Over the weekend, there was talk of Mercededes renaming their flagship S500 model the S550.

"Bah," I thought. Why would Mercedes change their trademark S500 name?

Today, Mercedes has confirmed the speculation, officially replacing the S500 moniker that we've all come to love with the S550.

I have to say, I don't like it; I don't like it one bit. OK, so the new S features Mercedes' new 5.5-Liter V8, as opposed to the 5.0-Liter found in the current models.  Who cares?  I don't know what it is about the name S550, it just doesn't have the same ring to it.  If I had to sum it up in one word, I think it sounds... gimmicky.

Oh well, I guess I can always stick with the S600 to preserve tradition. You can check out the full press release below.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


MERCEDES-BENZ NEXT GENERATION S-CLASS NAMED S550
2007 S-Class Features All-New 5.5-liter V8 Engine, Advanced Technology


Montvale, NJ – Mercedes-Benz today announced new nomenclature for its flagship sedan.  The model year 2007 S-Class will be named the S550, replacing the S500.  In the U.S. market, the new S-Class line will be launched with an all-new 5.5-liter V8 engine delivering 382 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque, the first of a new-generation V8 engine family featuring four-valve-per-cylinder technology and variable valve timing.  The “S” designation had long been used to identify top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz sedans and coupes, and the S-Class has embodied the brand’s flagship role for more than five decades.
 
The S-Class is a technological showcase that has pioneered significant safety and comfort features for the entire auto industry, including the first ABS anti-lock brakes, the first ESP stability control and the first PRE-SAFE system.  The new S-Class made its world debut at the Frankfurt auto show in September 2005 and is set to arrive in the U.S. in February 2006.  The successor to a long line of premium luxury vehicles, the 2007 S-Class sedan will debut with a significantly evolved design and a stronger presence.  Sharper angles and cleaner lines frame a sedan that gains about 1.7 inches of length, almost an inch in width, and more than three inches in wheelbase over its predecessor.

Copyright © 2005, Mercedes-Benz USA