Ace Of Base Mercedes-Benz S 450

Equipped with a new ‘base’ six-cylinder powertrain, the S 450 provides a relatively thriftier entrance into S-Class ownership. Is it compelling enough for you to ignore the V8?

- Sony Thomas

In the lofty realm of the ultra-rich, cars are seen as an effective way of proclaiming to the world how kind life has been to you and how different you are from the less fortunate mainstream. While this is a world where the Spirit of Ecstasy and the Flying B are ornaments of choice, there’s one luxobarge that has remained a firm favourite in this exalted territory, affording its affluent owner almost the same level of nobility as his or her peers who drive the aforementioned British marques. And that is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Right from the early Seventies, this German flagship has managed to remain the undisputed standard bearer of the full-size luxury saloon category. While the Merc-AMG version powered by the brand’s 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 block is the performance star and the S 650 Maybach with its biturbo V12, the luxury flagship, the ‘regular’ S variants are also in demand. Especially among those who are looking to make a relatively frugal entrance into the rarefied world of S-Class ownership.