Merc’s spectacular new Cabriolets
Stunning new S-Class and C-Class drop tops make local debut
MERCEDES-BENZ has declared open season with the launch of new Cabriolet versions of the S-Class and C-Class in South Africa.
At the Beverly Hills end of the range, the roof-shedding S-Class is the sixth variant of Merc’s big luxury car, and the first open-top luxury four-seater from the German firm since 1971.
The car features an electronically-folding soft top which takes around 20 seconds to peel back into the boot at driving speeds of up to 60km/h. The acoustic top has three layers to keep noise levels down.
Making top-down driving comfortable even in less-than-perfect weather is an Airscarf neck-level heating system built into the front seats, heated front and rear seats, and intelligent climate control that automatically adjusts for top-down or top-up driving.
You can also splurge out on an optional Warmth Comfort package which offers heated armrests on the centre console and the doors as well as the multifunction steering wheel.
The S-Class Cabrio comes standard with air suspension that can be set to waft comfortably or stiffened up to whizz through corners.
Like the S-Class sedan and coupé, the new Cabrio is available with a raft of semi-autonomous driving aids that allow it to keep a safe following distance, steer itself, and help avoid collisions.
The three-model range starts with the S500 Cabriolet which uses a 4.6-litre V8 turbo delivering 335kW and 700Nm, but performance-seeking gazillionaires can also opt for one of two toupé-rufflling AMG versions: the S63 or S65.
The S63 AMG fires up the rear wheels with a 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine with 430 kW and 900Nm for a claimed 0 to 100 km/h blast in 4.2 seconds. It has exhaust flaps that open and close to adjust the intensity of the V8 war cry, depending on whether you’re in comfort or sport mode.
Those who prefer the more refined feel of a V12 can opt for the top-of-the-range S65 AMG, with a turbocharged 6-litre that’s almost powerful enough to affect the Earth’s rotation, or 463kW and 1000Nm to be precise.
It’s good for a 4.1 second 0-100 sprint, while the governed 250km/h top speed can be raised to 300km/h with the optional AMG Driver’s package.
For those who don’t need, or can’t afford, the opulence afforded by a drop top S-Class, Mercedes has also introduced its smaller C-Class in Cabrio form. This range starts with a C200 pushing 135kW and 300Nm through a manual transmission, with a 9G-Tronic auto available as an option. Next up is a C220d version where a 2.2-litre turbodiesel makes 125kW and 400Nm, and a C300 with a 180kW/370Nm 2-litre turbopetrol.
As per the C-Class sedan and coupe lineups, the AMG Cabriolet range starts with a 43 derivative, and here a 3-litre turbo V6 blasts 270kW and 520Nm through all four wheels. Mercedes claims 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds with top speed limited to 250km/h. The 43, and all other non-AMG models (except C200) come with nine-speed autos as standard.
Then there are two full fat AMG models – the 63 and 63S – with 4-litre twin-turbo V8s sending 350kW/650Nm and 375kW/700Nm respectively to the rear wheels through seven-speed multi-clutch gearboxes. Acceleration figures are pegged at 4.1 and 4.2 seconds for the 0-100km/h test, and governed 250km/h top speeds can be raised to 280km/h with an optional Driver’s Package.
Like the bigger S-Class, the C Cabrio gets a folding soft top which retracts and raises in 20 seconds at speeds up to 50km/h. The C also gets an optional Airscarf feature for top down cruising in colder weather, and an Aircap draughtstop which comes in the same package raises up from above the windscreen to help keep the cabin from becoming too blustery at speed.
PRICES S500 Cabriolet R2 299 900 S63 AMG Cabriolet R2 899 900 S65 Cabriolet R3 499 900 C220d Cabriolet R774 900 C200 Cabriolet R699 900 C300 Cabriolet R805 900 C43 4Matic Cabriolet R1 039 900 C63 Cabriolet R1 439 900 C63 S Cabriolet R1 559 900 • All models come standard with Merc’s 6-years/100 000 km PremiumDrive maintenance plan.