Mercedes-Benz S600 spotted testing in China

Mercedes-Benz had globally unveiled its limousine, the S600, at the Detroit Motor Show, in January, this year. A Chinese website has now spotted the S600 undergoing trials in China. The S600 will be the flagship model for the German manufacturer, ahead of both the SLS supercar and the S65 AMG. Available only at 5,245mm in a long-wheelbase guise, the S600 is the spiritual successor to the original Mercedes 600 of 1963.

Mercedes-Benz claims the S-Class is the first ever car to come without any light bulbs. The car has 500 odd LEDs, 56 in each head lamps, 39 in the tail lamps and around 300 of them being laid around the cabin to provide ambient lighting.The S600 also gets a comprehensive list of standard features like Magic Body Control suspension with Road Surface Scan and a Driving Assistance Package, which comprises of a host of driving and safety assists. The driver and passengers also get hot rock massager seats. A head-up display, a touchpad controller to input data with a swipe and a full-blown infotainment system with 23 speakers among others complete the equipment list. 

The two-tonne car is powered by a 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V12. Also found in the S65 AMG, the engine has been detuned to produce523bhp and 830Nm of torque. This monstrous power propels the S600 to an electronically limited top whack of 248kmph, with the100kmph mark coming in just 4.6 seconds. The power is sent to the rear wheels through the traditional seven-speed automatic transmission. Despite such improved performance figures, Mercedes claims that the S600 is potentially 21 per centmore fuel efficient.

With its Chinese debut and launch planned at the Beijing Motor Show in April, Mercedes-Benz expects the country to become the largest market worldwide for its V12 models within two years and the S-Class within five. Prices for the S600L in China will start around 2.5 million yuan (Rs 2.55 crore).