What's the news?

Seems like Mercedes-Benz was playing possum and allowing the Jaguar C-X17 and Audi Nanuk have their moments in the limelight, as with the Concept S-Class Coupé - (a car that will replace the CL Class in time) it has jumped to the top of our 'Car of Frankfurt' list.

Exterior

As you would expect, the concept's styling is an evolution of Mercedes-Benz's current design philosophy. In fact there is more than a touch of CLA to the front end with its jutting grille and elongated headlights. Those lamps are full-LED units with a semicircular counter-swish that (Mercedes says) gives the car an extremely self-assured and distinctive gaze. The Coupé certainly looks more purposeful than the S-Class saloon on which it is based.

From the A-pillar back the concept is recognisable as the heir-apparent to the CL with its swooping roofline and pillar-less doors. The rear end is a combination of stubby CLA boot and broad arches more reminiscent of the SLS. Those broad arches are filled (on the concept at least) by 21-inch alloy wheels with 295-section tyres at the rear.

Interior

The interior of the big 2+2 coupé is free from the sort of concept frippery we would expect of Frankfurt. Yes the swooping dashboard (which is said to be inspired by the shape of a jumping whale - yes really) is likely to be replaced by an easier to produce one but there are no mood-sensitive panels that can adjust the colour of the interior, the steering is controlled by means of a wheel rather than telepathy and the clocks, while digital, seem remarkably well... normal. Even the 12.3-inch central display does not seem out of this world.

The seemingly single nod to concept madness is the controller for the display, which has been made by coating the materials in precious metals using a complicated chemical process known as chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Called 'Black Diamond' in the concept this process may be a step too far for production.

Mechanicals

The Concept S-Class Coupé is powered by a 4.6-litre Biturbo V8 that offers 455hp and peak torque of 700Nm - and that is all Mercedes-Benz tells us about the drivetrain, which leads us to speculate that this car may preview a new S 550 - the successor to the CL 550. Assuming the new car follows a similar engine line-up, expect a V12-powered S 65 AMG variant at some point - the bonnet is certainly long enough to accommodate such a big engine.

Anything else?

With this concept seeming so showroom-ready we would not be too surprised to see it enter production in 2014 with first deliveries in the second half of the year. Might we see a full-production model in Detroit?

Paul Healy - 10 Sep 2013