND system, which also offers access to some additional HVAC functions, such as foot-well temperature settings and air flow control).