SPIED On The STREET! What Is Mercedes-Benz Doing With This MYSTERIOUS S-Class Test Car?

SPIED On The STREET! What Is Mercedes-Benz Doing With This MYSTERIOUS S-Class Test Car?
I have to admit. Sometimes I LOVE getting spy photos from our readers and sometimes I am not completely satisfied. That's because a lot of the time they give rise to questions that cannot be answered.

And there's no bigger pet peeve of mine than a question that goes unanswered.

Thanks to Fred Khaz, we've been privileged to receive an all-new batch of spy photos clearly showing us an all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class undergoing developmental testing in SoCal. There's just one problem. Though it's debadged and has logos removed, there is no clear cut way to tell what Mercedes is up to here.

It's a mystery.

Given that there's essentially ZERO indication of what this may be, I am left to speculate. So, speculate I shall:

1) It may simply be a developmental car that's undergoing durability testing. Testing does not end when an automaker launches a product;

2) Could it be possible that Mercedes is looking to lower the S-Class' barrier of entry with a smaller motor? S400, anyone?

3) It appears that the vehicle has a lower than usual ride height. Could this be to improve its aerodynamics thereby hinting that this may be a plug-in hybrid or electric hybrid S-Class?

4) Something else...


Care to wager any bets, Spies? What say you?


**For the FULL collection of spy shots, check out the snaps below!













mre30mre30 - 3/11/2015 11:12:41 AM
+3 Boost
Its the S450 Bluetec. Might be a plug-in hybrid (I think they sell one in Europe). Hopefully its the Bluetec.

Mercedes' diesels are fantastic! My 5,800 pound, 7-seater, GL350 SUV gets 29MPG on the highway and its reasonably fast too. The range is up to about 600 miles on a tank. Its a really great vehicle.


85bmw745i85bmw745i - 3/14/2015 12:48:41 AM
+1 Boost
I have a 2010 GL350 and it does great. only thing i hate is the transmission. driving any faster than a timid senor citizen yields the RPM's going up to 3500-4000 RPM, and thats with no more than 25% throttle. The shift paddles are utterly useless, especially upshifting, as it takes forever to upshift. you have to be clairvoyant and press it multiple times before you want to shift for it to shift, and even then it is still way off. I hate merging because even less than 50% throttle sends it all the way past 4,000 RPM. the engine has great power, but it would be soooo much better if the transmission shift points weren't so high. I have to drive like a hypermiler and barely breathe on the gas pedal to avoid damn near redlining it. Makes me miss my VW Passat TDI with its flawless DSG transmission. and makes me wish I had went with the Touareg instead. It made more power and was alot faster. If I could have VW's DSG transmission in my GL350 I'd be so happy! fuel economy is good for a big SUV. 18 in the city and 25-26 on the highway Almost as good as my old e30 325.


PUGPROUDPUGPROUD - 3/11/2015 12:07:29 PM
+1 Boost
Lower with four exhaust outlets usually means bigger faster engine. Its an AMG something test bed I believe.


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