EDMUNDS.COM 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S55 AMG
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 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
Combining performance more akin to that of an Italian sports car along with S-Class luxury and room, the S55 has few rivals in the ultraperformance luxury sedan arena.
Pros
World-class performance, state-of-the-art safety features, spacious and comfortable cabin.
Cons
Complicated COMAND system, six-figure price tag.
What''s New for 2004
The navigation system is now DVD-based and the "Keyless Go" system is now integrated into the standard key fob.
Overview
Introduction:
Those three letters are as revered by auto enthusiasts as ERA or RBI are by baseball fanatics. But what do they stand for and what are they doing affixed to various Mercedes-Benz vehicles? The first two letters stand for the names of the founders: Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, and the last letter signifies where the company was born: Grossaspach, Germany, back in 1967. What Mr. A and Mr. M did was modify Mercedes-Benz automobiles for better performance, be it for road use or racing, in which they were heavily involved. As the years went on, AMG became known as a premier tuner of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, and eventually offered interior and exterior modifications, such as custom instruments, steering wheels and seats as well as ground effects, spoilers and wheels. The company did such a great job that Mercedes-Benz brought it in-house in 1990 and as a result AMG now has its own high-performance skunk works, similar to rival BMW''s "M" division. There is now an AMG version of nearly every Benz model, from the C-Class'' C32 to the CL-Class'' CL55, and they all feature powerful engines, agile suspensions and subtle accents inside and out to set them apart from their more common brethren. The S-Class is Mercedes'' flagship sedan. The current generation, introduced in 2000, brought sleeker styling, more advanced technology and greater performance than the heavier versions that preceded it. The S-Class was praised for its comfort and performance that belied its size. However, it was criticized for overly complex controls, especially the standard COMAND system that operated the navigation and audio systems. AMG put its magic touch on the S-Class three years ago, when the S55 debuted, offering a fair measure of sport sedan personality (courtesy of a 5.4-liter, 355-horse V8) along with S-Class room and luxury. Last year, along with a number of significant advances in performance and safety, Mercedes boosted the power of the S55. With 493 horsepower and 505 lb-ft, the supercharged S55 is one of the fastest luxury sedans ever built.
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For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
The four-door S55 comes in one well-appointed trim level. The long list of standard features includes a navigation system, which is now DVD-based, 14-way power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, extensive leather and wood interior trim, a high-powered CD audio system and even illuminated vanity mirrors for all four seating positions. Among the options are "active, ventilated" seats that feature built-in fans to keep one''s backside cool on sultry days, Distronic cruise control that automatically maintains a preset distance from the car in front of it and Parktronic that lets you know when you''re approaching a potentially damaging object in a parking lot.
Powertrains and Performance:
The S55''s supercharged 5.5-liter V8 produces a stunning 493 horsepower and 505 lb-ft of torque. The power is managed by an AMG-tweaked five-speed automatic that furnishes 35-percent quicker gear changes and a "Speedshift" feature that allows manual-shift capability without having to take your hands off the wheel. Mercedes claims that this high-performance superluxury sedan will hit 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds, a figure typically associated with exotic sports cars bearing Italian names.
Safety:
Last year brought "Pre-Safe," which determines accident probability by using sensors belonging to the stability control system and the BrakeAssist feature. Should an accident appear unavoidable, the system applies split-second tensioning of the seatbelts, moves the front passenger seat and power-adjustable individual rear seats to the most favorable positions and closes the sunroof (if the vehicle is skidding). If the accident is averted at the last moment, the seatbelt tensioning is cancelled and the seats reset to their original positions. Of course, Pre-Safe joins a list of already impressive safety features that includes four-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronic traction and stability control and seat-mounted side and side curtain airbags that protect the heads and torsos of both front and rear passengers.
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For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
Virtually every luxury and convenience item to be found in an automobile, including a DVD-based navigation system and power door-closing assist, is standard on the S55. Still, there are optional designo interior trim packages which provide more dramatic leather and wood combinations, as well as dynamic multicontour front seats, four-zone climate control and power-adjustable rear seats.
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For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
The S55 has that enviable quality of feeling smaller and more nimble than its substantial size suggests. Acceleration rivals that of many exotic sports cars and even its handling could be described as nimble. Although it''s still not the kind of car you buy for the sole purpose of weekend jaunts through the hills, it will make the occasional detour home from the office a most pleasurable trip indeed.
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For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
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