New 2014 Mercedes S-class review, test drive

Also, class-leading are the aerodynamics of the car. A drag coefficient of just 0.24 is impressive for a car of this size, with the S300 BlueTec Hybrid dropping down to an even more efficient 0.23 thanks to adjustable louvres in the cooling system, extensive underbody panelling and detailed work on the wheel houses.

Initially, it doesn’t that impressive from behind the wheel. There is a bit of vagueness at low and medium speeds from the steering and it does have a tendency to wander over heavily cambered roads. But up the pace and the car tightens up impressively, the Active Body Control keeping the car level as you scythe through corners with the confidence of a GT.

We also drove the new 350 diesel. This car gets the same V6 engine as its predecessor, with slightly more power and torque. Acceleration, as expected, is brisk, and there's plenty of torque for that initial punch. It feels super smooth on the inside and, for the most part, feels inaudible too. You only get a bit of gruffness when you pull the engine hard, which is a bit of a shame on a car like this.