...It has a new, S560 badge and a new 4.0-liter V-8 powerplant. Just like in the sedan and coupe, the twin-turbo unit cranks out 463 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of twist. That's a minor, 14-horsepower increase over the previous 4.7-liter V-8, but the new engine consumes about eight percent less gasoline.-Topspeed
Engine and Transmission
When you are behind the wheel of an S Class, chances of any disappointment are pretty low. The Biturbo V8 engine has enough grunt to propel the S 560's real estate, briskly. The engine responds to the minutest of the changes in the right pedal with the precision of a scalpel. But unlike the bellowing and maddening wail of a normally aspirated gasoline motor, the V8 mill on the S Class offers great refinement. From the cabin, it is really difficult to hear the engine battling out the forces of nature. Such quality is befitting for a luxury Cabriolet!
Mercedes offers a unique turbocharger placement to reduce turbo lag. The V8 engine also uses NANOSLIDE technology to reduce friction between various engine components. Should you require that extra passing power for swift maneuvers? Then the V8 engine has a wide torque plateau to make such maneuvers possible for a large luxury convertible.
Transmission duties are taken by 9G Tronic automatic transmission. The gearbox and the engine exist in a perfect symbiosis. The 9-speed automatic can easily take care of that massive 516 lb-ft torque output.
Models
|
Mercedes-Benz S 560 Cabriolet
|
Maserati GranTurismo
|
Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet
|
MSRP
|
$134,300
|
$148,850
|
$132,350
|
Engine
|
4.0-Liter Biturbo V8
|
4.7L V-8
|
3.0L Twin-turbocharged Boxer 6
|
Transmission
|
9-speed automatic
|
6-speed automatic
|
7-speed Automatic
|
Horsepower
|
463 hp
|
454hp
|
450hp
|
Torque
|
516 lb-ft
|
384lb-ft
|
405 lb.-ft.
|
Sadly, the time for big displacement V8's and V10's is running low. Turbocharging is here to extract most out of the engines while meeting stringent emissions and efficiency norms. The Maserati uses a unique engine here the Ferrari sourced naturally aspirated V8 engine is one of a kind in this segment. Porsche uses a turbo boxer-six engine which is better known to enthusiasts as the H-6
Acceleration
Just a glance at a Mercedes S Class and you know what it stands for! Accomplishing such a feat is very important for a luxury brand. The S 560 wasn't designed to burn rubber, or not in any sense it was meant to carve corners through the canyon road. But if you find yourself in such a fix, then the S 560 will gladly comply with your wishes.
But don't take S 560 to be a slow-poke, it smashes the 60 mph mark in 4.6 seconds. The S 560 builds up speed without any drama. The S 560 doesn't define quick in this segment but it packs enough to fulfill your daily dose of driving. The competition also sticks close to this sub-5-second mark, except the Porsche 911 GTS which manages a lightning fast 3.6-second naught to 60 mph run.
Models
|
Mercedes-Benz S 560 Cabriolet
|
Maserati GranTurismo
|
Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet
|
0-60 MPH
|
4.6 sec
|
4.9 sec
|
3.6 sec
|
Quarter mile
|
N/A
|
13.5 sec
|
12.2sec
|
Engine
|
4.0-Liter Biturbo V8
|
4.7L
|
3.0L
|
Emission
(Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
|
N/A
|
11.7
|
8.4
|
Ride and Handling
When the top is down, the windshield uses an air deflector to stop wind buffeting. The power folding top has several layers of fabric that have been remarkably engineered to reduce wind noise. The Airscarf feature is what makes those open top joy rides pleasant in cold climates. The headrest blow warm air through the vents to make the driver and passenger comfortable.
At lower speeds, the electromechanical steering breathes life into the front wheels of the car. Even for such a size, the S 560 is such a doll at low-speed maneuvers. Driving in the city is never a challenge due to the light steering. The steering weighs up as higher speeds are achieved. Even the precise on-center feel and straight-line stability inspire confidence in drivers. The superstructure sits upon Airmatic Suspension for a balanced and comfortable ride. The setup uses electronically controlled springs which are more adaptive to driving conditions.
Braking
The S 560 is equipped with 13.2-inch brake rotors at the front and 11.8-inch brake rotors at the rear. Weighing in at 4802 lbs. the S 60 is the heaviest convertible in this bunch. Due to unavailability of deceleration (60-0 mph) data, we are unable to mention the accurate braking performance of the S 560 Cabriolet.
Model
|
Mercedes-Benz S 560 Cabriolet
|
Maserati GranTurismo
|
Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet
|
Brake Front (in.)
|
13.2
|
13.0
|
13.8
|
Brake Rear (in.)
|
11.8
|
13.0
|
13
|
Curb Weight (lbs.)
|
4802
|
4365
|
3352
|
60-0 MPH (ft.)
|
N/A
|
114
|
112
|