Last week, the time had finally come again: Mercedes-Benz unveiled the new S-Class (W223) in Stuttgart. However, nothing was like in previous years, because the presentation was held entirely online via livestream. Consequently, we were also curious to see exactly how Mercedes would present the 11th generation of the S-Class. Aside from the usual points of interest, such as design and technical innovations, we naturally always kept an eye on the topic of roof boxes: Can a roof box also be mounted on the new Mercedes S-Class, as was the case with previous generations?
The new features
Most of the presentation consisted of individual video clips and segments in which employees from the development, production, and marketing departments explained the innovations in greater detail. Daimler CEO Ola Källenius guided us through the presentation.
Externally, Mercedes has stayed true to the model’s DNA and has made only minor visual changes. For example, the new S-Class is slightly longer than the previous model. From the side, the new model’s body shows no signs of beading or other design flourishes. One small highlight is the retractable door handles, which can be added for an extra charge. However, this is of course not a new innovation, as retractable door handles are already standard equipment on Tesla vehicles. The new S-Class achieves an outstanding drag coefficient (Cd value): with a Cd value of 0.22, it is one of the most aerodynamically efficient vehicles. While the new S-Class doesn’t quite match the Cd value of our ASPHALTKIND roof box (0.11), these figures are still very impressive.
Mercedes has introduced major innovations, especially in the interior. Up to five screens (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) are now available, including a new vertical touchscreen in the center of the cockpit. In addition, the car is equipped with a wide range of modern software: the air conditioning can be controlled by voice commands, parking and unparking can be done via smartphone remote control, and the sunroof can be opened automatically with a hand gesture. Another particularly fascinating feature is the optional E-Active Body Control system, which raises the vehicle body within a few tenths of a second if there is a risk of a side impact.
And what about a roof box on the new S-Class?
During the presentation, we were, of course, looking for mounting points on the car’s roof that would allow us to attach a roof box, just as we could with previous models. Toward the middle of the presentation, we caught a glimpse of the roof, so we’re happy to report: Yes, a roof box can also be attached to the new S-Class (W223). Why is this so important to us?
Source: Mercedes-Benz (https://bit.ly/3k4oC86)
To date, there is no roof box suitable for luxury sedans such as the S-Class, the BMW 7 Series, or the Audi A8. These cars set the standard for the German automotive industry.
With the ASPHALTKIND roof box, we definitely see ourselves as a good fit for these cars. That’s because there’s hardly any other target group where design, durability, suitability for everyday use, and aerodynamics are so important. None of these cars has a particularly large trunk. So it’s time to offer a roof-mounted solution with our flagship product.