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Larger and More Powerful
Benz hasn't said much, but we do know the Mercedes 2007 S-Class will be 1.7 inches longer, almost an inch wider, and ride on a 124-inch wheelbase, about 3 inches longer than its predecessor.

These new dimensions create 1.5 inches of extra elbow room and slightly more headroom. Rear-seat passengers get an extra half inch of knee room compared to the preceding series. The trunk is bigger, too, up to nearly 20 cubic feet.

In the U.S. market, three versions will be offered: the S350, S500 and S600. Of these, two will be powered by new engines. The S350 will be powered by the same 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 that Benz debuted in the 2005 SLK350 and now uses in the E- and M-Class. Mercedes says the S500 will be powered by the first example of the company's next-generation V8-engine family, which will feature increased displacement, four-valve-per-cylinder technology, variable valve timing, a lightweight crank assembly, lower exhaust emissions and noise. It's rated at 382 hp and 383 pound-feet of torque, which Mercedes says is enough to accelerate the large sedan from zero to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.4 seconds. The 12-cylinder in the S600 also gets more power. It's up to 510 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.

Behind the new engine will be the same driver-adaptive 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic that's also used in the 2006 M-Class. And as in the M-Class, the transmission will be controlled by a small electronic shift lever on the right side of the steering column. The design is very much like the one BMW pioneered in the 2002 7 Series, you lift the stalk up for "Reverse," push down for "Drive," and push a button on the end for "Park." Once under way, manual shifting is possible with buttons on the back of the steering wheel.

New Interior
The shifter isn't the only thing Mercedes lifted from the BMW design center, the interior looks like an homage to the present 7 Series.
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