Elegance, sportiness and cutting-edge technology meet in the 2015 Mercedes S-class Concept coupe unveiled at Detroit's Cobo Center Monday.Watch video
DETROIT, MI -- Elegance, sportiness and cutting-edge technology meet in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class concept coupe unveiled at Detroit's Cobo Center Monday.
The manufacturer says the model disproves some people's misconception that "passion is not one of Germany's core competencies," said Mercedes-Benze leader and Dailer AG CEO Dieter Zetsche, who drove the coupe onto the presentation stage himself.
In addition to the concept, Mercedes-Benz presented its latest S-Class installment, the S600; the CLA45 AMG, a compact performance SUV and the C-Class, the brand's "most important car" and only one that will be manufactured in the U.S.
A performance by Kelly Rowand, founding member of Destiny's Child, brought energy and capped the C-Class introduction.
The C-Class, targeting a "very diverse base of customers," is a mid-size, luxury vehicle that will be manufactured in Tuscaloosa, Ala., says Ola Kallenius, Mercedes -Benz head of marketing and sales.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, head of research and development at Mercedes-Benze, said the C-Class is "as fast" as a race horse and "as tough as an American Bison."
The German manufacturer touts the V-12, 523-horsepower S600 as a lighter, more powerful evolution of the model with standard all-wheel drive.
Specs and photos of the new S600 were leaked more than a week ago on the German Car Forum website.
Hundreds of media filled four rows of seats flanked by dozens of cameras to the rear. Welcome, written in languages from around the globe, scrolled across a 100-foot-plis-wide blue projection screen behind the stage.
Automakers are expected to unveil more than 50 vehicles during the two-day Press Preview to start the 2014 NAIAS.
The Detroit auto show will be open to the public from Jan. 18-26 at Cobo Center, following Press Preview Jan. 13-14; Industry Preview Jan. 15-16; and the Charity Preview Jan. 17.
Automakers are expected to unveil more than 50 vehicles during the two-day Press Preview to start the 2014 NAIAS.
Tickets to the 2014 public show days are $7 for senior citizens and children between 7-12 years old; $13 for adults; and free for children 6 and under.