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I sound like a broken record at this point, but alas I will say it again. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is tearing apart the competition as it currently stands. We're pretty confident that the manufacturers of other large luxury sedans are engaging in some heavy-duty research and development to topple the three-pointed star's effort.

One thing they all can't do, however, is start debuting a portfolio of flagship products like Mercedes has been able to do in a relatively short timeframe. In addition to the S sedan we now have the Coupe, which typically sells in limited quantities, and now we're seeing the Cabriolet for the very first time.

Although Mercedes dropped a sketch of the all-new S-Class Cabriolet recently, we all know that seeing it in pictures and video is far more optimal. Sketches tend to over exaggerate and oversell a car. 

From the not particularly good shot of the latest S-Class variant, we can deduce the show car will likely be silver and adorned with a red interior. The company's press release notes this is the first S Cabriolet for over 40 years and, as we expected, it will be a technological tour de force.

Take, for example, the auto's use of AIRCAP and AIRSCARF, which are both ways to make passengers more comfortable in their open-top ride. AIRCAP was first seen on the current-gen E-Class Cabriolet and is essentially a aerodynamic trick that changes the way wind flows over the vehicle thereby reducing heavy winds on passengers. AIRSCARF is the very welcomed neck-heating system that makes cooler top-down motoring possible.

For now that's all we know about the all-new S-Class Cabriolet. The company merely waxes poetic about its former flagship rag tops.


Mercedes-Benz's press release follows:

The new S-Class Cabriolet: A star returns


Coveted dream car of the 1960s meets star of the 2015 International Motor Show in Frankfurt: the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is following in the tradition of the open-top S-Class (model series 111 and 112) from the period 1961 to 1971. Unmistakeable, exclusive design, fine materials with maximum high-class appeal in the interior and state-of-the-art technology in the S-Class characterise the concept behind both cabriolets.  

"After 44 years we can again offer friends of our company an open variant of the S-Class. The new S-Class Cabriolet symbolises our passion for individual and timelessly exclusive mobility, which we share with our customers", remarks Ola Källenius, Board Member of Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales.
With the new S-Class Cabriolet Mercedes-Benz is setting itself the standard of building the most comfortable cabriolet in the world. When it comes to climate comfort the enhanced automatic wind protection system AIRCAP, the AIRSCARF neck-level heating system, the heated armrests, the seat heating also in the rear plus the intelligent fully automatic climate control ensure that this is indeed the case.

The new S-Class Cabriolet is carrying the long and successful tradition of Mercedes-Benz luxury-segment cabriolets into the future. Even back in the 1920s the luxury cabriolets from Stuttgart combined the freedom of open-top motoring with the comfort and safety of a Mercedes-Benz Saloon. From the start of post-war production the top models from Mercedes-Benz were also available in the particularly exclusive variant as a cabriolet. These included the 170 S (W 136) from 1949, the 220 (W 187) from 1951 and the 300 S (W 188) from 1952.

After the "Ponton" cabriolets 220 S (W 180) and 220 SE (W 128) built from 1956 to 1960, in 1961 the 220 SE Cabriolet of the model series W 111 was launched, a particularly elegant, open-top four-seater, whose design is still considered timeless to this day. In this ten-year production period Mercedes-Benz offered five different models in these model series: the 220 SE, 250 SE, 300 SE (W 112), 280 SE and, as a late top model, the eight-cylinder 280 SE 3.5 – in total 7013 units of these five cabriolets were manufactured in Sindelfingen. For the time being there was no open-top luxury-segment car in the Mercedes-Benz model range to follow this generation: rather, it is the new SL from model series 107 which cultivated the tradition of open-top motoring in the Stuttgart brand's cars – as a two-seater.

The cabriolets from Mercedes-Benz are today amongst the most sought-after classic cars – and the prices have developed accordingly. Examples of this are the cabriolets from model series 111 whose values are cited by the renowned American Hagerty Insurance's price guide. In its estimation a 280 SE 3.5 from the final year of construction, 1971, in condition 2 today has a value of around 290,000 US$ - ten years ago the figure was some 115,000 US$. But that is by no means the pinnacle: for instance, a specimen of this model in excellent condition was auctioned last August by RM Auctions for 429,000 US$.

The last six-cylinder 280 SE model (1969) in the same condition is valued today by Hagerty at approx. 75,000 US$ - about 45,000 US$ ten years ago. Early 220 SE models are around the same level, with a current value of some 84,000 US$.



#IAA: OFFICIAL — FIRST Legit Photo Of The All-New Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet Surfaces

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