LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is making its North American debut at the Greater L.A. Auto Show, open to the public January 6 - 15, 2006. The company's new flagship sedan is set to arrive at U.S. Mercedes-Benz dealerships in early 2006. The successor to a long line of premium luxury vehicles, the 2007 S-Class sedan will debut with sharper angles and cleaner lines framing a sedan that's about 1.7 inches longer and an inch wider than its predecessor.

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.

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 as well as a seven-speed automatic transmission.

More PRE-SAFE(R) Features

The revolutionary S-Class PRE-SAFE(R) system that made its debut in 2002 on the S-Class automatically tightens the front seat belts during those valuable seconds just before a possible impact, and the front passenger seat moves to a position that can provide better protection. If the system senses an impending rollover, the sunroof also closes.

On the new S-Class, side windows also close to provide better support for the window curtain air bags, and special seat cushions can inflate to provide greater lateral support for occupants and to help the side air bags provide even better collision protection.

New Distronic Plus Helps in Stop-and-Go Traffic

The well-known Distronic cruise control feature that maintains a pre-set following distance behind the vehicle ahead is replaced by an optional "Distronic Plus" system. Integrated with the latest PRE-SAFE, the radar-based system operates at nearly all speeds up to 125 mph and can be especially helpful in stop-and-go traffic.

Infra-Red Night View Assist

Another innovative technology making its debut on the 2007 S-Class is Night View Assist, a new option that can extend the driver's ability to see ahead to nearly 500 feet. An industry first, and in contrast to passive systems that rely only on thermal imaging, this active system bathes the road ahead with invisible infra-red light from two projector beams in the headlights. An infra-red camera discreetly mounted in the windshield receives the reflected images and displays them in a high-resolution display in the instrument cluster. The result is akin to a highly detailed black & white video image.

About Mercedes-Benz USA In 2005, MBUSA achieved its twelfth consecutive year of sales growth by setting the highest sales volume in its history with 224,421 new vehicle sales and expects to continue the momentum with another record year of sales in 2006. Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., MBUSA is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at www.mbusa.com and www.maybachusa.com.