2007 MERCEDES-BENZ CONCEPT OCEAN DRIVE

Mercedes-Benz S-Class and they will say it is a sedan. A large sedan. A luxury sedan. But this common assumption is the point of flying out of the water.

The next generation S-Class is to arrive next year as a 2013 model. And when it does, the sedan is only the beginning. Reports indicate that the next S will generate at least four body styles.

First, two wheelbase options to cover two of these versions, although the shorter wheelbase is not available in North America. But do not worry - the third option is not a car. There is a four-door coupé - the CLS covers this base very well. However, after the integration of the family in the CLK-Class E and the arrival of the new C-Class coupe, the CL coupe large (which was originally a rebadged S coupe in the first place) will join the S- Class.

So where is the fourth variant? Convertible. While Mercedes has played with the idea of a convertible CL for years, he has never offered one (at least not as a production model directly from the factory). And while Ocean Cruise concept pictured above was a four-door convertible, sources expect the S Cab for packaging two-door coupe, which will be based. Obviously, the current trend to segments of rupture, it is unclear what the future holds, but it seems now Daimler eyes fixed clearly on the Bentley Continental GTC.