Mercedes-Benz And Audi Plan Four Cylinder Flagship Sedans

Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz is rolling out an S-class sedan with a four-cylinder engine, a first in the model's 60-year history as it vies with BMW AG and Audi for the “green” luxury driver.

Mercedes is the first of the world's biggest luxury carmakers to put such a small engine on its top-of-the-line model. To meet emissions standards and win environmentally aware customers, premium manufacturers are flaunting their environmental credentials. BMW has invested 1.2 billion euros in fuel-saving technology, while Mercedes nearly doubled its investment on “green” development to 1 billion euros this year.

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knowitall1985 - 11/11/2010 1:51:34 PM

+3 Boost

good luck with that.......

merce63amg - 11/11/2010 1:56:52 PM

+6 Boost

Nice a FWD 4 cylinder A8. Now it really is just a big A4.

WorldofLuxury - 11/11/2010 2:01:22 PM

+4 Boost

I'm not buying it! because whenever I think of a flagship sedan and the money I will be spending, I always think, "That 4-cylinder seems pretty cool!"

PUAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHahhahaha... right...

uaw_lax - 11/11/2010 3:26:54 PM

+1 Boost

4 cylinders have gotten better but not good enough for me! This car is for the want to Be's.

Steve - 11/11/2010 4:41:25 PM

+3 Boost

It looks like MPG is the new HP. As long as there are sufficient numbers of buyers for this idea, then good for them!

It appears that some list members have already chimed in that smaller displacement and/or fewer cylinders isn't manly enough for them. Others draw the line at EVs, asserting that they are "gay". And still others, color can define a "chick car."

It's just a matter of what we *believe* that determines how we judge.

theoptimisticpessimist - 11/11/2010 6:49:15 PM

+1 Boost

As I said before, slow is the new black.

nguyenvuminh - 11/11/2010 8:43:34 PM

+2 Boost

I doubt the 4-cyl S class will be coming to the US market given the sentiments expressed above, which I would say are fairly typical for most Americans.

AlleVier - 11/12/2010 4:19:07 PM

+1 Boost

This would be a perfectly good sedan for those interested in being chauffeured (especially in crowded cities like Beijing), for those who were never interested in obtaining their Man Card or, at the very least, for those who recognize that differently-configured cars help meet the varied needs of the consumer.

Lexus - 11/12/2010 6:52:30 PM

+1 Boost

You got to kidding me right? And how much are they planning to sale this MB S-Class with 4 cylinders anyway? People who can afford a $100,000+ U.S. dollars car can care less about the gas price. Yeah....yeah.... what about those Eco friendly clients who want a green car? Get a Hybrid or EV's cars.

And I think the demand for this kind of big luxury sedan with a 4 cylinders is very low. If you were rich and loaded with a lot of Cash, don't You want a Big, Fast and Powerful Luxury Sedan? Just in case you need to escape the bad guys from kidnapping you and your love one for ransom or something?