I just read that mercedes will put an all-wheel drive system on the 2003 s-class and will make the s320 in to s350 and the s430 will be replace with the s500. and if thats not enough the s600 will now have 394hp. I hope that lexus is doing somthing to the 2003 ls.

 

the interior has also been upgraded greatly. the new s600 goes 0-60 in 4.8 seconds! :eek::eek: :eek: :eek:

 

the s600 also has a v12. I read somewhere about a VX540 SUV lexus was making. If the put that 5.4L V8 into an LS, that would be sweet

 

ohad, the '03 S600 will have a 500hp/ 590 lb ft Bi-Turbo V-12(de-tuned Maybach engine). DROD, performance will be a class leading 4.5s 0-60(0-62 4.8). The next S55 AMG may be faster(500hp/ 516 lb ft) due to it's lighter weight but has yet to be confirmed. Other fast(er) in-class cars may come out(RS8, M7, etc...) but none of these cars are confirmed yet so for now the S600 will be the quickest.

 

why anyone would need sub 5s 0-60 in cars which are supposed to be LUXURY ? Performance cars YES (M5, S55 AMG, Porche, Ferarri, etc...) but NOT S-Class ! It will be ludicrous for Lexus to be chasing speed ratings at the expense of their bread-and-butter - luxury.

Just MHO

 

They want a class leading car, that is the fastest and the most luxurious

 

Benz sublty resytled the headlights and tailamps. The 430 is dropped from ALL of the Benz cars. Only 320 and 500 and 600 (thought the engine is not a 6.0 liter engine).

 

Yeah, MB is definitely in the middle of the HP race. I thought the upcoming M5 with 500hp would be the first 4 door luxury car with 500hp, but MB totally caught me by suprise. The '03 CL600 is also coming with the same 500hp engine. Also, it looks like MB execs are addressing all the complaints about less than luxrious interiors. They're are using higher quality parts (less plastic) and finally getting a DVD based nav system with a larger screen (comparable to the Lexus screens). Looks like MB is trying to keep their reputation as the worlds best intact...as long as they can avoid the reliability and customer service issues!

 

Your absolutely right, interiors are supposed to be going back upmarket, and engine output as everyone knows is going to be in Supercar territory. Owners of AMG models say that they are some of the most reliable cars they have ever owned, due to being handbuilt. The car that I will be watching is the E55K. As of now 476hp(maybe more), 516 lb/ ft and a curb weight less than both the V-10 M5 & audi RS6. Performane should be just a tick slower than a '01 Viper.

 

I didn't know AMG models were hand built. This may be something to consider when shopping for the next car. I actually like the look of the new E class. The new E55 should be one awesome machine if it gets the SL55 engine as rumored.

 

Yup, it's getting a slightly detuned version of the SL55 engine(something to do with the exhaust).

 

I haven't seen anything about this V-10 M5 yet. I know the new 5 is coming soon, similar to the new 7's.
However, BMW seems to take a while bringing the ///M versions out after a new generation is released. For example, the E36 3 series was released as a 92, but the M3 didn't come to the US until 95, the E46 3 came out in 99, but the M3 didn't show up until 01, and the E39 5 came out in 97, but the first M5 of that generation was not until 00.
Also, is this M7 for real? That would be a huge car. And if the M5 is supposed to be 500HP (almost as much as a Maybach), this M7 would have to be 600HP out of some giant V12. The fuel economy on that would be worse than an Excursion, unless there's a very advanced system that shuts off cylinders at cruise, (I think MB uses that in their V12), without being noticeable to the driver.

 

Bimmer is also going to bring out a 3.0l Twin Turbo I-6 to slot above the next 540i.

Autocar
"Now Autocar reveals that BMW will slot a 380hp twin-turbo 3.0 straight-six (base on the current 3.0 six) to between the 4.4 V8 model and the M5. In this way, the 5-series will have 3 performance models, just like Audi A6 which has A6 V8, S6 and RS6. The 380hp model will target wider audience while the M5 will be the spiritual leader.

The twin-turbo straight-six will be the BMW's first turbocharged petrol since 745i of the mid-80s. "