Mercedes S-Class Coupe Concept: First Ride

Mercedes S-Class Coupe Concept design and interior details 

While the current CLS and E-Class coupes have a pontoon rear wheelarch to help differentiate them from the saloons on which they’re based, that’ll be ditched in the S-Class Coupe for simpler but sportier designs that really set the coupes apart. Kaul adds that the new C-Class Coupe, due late next year, will be much more sporty in terms of design, and much more distinct from the new C-Class, which arrives at the Detroit Motor Show next January.

Asked who the S-Class Coupe is designed for, and Kaul answers emphatically: “James Bond. It’s a car that’s subtle and stealthy, perfect for someone who doesn’t want to attract the wrong kind of attention.”

The interior is beautifully crafted, although it’s the bits that won’t be on the production car that really catch the eye. Those ceramic air vents are supposed to recall Apple products. They we done by Mercedes’ design centre in Palo Alto, which is located right near Silicon Valley, so its designers can ensure they’re always on top of the latest tech trends.

Also not making the cut is the milled aluminium on the doors and dashtop, with topographic lines etched into their surface, that look fantastic. These are inspired by the computational design used by architects like Zaha Hadid, who Mercedes is currently working with on a special project dubbed ‘Carchitecture’.

The James Bond theme continues with a central touchscreen display that can show four clocks set to different time zones, although these will make way for cupholders in the finished article. They’re picked out in blue ambient light, which will be an option, while the door handles, electric seat and window switches, and central COMAND wheel are all production ready.

The Coupe switches from the two-spoke steering wheel of the S-Class to a three-spoke design for a sportier feel, although the seats are plusher than performance, thanks to soft, calfskin leather stitched to resemble a Coco Chanel suit.

The S-Class Coupe concept feels like a return to form for Mercedes design. The bold new A-Class firmly established the new direction of design chief Gorden Wagener, but the S-Class Coupe’s mix of high-end design and fashion references with classier proportions is a big step forward. But we’ll have to wait until May for a drive.