Mercedes-Benz India had concrete plans when they first unveiled the S500 Cabriolet at the Auto Expo at the start of this year. As promised to, the carmaker has now put the luxury convertible on sale in the Indian market at a price of Rs 2.25 crore (ex-showroom Delhi).
A quick walk around the car tells us why the carmaker is calling it as the 'most beautiful and exclusive S-Class cars of all time'. What first catches your eye is the soft top roof that takes around 20 seconds to close and convert it into a gorgeous drop-top convertible. This fabric roof is packed above the automatically extending luggage compartment partition. Its open/close functions can be operated at speeds of up to 60kmph. In fact, owners have the option of opening or closing it from outside the car too, using the electronic key. The other exterior bits like the crystal-infused LED headlamps, daytime running lights and LED tail lamps are standard Mercedes fare.
The S-Class Cabriolet's cabin is identical to the S-Class Coupe. So we have the same luxurious and comfortable cabin, minus the rear two doors of course. Other than that, the convertible has the same platform, technology and powertrains from its sibling. However, unlike the standard air-conditioning system, the convertible features the brand's THERMOTRONIC intelligent climate control system. The cabin's temperature is automatically maintained with the help of 12 sensors and 18 actuators. This ensures the comfort of the occupants whether the roof is open or closed.
Mercedes-Benz is known for giving their buyers extensive customisation options on their luxury cars and the open-top S500 is no different. Prospective buyers have an option of selecting from a wide assortment of upholstery choices including leather, nappa leather and designo Exclusive nappa leather. There is also an optional Warmth Comfort package, which includes heated seats, heated armrests and a heated multifunction steering wheel.
On the powertrain front, the S500 Cabriolet is powered by a 4.7-litre, V8 biturbo petrol unit that churns out 443bhp of max power and 700Nm of torque. This engine comes mated to a nine-speed automatic (9G-TRONIC) transmission. The car does the 0-100kmph sprint in a mere 4.6 seconds, before attaining its electronically limited top speed of 250kmph.
The S-Class convertible sporting the three-pointed star has been brought to India through the CBU route and becomes the latest member in the German luxury brand’s Indian portfolio. The Cabriolet version debuted at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show marking the return of the open-top S-Class, which was originally sold from 1961 to 1971. Now the Stuttgart-based carmaker's S-Class Cabriolet fends off competition from the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, Bentley Continental GTC and Maserati GranTurismo Convertible in the Indian market.
