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From YourSITE.com Mercedes-Benz
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 AMG GETS A BOOST New Supercharged V8 Delivers 493 hp, Racing-Derived Brakes Add Whoa
MONTVALE, NJ – Mercedes-Benz’ S55 AMG super sedan isn’t all about horsepower, but this year, with 493 hp, it could be. Thanks to a new supercharged, intercooled 5.5-liter V8 engine that’s handassembled in Affalterbach, Germany, the sports sedan will accelerate handily to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.
New racing-derived brakes with eight-piston front calipers and enormously capable perforated (not cross-drilled) discs measuring 14.2 inches in diameter enable the S55 AMG to stop with even greater authority than it starts.
Additionally, ABC active suspension imparts an otherwise-impossible combination of athletics and handling prowess when taming twisty roads while offering the ride comfort expected of any S-Class sedan. All this performance is wrapped in a blanket of supreme luxury and safety engineering that has won the S-Class sedan family numerous awards.
The S55 AMG is born with Mercedes-Benz’ ABC active suspension system and significantly uprated brake hardware commensurate with the additional power and high-speed capabilities of the powertrain and suspension. Wheels, sized 8.5 x 18-inches in front and 9.5 x 18-inches in the rear wear 245/40ZR18 and 275/35ZR18 high-performance tires, respectively. The S55 AMG interior isn’t forgotten,either. New front seats offer bolstering that holds you in place when carving up back roads, yet allow a variety of different settings to conform to any driver and passenger. Also, the five-speed SpeedShift automatic transmission has secondary upshift and downshift buttons on the steering wheel, allowing the driver to shift while keeping both hands on the wheel.
V8 Kompressor – Pressure Filled Powerhouse
Each S55 AMG engine makes a towering 493 hp and a massive 516 lbs.-ft. of torque, making easy work of the 0-60 mph sprint in just 4.5 seconds. Every new S55 AMG’s 5.5-liter, supercharged and intercooled V8 engine is hand-assembled one-at-a-time by expert technicians at Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach, Germany and is bench-tested to ensure performance. The newly developed V8 engine uses a positive-displacement, Lysholm-type (or screw-type) belt-driven supercharger with scrolling aluminum rotors, providing usable boost virtually from idle speed, and generates a maximum of 11.6 psi boost pressure (or 0.8 bar).
The rotors are Teflon-tipped for more positive sealing and long life. The Kompressor V8 also uses a specially developed crossflow air-to-water intercooler that makes more power by reducing intake air temperature, creating a denser charge. Other developments for the Kompressor V8 include new pistons, connecting rods, a fast-acting electronic throttle, revised cam timing, high-rate valve springs and lightweight valves. SpeedShift Gear Selection at the Steering Wheel The S55 AMG’s prodigious torque mates with a high-capacity five-speed automatic transmission featuring SpeedShift programming that nets 35-percent quicker gear changes. Those changes can also be accomplished by pressing either of the two steering-wheel mounted shift buttons – left side for downshifts and right side for upshifts. If asked (by holding the standard gear lever to the left when in Drive), the SpeedShift transmission can also automatically downshift and can determine the best possible gear for maximum acceleration in any situation. The SpeedShift transmission will also hold a selected gear under high cornering loads, preventing an upshift in mid-corner. As well, a lightweight torque converter can lock up in all forward gears when conditions warrant. This makes for the liveliest, most dynamic performance possible when needed, yet exhibits refinement when driving serenely under normal conditions.
Like all Mercedes-Benz cars, the S55 AMG uses ESP stability control to prevent skids and spins in poor weather driving. But because the new S55 AMG redefines the full-size sports sedan role, ESP is programmed specifically for the model, with the high power, handling grip, dynamics and braking performance all playing a crucial role its new programming.
The ABCs of ABC All S55 AMG sedans are equipped with Mercedes’ ABC active suspension. ABC (Active Body Control) virtually eliminates body roll in cornering, as well as dive and squat under braking and acceleration.
Mercedes-Benz engineers use hydraulic, electronic and mechanical components to reduce body roll by 68 percent, still providing the driver with helpful feedback through the vehicle chassis. A comfort/sport switch on the dash can further reduce roll by 95 percent if the driver prefers even sportier handling. Put simply, active suspension solves the traditional tradeoff between ride comfort and handling precision. It excels at both. Mercedes’ ABC active suspension uses four hydraulic servos, one on top of each steel coil spring. Located between the body and the springs, these pistons apply additional forces in response to split-second signals from the ABC computers. As a result, the servos actually regulate the action of the springs in relation to incipient body movement. A total of 13 sensors monitor body movement and vehicle level so that the ABC computer receives new data every 10 milliseconds. This sophisticated system senses body movement just as it begins, and makes corrections via the servos within a fraction of a second.
The ABC active suspension handles relatively low frequency body movements of five Hertz (5Hz) or lower, which means that stabilizer bars are no longer necessary. Higher frequency vibration is still absorbed by conventional gas-pressurized shocks and steel coil springs. Although Mercedes engineers tested a version of the system that operated over the full frequency range of 0-30 Hertz, they found that its energy requirements adversely affected performance and fuel economy noticeably without significant ride and handling gains. Distronic Adaptive Cruise Control
The S-Class’ available Distronic adaptive cruise control can automatically maintain a preset distance behind the car in front with the help of a radar sensor. While the optional Distronic system can vary accelerator pedal position like conventional cruise control, it can also apply partial braking automatically (up to 20 percent of maximum braking force), if needed, in order to maintain the desired following distance. If more braking is needed, the driver is warned by a red triangle in the instrument panel and an audible beep. A pictogram in the speedometer depicts the proximity of the leading car.
Tele Aid: The Connected Car Mercedes-Benz heralded Tele Aid connected car system is standard equipment in every S-Class. If a collision deploys any airbag, the system automatically establishes contact, relaying all pertinent information. If voice contact is not established (e.g., the driver is unable to respond), local police, fire or emergency services can also be dispatched. The onboard transmitter is crash-secure and has access to redundant antennae. The system also transmits crucial information including the precise location of the vehicle (through GPS tracking), the model of car, its color (to help emergency services locate the car quickly), and location is pinpointed through the on-board GPS transponder. This feature can also be manually triggered by pressing the on-board "SOS" button in the overhead console. Remote electronic diagnostics, emergency door unlock and alarm notification via home telephone or personal cell phone are also folded into Tele Aid.
GPS Navigation System Standard The S55 AMG comes standard with a satellite-based navigation system. Its display on the center console is also used for the stereo and telephone. This integrated COMAND system uses fiber optic technology for fast response. The optional digital cellular telephone integrates with COMAND, and can be directed by voice commands, controls on the steering wheel or buttons around the display screen. The multifunction steering wheel uses four illuminated rocker buttons to control many of the car’s systems and also provides a method to diagnose faults that may occur.
Indeed, powerful engines are just one element of any Mercedes-AMG automobile. There are six specific themes to every AMG product: handling, braking, acceleration, luxury, exclusivity and practicality. All are equally important, but perhaps the latter is most significant: Mercedes-AMG vehicles make no special demands of owners, and require no special concessions as a result of their highperformance capabilities. © Copyright 2001 by YourSITE.com |
