Totalcar – Magazine – They tested what an old V12 S class can do on the Autobahn

Short:

• They tested what a 23-year-old Mercedes S class can do on the German highway.
• An S600 was chosen for the task, powered by a fine-tuning V12.
• The old Merc accelerated to top speed as easily as if it had just been manufactured.

One of the excellent features of full-bodied German limousines is that they can tear through the highway at high speed with incredible confidence. One of the kings of the genre is the Mercedes S class, with every generation of which it is a wonderful experience to race at speed.

Recently, the least glorious, most tarnished generation, the W220, was taken out on the Autobahn to see its top speed. An S600 was chosen for the task: a 5.8-liter V12 naturally aspirated engine was installed in it, capable of 367 horsepower and a peak torque of 530 Nm.

The old S-class from 2001 is a real curiosity from today’s perspective: the smooth-running V12 naturally aspirated engine is now a rare guest even in high-end luxury cars. By the way, based on the video, it seems that fate was kind to this piece, as it remained in a remarkably beautiful condition inside and out.

The W220 stood tall in training: it accelerated as easily as if it had just rolled off the production line. Its top speed was 256 km/h, which means that this particular example still has the factory limiter. It is also worth observing how unrealistically quiet a 23-year-old S-class is even at such a high speed.

Source: TopSpeedGermany – Youtube