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Mercedes-Benz’s fourth-generation 4Matic all-wheel-drive technology will come to the United States in the fourth quarter of this year in the guise of the S550 4Matic.
Mercedes has been selling awd cars in the States since 1987 when it offered the option in the E-Class, but it wasn’t until 2002 that the sled-dog feature moved up to the S-Class. Mercedes says awd models account for more than 60 percent of sales in wintry areas of the country. The awd system coming this fall is the first developed and produced entirely by Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes’ 4Matic system splits the torque 45/55 front to rear with the goal of giving the car the on-road handling characteristics of rear-wheel drive. Gunter Fischer, senior manager for development of 4Matic, says having a full-time system allowed Mercedes engineers to reduce the size and weight of the rear differential because it is not responsible for routing all of the engine torque to the pavement. Engineers were able to reduce the size of the transmission and transfer case to allow it to fit in the tunnel used for the rear-drive S-Class, so no chassis modifications were needed. Only the engine cradle, front suspension, steering rack and engine oil pan (to allow for the front driveshafts) differ from awd to rwd versions. The entire awd system adds just 159 pounds to the vehicle’s weight. The S550 4Matic will come to States with a 382-hp, 391-lb-ft V8 good for a 0-to-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds. We sampled the 4Matic system in several Euro-spec S500 test cars on a snow-covered stretch of mountain road near the Swiss ski resort of Les Diablerets. The cars, outfitted with snow tires and standard traction and stability control, easily handled the slick, switchback road up an 11 percent grade. The car’s ability to handle such conditions instills a level of confidence that you could negotiate even slipperier conditions in even deeper snow at even greater speeds. This car gives a new meaning to snowmobile. The 4Matic option will add about $3,000 to the car’s $86,000 base price. |
