Photos: 001 Spies the official S-class launch in Arizona

This new S-Class is by far the best new Mercedes out, maybe even best luxury car. Looks great in the natural daylight. I would buy one anyday! Love it in the maroon or the silver.

"We've always believed that magic happens when a company decides that revolution is better than evolution and makes a bold statement".

First, S-class will continue to sell well for sometime to come.

Secondly, Companies like MB really have no choice but to make a bold statment each and everytime they design a new car because most MB buyers do not expects it no less. Basically-If you claim fame of appeal and marque as famous as MB which they are..you have retain this title and never let go of it.

Thirdly, Lexus and Infiniti...MB must produce goundbreaking cars each and everytime with ample amount of magic. Germans must never be content ever, instead must focus on much faster progress on its technology. Things are just heating up in luxury car category and I truely believe we are seeing the very beginning of the battle royal, between Germans and Japanese. The Japanese will be relentless. The Japanese are technological powerhouse of the world and I expect Lexus will use this as an advantage in their cars. With 10 billion Dollars profit per year all you Lexus bashers don't stand ground to criticize BTW.

Lexus's marketing strategy has been simply magical so far and hopefully MB learned something from all this. They need to establish something that'll stand out besides history, design or mysticisism. All I hear from MB blowhards are history yada yada yada..and MB bashers commenting something about history of MB breakingdown ending up in garage for repair yada yada yada which we all are familiar with already okay! Let's get real here folks...MB may breakdown alot and have god awful idrive..but it still sells well. What exactly is their magic? Could it be somesort of German sorcery magic by sacrificing goats and chickens? I don't know and have no clue but its very mystfying to me.

"We've always believed that magic happens when a company decides that revolution is better than evolution and makes a bold statement".

First, S-class will continue to sell well for sometime to come.

Secondly, Companies like MB really have no choice but to make a bold statment each and everytime they design a new car because most MB buyers do not expects it no less. Basically-If you claim fame of appeal and marque as famous as MB which they are..you have retain this title and never let go of it.

Thirdly, Lexus and Infiniti...MB must produce goundbreaking cars each and everytime with ample amount of magic. Germans must never be content ever, instead must focus on much faster progress on its technology. Things are just heating up in luxury car category and I truely believe we are seeing the very beginning of the battle royal, between Germans and Japanese. The Japanese will be relentless. The Japanese are technological powerhouse of the world and I expect Lexus will use this as an advantage in their cars. With 10 billion Dollars profit per year all you Lexus bashers don't stand ground to criticize BTW.

Lexus's marketing strategy has been simply magical so far and hopefully MB learned something from all this. They need to establish something that'll stand out besides history, design or mysticisism. All I hear from MB blowhards are history yada yada yada..and MB bashers commenting something about history of MB breakingdown ending up in garage for repair yada yada yada which we all are familiar with already okay! Let's get real here folks...MB may breakdown alot and have god awful idrive..but it still sells well. What exactly is their magic? Could it be somesort of German sorcery magic by sacrificing goats and chickens? I don't know and have no clue but its very mystfying to me.

Agree with ya 100%

Agree with ya 100%

"Every once in a while a car is released that raises the bar for everyone else in the automotive industry".True

For now it's MB S class.

But i think THE LEXUS LS has raised the bar for everyone in LUXURY and features AREA.

Other than that maybe for styling,performance S still has a slight edge over LS,7 series,A8.

"Every once in a while a car is released that raises the bar for everyone else in the automotive industry".True

For now it's MB S class.

But i think THE LEXUS LS has raised the bar for everyone in LUXURY and features AREA.

Other than that maybe for styling,performance S still has a slight edge over LS,7 series,A8.

Mercedes-Benz is well on their way back from the edge. Many of their new designs are graceful and beautiful. Quality is up as well. I wish I could say the same for BMW.

I liked what another said in comparing MB to Rolex. There is a lot of truth to the comment that it would take a long time for the public to stop buying a product when quality starts to slip. With that being said, I also think that to sit back on ones laurels and not continually work to improve, heritage and history aside, it will fall. Remember what happen to Cadillac. The standard of the world, reduced to selling rebadged caviliers.

Granted, Cadillac is making a tremendous comeback, but it has been as a result of a lot of hard work.

MB quality has not suffered as much in comparision to others, however the fact that it has been brought up is clearly being used as a talking point. What one doesn't consider when raising the subject of quality, is that decrease in quality is in comparision to other MB, not other makes. With that being said, MB is still a pretty superior car.

The only competition MB has, is MB. BMW's are sold to a different clientele, one who demands performance over luxury. MB has played catch up in recent years trying to capture that audience, and is doing a commendable job, however MB's strong suit is still unabashed luxury.

In my opinion, there are 2 things hurting MB.

#1. Price - Dollar for dollar, option for option, a MB is more expensive than a BMW. For example, why MB hasn't put Xenon headlights standard on everything but the C230 baffles me. I go to the local dealer to look at the E class, and almost all the cars still have traditional halogen instead of Xenon. (I am using Xenon as an example, but look at the high end stereo options, leather and interior options and you quickly see what I am talking about.)

#2. Saturation - Everyone and their mother drives a C230. That is fine, however is devalues the line as a whole, and takes away the mystique that is MB. When the local dealers run ads touting the ability to drive a MB for the price of a Honda, something is wrong. Keep MB special.

Well 001, since you didn't post my last entry we'll see if you let this on in.

I don't see anything special about this car except for the front end. I really do enjoy looking at this car head on. But as I move toward the rear of the car my whole outlook changes. The rear design doesn't match the front and MB has gone with the angled and straight line look that others have gone for.

And I won't even waste my time on the interior. Horrific, unfriendly, a waste of design time. And no I won't go off on the BMW-stealing idea for all those that are so fuzzy in the head you won't consider the point.

MB made a car that doesn't relect what the last generations have been. Look back at the simple and elegant and wonderful design and build quality of the last two or three generations. But....people with money will buy it b/c it's new, it's "the best", it's got a little silver three pointed star on the hood.

Just don't get mad when the guy next to you at the light driving the 7-Series is laughing at you.