2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet Opens its Roof Ahead of Frankfurt

After showing the car in a series of photos, Mercedes-Benz has fully revealed its new convertible flagship. The 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet makes its first public appearance later this month at the 2015 Frankfurt auto show, before going on sale in the U.S. late next spring.

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet carries over about 60 percent of its body parts from the S-Class Coupe, which we named our 2015 AUTOMOBILE Design of the Year. Fortunately, most of the design carries over, too. The flat nose, which is dominated by Mercedes’ imposing grille and three-pointed star, gives way to sides accented by flowing character lines. A brushed-chrome trim piece runs along the top of the doors and around the base of the convertible top. A flat decklid extends toward the rounded trunk and its large taillights that elegantly wrap onto the rear fenders.

2017 Mercedes Benz S550 Cabriolet Rear Three Quarter

The interior of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet likewise draws heavily from the sedan and the Coupe, with large, round chrome air vents dotting the dashboard, a pair of giant widescreen color displays for the instruments and infotainment system, a subtle row of switches for the climate control on the center stack, and a few additional buttons surrounding the rotary controller for the Comand infotanment system nestled between the two front seats. Plush leather, wood and aluminum trim, and options like massaging seat are available.

The fabric roof can be raised or lowered in 20 seconds and at speeds up to 37 mph. Other special technologies have been tailored specifically for use with the roof down: Airscarf blows warm air onto occupants’ necks, Aircap is an automatically deploying wind deflector, and explosive charges behind the rear seats deploy roll bars in case of an upside-down accident. The so-called Thermotronic climate control has also been tailored for a convertible, with 12 sensors measuring everything from sunlight levels to humidity. Heated armrests and door panels are also available.

2017 Mercedes Benz S550 Cabriolet Interior 03

Two models will be offered at launch. The S550 Cabriolet uses a 4.7-liter twin-turbo V-8 with 449 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a claimed 0-to-60-mph time of 4.5 seconds. A 9-speed automatic transmission is standard. The Mercedes-AMG S63 4Matic Cabriolet, meanwhile, extracts 577 hp and 664 lb-ft from a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 and uses a 7-speed transmission, dropping the sprint to 60 mph to just 3.9 seconds and allowing an electronically limited top speed of 186 mph.

Standard equipment on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet includes features we have come to expect from high-end Mercedes models: Airmatic air suspension, pre-collision braking, push-button start, a Burmester sound system, night vision, a 360-degree Surround View camera system, LED headlights, Nappa leather, and a self-parking feature. Options include a 24-speaker, 1,540-watt sound system upgrade; a head-up display; massaging seats; and Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control with Steering Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist.

Pricing for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet will be announced closer to its on-sale date early in 2016.

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