News Source: topspeed.com

The Mercedes S-Class  has been the company’s flagship model since it was first introduced in 1972, when it replaced the W108. In its 43-year history, the S-Class has evolved into one of the world’s best-selling luxury models  . That kind of success has spurred numerous body types over the years, including a cabriolet  version that’s now ready for its own next-generation debut. It will happen at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show  , where Mercedes  will introduce the drop-top version of the sixth-gen S-Class.

Although it brings infinite headroom to Stuttgart’s sixth generation of range-topping luxury cars, the new S-Class Convertible is actually the first drop-top to wear the S-Class badge and the first open-top luxury four-seater from Mercedes-Benz since 1971. The W108, built between 1965 and 1972, was the first and final luxury four-seater to have a retractable top

Once it’s out, the S-Class Cabriolet should be a strong competitor against the likes of the 2016 Bentley Continental GT Convertible  and the 2015 Aston Martin DB9 Volante  . Will it have what it takes to give its British rivals a run for the their money? Find out in our review.

Updated 12/18/2015: Mercedes announced European prices for its new S-Class Convertible which is now available for order. The model will be priced from 139,051.50 euro for the S500 Convertible version and 187,484.50 euro for the S63 AMG one. Deliveries will begin in April 2016.

The S-Class Convertible is identical to its coupe  sibling below the beltline, which makes it a gorgeous cabriolet to look at. It comes with the same aggressive yet still elegant front fascia, sleek rear end with slender taillights, muscular engine hood, and strong character lines between the front and rear wheel arches. It’s above the beltline where the S-Class Convertible differs significantly, thanks to its canvas roof.

Though it’s not as sleek as the coupe with the top up, particularly because of the smaller quarter windows and the not-so-smooth shape of the soft-top as it descends toward the rear, the S-Class Convertible is downright handsome with the top folded behind the seats. It’s not as bulky as the Bentley Continental GT Convertible and not as aggressive as the DB9 Volante. Its designed seems perfectly balanced, blending the gracefulness of its 1970s ancestor with Mercedes’ sleeker styling language of 2015.

As expected, the drop-top’s cabin mirrors the coupe’s. The same single-unit dashboard is awash in fine leather and dominated by five retro-styled air-conditioning vents. You’ll also find the same single block display unit that extends from the driver’s side door all the way to the center console. The soft sculpted bucket seats also make their appearance in the S-Class Convertible, as is the optional red full-leather upholstery.

But the cabrio does come with additional standard equipment, including the company’s Air-Scarf neck heater and draft-reducing electric wind deflectors. There’s also a new Thermotronic climate control system that uses sensors and actuators to maintain the temperature when the roof is folded. This feature can also detect the presence of harmful gases entering the cabin.

Then there’s the retractable roof, which, unsurprisingly, is state-of-the-art technology. It uses a three-layer, acoustically optimized design with an outer fabric cover that incorporates a butyl layer acting as a water barrier. The top can be dropped or raised in under 20 seconds and at speeds of 37 mph. when the soft-top is opened, it folds away into the trunk, where it is separated from the remaining luggage compartment space by means of an electrically operated retractable cover which encloses the roof. When the soft-top is up, the luggage compartment partition can be retracted by pressing a button in the inner paneling of the boot lid to increase luggage space. Not surprisingly, the S-Class Cabriolet, available only in S500 trim, is powered by the same engine as the coupe. That’s a biturbo, 4.7-liter V-8 producing 449 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, linked to a 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission and the brand’s 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. Performance figures aren’t yet available, but the coupe should be able to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, making it a tenth-second slower than the coupe. Top speed is likely limited at a very German 155 mph. As with most luxury models from Mercedes-Benz, the S-Class Convertible is packed with assistance and safety systems. These include Pre-Safe Brake with pedestrian detection, Distronic Plus with Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot, Brake Assist BAS Plus with Cross‑Traffic Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus, and Night View Assist Plus. U.S. pricing for the S-Class Cabriolet is not yet available, but the drop-top will retail from €139,051.50 in Germany. That’s a hefty €39,091.5 premium over the coupe model, priced from €99.960. That said, the Cabriolet could fetch close to $170,000 in the U.S. in S550 4Matic trim, a 39-percent premium over the $121,500 coupe.