Out With The Old. In With The Old

Mercedes-Benz did not hesitate this model year 'round to advertise the new S600 flagship here in America.

By historical comparison, it took better than two years for the 500SEL to replace the 380SEL in the early 1980s; a year and change for the 600SEL to arrive in the early 1990s; a year for the S430 and S500 to be accompanied by the new S600; and now not even a few months for the S550 to be parked behind the latest top model.


The V-12 engine that smoldered the predecessor's rear tyres is back and has retuned with an extra 17 horses.

That may not sound like much, but I recall the 25 horsepower difference between the 500SEL and 560SEL as being night and day.

The 500SEL merely pulled strong as a big grand tourer should. The 560 ratcheted it up to a maniacal rage that revved higher and quickened paces (and pulses) by more than a second and a half to 60 mph (6.9 seconds compared to a much more leisurely 8.8 seconds).

So while this new 5.5 Liter (ahem, 600) 36 valve bi-turbo V-12 is old hat dating to the W220, it's new 510 horsepower should make for ever brighter smiles at green lights.


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