NO DRIVER REQUIRED!
THERE was a certain irony about Britain’s six times F1 champion Lewis Hamilton helping Mercedes- Benz launch its super high-tech new flagship S-Class. For one of its most cutting edge features is its self-driving technology, which could render him and millions of other motorists redundant.
As the new September ‘70’ plate is launched, the seventh generation S-Class limousine is set to be one of the first cars whose owners can take their hands off the wheel to be driven autonomously on UK roads.
It follows plans announced by ministers to allow ‘automated vehicles’ fitted with the tech, under strict conditions, to begin driving on UK motorways.
The German car giant describes its system as ‘another major step on the way to autonomous driving’, with first UK deliveries from December, as a rival to BMW’s 7- series, the Audi A8, and Jaguar’s XJ.
Drivers will be able to take their hands off the wheel, read a newspaper, browse the internet, check emails, hold a conference call, or relax listening to music while enjoying a seat massage.
However, the driver must be ready to resume control within ten seconds when prompted.
The computerised system uses a combination of cameras, radar and ‘Lidar’ light sensors with wi-fi positioning and a digital map, monitoring traffic conditions to keep the car in lane and a safe distance from other vehicles. The S-Class range is priced from £78,000 for the standardwheel-base S350d diesel.
But the Stuttgart-based car firm estimates around nine out of ten sales will be for longwheelbase models, starting from £88,000.
The S-Class’s range-topping S500 LWB with 4Matic fourwheel drive, priced from £98,000 to £108,000, is powered by a 435 hp 3- litre ‘ straight six’ cylinder petrol engine linked to a 9-speed automatic gearbox and accelerates from rest to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds, up to a top speed artificially restricted to 155 mph. It averages between 29.7 mpg to 35 mpg with CO2 emissions of between 191 g and 216 g/km.
A plug-in hybrid version with an electric-only range of about 62 miles is to follow from 2021. There will also be a 6.0-litre twin turbo V12 ‘Maybach’ version.
Demonstrating the new car, Hamilton said: ‘I’m just about to pick up the S-Class for a short test-drive. Except I’m not going anywhere. It’s coming to me.’
And, with a touch of his smartphone, it did.