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WHEN Mercedes launches a new S-Class, the whole car world stops to watch. As the wraps were removed from the sleek new seventh-generation model (above), it won’t only have been enthusiasts, owners and dealers tuning in; other car makers will have been sitting there with their pens poised to take in the very latest technologies that Mercedes’ famous flagship has to offer. It has always been that way; the S-Class has, for generations, featured technology that has rolled down into other Mercedes models, and then into rivals’ cars. Technology such as anti-lock brakes; the S-Class was the first model from a major manufacturer to feature this crucial safety feature that’s now on every new car. Airbags, seat-belt pretensioners and ESP were other important safety innovations on the S-Class. It also…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods • Advanced newcomer takes comfort and convenience to next level • First to use fresh platform that will underpin all marque’s saloons THIS is the all-new Mercedes S-Class, boldly hailed by the brand as “the best car in the world”. It goes on sale in Europe in December, priced from around £82,000. The S-Class is the first Mercedes to be based on a new generation of the firm’s MRA platform for saloon cars. This means that alongside the model’s traditional fastidious approach to luxury and comfort, the new version is an important milestone for the company. It comes with a technological revolution inside the cabin that will set the tone for the next C-Class and E-Class. Mercedes has confirmed two versions for the European market, based on a…

Daimler CEO WE sit down with the boss of Mercedes-Benz to see how the pandemic has affected the company Q THE UK Government is looking to ban the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by 2035. Do you feel that is realistic? A WE’VE made a very clear strategic decision that the future of mobility will eventually be emission free – we call it Ambition 2039. The future will be emission free and now we are going there. We’ve put the stake in the ground with 2039, but it cannot be achieved by 2035. I don’t think we need to debate that too much at this point in time – we need to get on with it, to solve the problem. And that’s what we’re doing. Q THE…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson • Grand Wagoneer is aiming high • Hi-tech with hint of ’60s classic NEXT year’s new Range Rover will have fresh competition in the form of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. This is a reborn version of the company’s original flagship that first appeared in 1962, and it’ll go on sale in the US in early 2021. There’s no word yet on whether it will be available in the UK, but when it reaches the American market it will take Jeep into new territory, with a price range expected to start from around £100,000. Although technically a concept for now, the Grand Wagoneer’s styling is very representative of what the showroom model will look like. It shares the same bluff front end and boxy panelling as Jeep’s current model…

ELSEWHERE at Jeep, the company has also launched a plug-in hybrid version of the Wrangler, badged 4xe. The car’s powertrain comprises a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a 17kWh lithium-ion battery, belt-driven starter-generator and an electric motor mounted to the front of the transmission case in place of the standard model’s torque converter. The Wrangler 4xe has an output of 375bhp and 637Nm of torque, which is fed to the fully mechanical four-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed auto. The powertrain also provides a claimed pure-electric range of 25 miles. The Wrangler 4xe retains the same off-road ability as the conventionally powered model; it has standard-fit skid plates, front and rear tow hooks, two-speed low-range transfer case, locking front and rear diffs, and chunky 17-inch alloys. It should start from £45,000.…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths A VAST survey of almost 18,000 drivers has found almost half will consider an electric car when it is time to replace their current vehicle. The poll of 17,628 AA members, conducted with ITV’s Tonight current affairs programme, found 47 per cent of motorists will consider an electric vehicle for their next car, with women (49 per cent) slightly more likely to be mulling over an EV than men (46 per cent). People living in London were most likely to say they would look at EVs (56 per cent), while 60 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 will consider going electric when it’s time to upgrade, a figure that fell to 56 per cent for 35 to 44-year-olds, and 48 per cent of those aged 55…