2018 M-B S560 Cabriolet: six-figure hedonistic grandeur

Let’s see now.

We have Bentley’s Continental GT, nice and new and glitzy.

And then there is Aston Martin’s DB11. So very sexy and rare.

But in the world of quite amazing cars of a very personal and thoroughly hedonistic nature, we shouldn’t overlook Mercedes-Benz’ new 2018 S-Class coupe and convertible. To do so would be a crime.

Let’s not commit one. Instead, as we head into summer, I want to focus on the open-top S560 Cabriolet. It is a jaw-dropping beast, an intimidating two-door that is as delightfully overwhelming as any car you can buy.

Yes, of course it’s technologically magnificent. The design and all the styling details – that powerful front apron, the chrome-plated splitter, the huge air inlets and 66 organic LEDs of the taillights – are, well, startling, and in a good way. And the car is stunningly powerful: the new 4.0-litre, 463-horsepower V-8 biturbo is a lovely engine, and even better than the 4.7-litre twin turbo it replaces. 0-100 km/hour: 4.5 seconds.

I won’t bother dazzling you with too many engine details. But allow me to mention the centrifugal pendulum that reduces vibrations in both four- and eight-cylinder modes. (To save fuel, four of the eight cylinders are deactivated at lower engine speeds.)

As well, I expect you might have only a passing interest in the spray-guided direct injection that allows for wonderfully efficient combustion. I suggest you appreciate the engineering details and their complexity, then move along.

Move to something exceptionally pedestrian and thoroughly illuminating, fuel economy: here, it comes in at 13.9 city/9.2 highway/11.8 combined (litres/100 km). Whoosh. That in a car with staggering power and the kind of size and heft one can only appreciate in person — when you stand beside it, then slide into a driver’s bucket seat as generous and comfy as your favourite La-Z-Boy.

Indeed, great automobile seating is hard to come by, especially of the adjustable type that can be customized to suit just about any human shape and size. You’ll find it here, along with a cabin design of wood and leather look that feels modern, rather than tweedy and old.

The centrepiece or modernity, in fact, is a widescreen, all-digital display that dominates the cockpit. It is everything and everywhere and quite an achievement.

The S560 is a smart car, too, allowing you to dial up and tune in every feature and element built into this tremendously sophisticated car. Even the windshield wipers get into the act: if the powered, triple-layered top is down, the washers won’t soak you.

This is no man-cave, however, despite the sweep and scope of all on offer, from a joyous sound system with embedded subwoofer and tweeters, to hands-free communication. It is, in fact, an automobile with all the fancy driving nannies – distance control, active steering, emergency evasive steering, speed adjustment in bends – that leave it just short of a self-driving wonder.

Somewhat more pedestrian, though vital for comfort and driving responses, is Merc’s Airmatic semi-active air suspension. It’s a delight. I found myself floating along in traffic and dancing through corners. Depending on your mood, dial up a choice of Comfort, Sport, Sport+ or Race mode to tailor engine, transmission, suspension, and steering responses.

The rich and famous can spend much, much more on a six-figure two-door – a comparable Bentley or Aston Martin — but I am not sure they would get more car, just a hood ornament less common than the three-pointed star.