2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Convertible

The 4.0 Liter V8 engine is good for 463 hp and massive amount of torque. It would be unwise to think that the S 560 is unrivaled. The full-size luxury Cabriolet segment is privy to some intense competition. The S 560 locks horns with the Maserati GranTurismo and Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet.

The Mercedes S 560 is only available with a 4.0 Liter engine that sends power to the rear wheels via a nine-speed transmission.

The S 560 is packed to the brim with standard features. These include adaptive LED lighting, power trunk lid, an adaptive suspension, keyless ignition and soft close doors. The interior gets a 12.3 display for the COMMAND infotainment system.

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The Mercedes S 560 4MATIC Cabriolet is available will all-wheel-drivetrain that puts power to the wheels in a more controlled manner and offers better traction in wet and slippery conditions.

...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.

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.

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.

When compared to the larger V6 engine, the larger V8 engine does not have an advantage in fuel efficiency. But when your car is costlier than an average home, running cost aren't bound to be a big hurdle for you. The Mercedes Benz S 560 offers a 17 mpg in city and 26 mpg on the highway.

The Maserati GranCabrio gives you an EPA fuel mileage of 13 mpg on city roads and 20 mpg on the freeways. The combined mpg achieved is 15 (Due to a big old school V8 engine). The Mercedes S 560 sits between the Maser and Porsche.

The interior is exquisitely finished, and despite appearing to share plenty of interior components with lesser, ie. all other Mercedes models, the interior still feels remarkably well put-together. Restraint clearly wasn't one of the core statements during the design process, but the dramatic shape of the dash, combined with fine leathers, wood and metallic trim seem to fulfil the brief of a car likely to be in the same collection as a two-berth sailboat.-EVO.UK

Seating and Comfort

The luxury on offer might make a case against many British land yachts. The cabin is a testimony to the billions of dollars that Mercedes has spent on R&D for the S Class. The ride quality is anything like a car. Once you are inside, and you have pulled over the windows. You are in an oasis, away from the world.

Comfort and refinement have been pillars for the S Class. Similarly, the S 560 shares the same passion for providing a first class business jet cabin-comfort to the passengers. The 16-way power seats are sculpted for the driver and the front passenger. With the touch of a button you can find your favorite driving position and the memory functions retains the setting for at least 3 seat positions.

The seats offer multiple adjustments to provide maximum comfort. These seats are equipped with cooling and heating functions. Heck! Even massage function is embedded within the seats.

Prepared to be spoiled a little because the S Class makes no compromise when it comes to luxury. Every touch point has been beautifully enamored with soft-touch material and leather. The use of wood, brushed metal and supple leather build up the ambiance of the cabin.

The Mercedes S 560 cabriolet is offered with a standard air scarf feature that gently blows warm air from the front headrests to the back of your neck and cushions you around a blanket.

Infotainment

The primary display is a high-resolution screen which features a fast refresh rate and automatic adjustment to ambient light. This screen provides access to navigation, entertainment and comfort features. The menu can be accessed via an intuitive touchpad controller or the right-hand touch button the steering wheel.

The central 12.3-inch display is complemented by another 12.3-inch screen which is placed in front of the driver. Both the screens are integrated together and provide a seamless viewing experience. The display is customizable and different instrumentation styles can be selected.

Interior Features

• AIRSCARF neck-level heating system
• AIRCAP
• 64-color LED ambient lighting
• ENERGIZING Comfort Control
• Air Balance cabin fragrance system
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Nappa leather upholstery
• KEYLESS-GO
• Soft-close doors
• Electronic trunk closer

Cargo Capacity

The S 560 Cabriolet offers 8.8 cu-ft. of rear cargo space. The space on offers is better than the competition. The cargo area can easily accommodate your luggage for your daily commute to the office and for the occasional weekend trips you need to ditch the rear passengers and use the rear seats for your bags.

Just like the sedan, the Cabriolet didn't change much on the outside. It remains identical to its coupe sibling below the beltline, with almost every design feature borrowed from the four-door model. It comes with the same aggressive yet still elegant front fascia, sleek rear end with slender taillights, muscular engine hood, and strong character lines between the front and rear wheel arches.-Topspeed

Dimensions and Weight

The car's exterior speak for itself, the cabriolet brings out the joy of open top motoring. The soft top roof is sleek and offers layers of acoustic material to shield the occupants from the wind. The front fascia displays a bold diamond-block grille that houses the prestigious 3-pointed star. The rear wears a wide design and the positioning of the OLED tail lamps solidify a muscular stance. All these elements build up a presence that is unmistakably S-Class are privy to the 1 percent of the world.

The soft top can be operated till speeds of 31 mph, it takes less than 20 seconds to disappear into the trunk. The three-layer soft top uses state of the art acoustic engineering to restrict road noise to offer a first class cabin experience,

Dimensionally, the S 560 measures 198.9 inches, 74.8 inches and 56.2 inches at length, width, and height. It surely is a presence that needs a well-prepped garage for its arrival.

When compared, the S 560 is the tallest (74.8 inches) and longest (198.9 inches) car in this comparison. Similarly, the Porsche 911 is the featherweight here (4001 lbs.).

Safety Ratings

A host of safety system work together to ensure the wellbeing of the driver and the passengers. The S 560is equipped with nine airbags, PRE-SAFE Sound, Car-to-X Communication, and Active Brake Assist and more.

• ATTENTION ASSIST
• Intelligent Light System headlamps
• LED Daytime Running Lamps
• Crosswind Assist
• Blind Spot Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• PRE-SAFE
• PRE-SAFE Sound
• Active Parking Assist

Mercedes-Benz S 560 vs Maserati GranTurismo

It's been almost a decade since the GranCabrio was introduced, over the years there have changes but nothing spectacular has followed. Now there are cars which are priced lesser and yet outperform the Maserati GranCabrio. Maserati GT is in need of a major upgrade to meet the modern standards. No doubt that the GranTurismo Convertible still manages to captivate people with its opulent looks and exhilarating sound. But let's face the truth, the S 560 offers a better overall package.

Mercedes-Benz S 560 vs Porsche 911 GTS

The 911 GTS is a stupidly fast car for its competition. Porsche beats the competition despite having two less cylinders (911 uses an H-6 engine) 911 GTS can accommodate 4 people but more in a sense of 2+2. (2 adults at front and 2 kids at rear) The Porsche loses out on utility but poses some really great miles to the gallon numbers. The 911 comes off as bit more track focused than the average super luxury car. So, if you are looking to spend some regular time at your local track then the 911 GTS is a better option than the S Class cabriolet.

The new S 560 convertible hides two different personas. The S 560's Biturbo 4.0 Liter V8 engine is happy to cruise all day long while returning decent fuel economy for its class. But as soon you decide to push the tachometer to redline. The V8 engine transforms into a crackling sports car, the stentorian brappp of the 463 hp engine will by passers mesmerized.

When you are journeying inside the S 560 Cabriolet, you have this personal oasis that travels with you and isolates you from the outside world. With the top down, this car will put the world on mute. You would pass over potholes and road undulations without the slightest interference to your cabin comfort.

The S 560 is a car that begs to be enjoyed alone, going solo on the coastal roads with wind in the hair!