This car has a kerb weight of two tonnes (1,995 kg to be precise), yet is extremely quick off the block. Sure, a Ferrari F430 can do a 100 kph sprint in 4.3 seconds flat but it weighs less than half and has only a fraction of the creature comforts as this S-Class which can manage the same in a mere 7.8 seconds.
And we are talking diesel here. The bigger engined S350 petrol (3498cc) with more power (272 bhp) manages to shave only decimals off this time at 7.3 seconds! Isn’t that amazing?
You must have read about how the Audi R10 and Peugeot diesels dominated the 24 Heures du Mans this year - it proves that diesels are here to stay, they are quick and fast.
Repeat that ten times and you may start believing.
A good diesel engine with loads of torque is good for truck or SUV applications but how good is it when it comes to delivering the magic carpet drive expected from this uber-sedan?
Well, that's where the seven-speed auto box steps in. Shifts are absolutely seamless and never do you feel the lack of power. The third generation common-rail system along with a variable geometry turbo ensures that the famed lag is not perceptible at all. Sure, you can induce lag by flooring the throttle which sends numerous computer chips astray for a nanosecond, but otherwise no.
So the engine is extremely tractable but how about refinement? Let me put it this way - at cruising speeds there is more wind noise than combustion noise in this car.
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