Merc's Next Generation S-Class Named S550

Mercedes-Benz last week announced new nomenclature for its flagship sedan. The model year 2007 S-Class will be named the S550, replacing the S500. In the U.S. market, the new S-Class line will be launched with an all-new 5.5-liter V8 engine delivering 382 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque, the first of a new-generation V8 engine family featuring four-valve-per-cylinder technology and variable valve timing. The "S" designation had long been used to identify top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz sedans and coupes, and the S-Class has embodied the brand's flagship role for more than five decades.

The S-Class is a technological showcase that has pioneered significant safety and comfort features for the entire auto industry, including the first ABS anti-lock brakes, the first ESP stability control and the first PRE-SAFE system. The new S-Class made its world debut at the Frankfurt auto show in September 2005 and is set to arrive in the U.S. in February 2006. The successor to a long line of premium luxury vehicles, the 2007 S-Class sedan will debut with a significantly evolved design and a stronger presence. Sharper angles and cleaner lines frame a sedan that gains about 1.7 inches of length, almost an inch in width, and more than three inches in wheelbase over its predecessor.