Mercedes Debuts All-New S-Class Coupe

Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe will be publicly introduced next month at the Geneva auto show and go on sale in Europe in the second half of the year.

The car, to be marketed as the S550, will reach the U.S. market next autumn.

Mercedes unveiled the car to media earlier today. The big car replaces the CL coupe with what Mercedes describes as a "radical aesthetic departure" from its predecessor. The company's design chief modestly declares it "one of the most gorgeous coupes of all time."

The car will compete with such rivals as the Audi S7, BMW 6 Series and Maserati GranTurismo, suggesting a retail price around $100,000.

The S-Class coupe shares its platform with the S-Class sedan. The standard powertrain consists of a 4.7-liter bi-turbocharged V-8 engine that delivers 449 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. A pneumatically controlled muffler system adjusts the exhaust note according to engine speed.

Other technical features include a glass roof that is 150% the size of the unit in the outgoing CL. The roof can be electrically changed between nearly transparent and virtually opaque at the push of a button. LED headlamps and tail lights are standard. An optional "magic body control" suspension tilts into a curve like a motorcycle to reduce lateral forces on the car's occupants.

The coupe can be fitted with wheels as large a 20 inches in diameter. Buyers also may opt to equip their car's LED headlamp system with 47 Swarovski crystals used to create the turn signals and daytime running lights. A rear diffuser incorporates twin tailpipes.

Inside, an optional center-mounted touchpad can detect handwriting. Other options include a 21x7-cm head-up display with a resolution of 480x240 pixels and Burmester surround sound system.