2002 Mercedes-Benz S 55 AMG (W220) 5.4L V8 Kompressor 5AT (500 HP)

Vehicle Overview

When the S 55 AMG nameplate came into existence in 1999, its only direct rival was the Audi S8, which had less horsepower then. Fast forward to the third millennium, and the naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8 in the S 55 was no longer the boss in its segment. Hence, AMG engineers got to work and prepared a true monster for the S-Class W220 mid-cycle facelift.

Inside, the revamped S 55 AMG was still a sanctuary of luxury and technology. The cabin was adorned with the finest materials available on the S-Class, including plush but supportive leather seats, wood trim, and polished aluminum accents. The dashboard remained a blend of traditional Mercedes design and modern tech, with the improved COMAND infotainment system offering navigation, audio, and connectivity features, all displayed on a higher-resolution screen.

As expected, the S 55 AMG facelift also came equipped with advanced safety features, including stability control, multiple airbags, and the innovative Pre-Safe system, which included an early version of automatic braking before a potential impact. It also anticipated potential collisions and prepared the vehicle’s active safety systems accordingly.

Exterior-wise, the facelift brought very few changes to complement the new brute under the hood, but the model’s look was firmly brought in the 21st century. Clear headlights now featured bi-xenon technology, while the taillights also sported a new interior design, with slimmer lines reminiscent of the Maybach 57 and 72.

The front AMG bumper still featured the now traditional A-shaped design, but the air intakes were made slightly larger to feed more air to the cooling required by the much more powerful engine. Overall, the exterior’s clean lines remained in check, with the subtle elegance and stately presence that were always prevalent in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

A new addition was also the ‘V8 Kompressor’ badge on each side of the car, which signaled the new technology employed on the powertrain. Speaking of which, under that long hood was the same 5.4-liter V8 as in its predecessor, but this time, a supercharger (kompressor in German) had upped the total output considerably.

This is how the facelifted S 55 AMG delivered no less than 500 PS (493 HP) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque, which made it considerably more powerful than the Audi S8. Those tire shredding numbers were once again sent to the rear wheels through an AMG Speedshift automatic transmission with 5+2 gears, while handling was kept relatively direct thanks to the Active Body Control feature on the standard hydropneumatic suspension.

The 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) sprint was attainable in just 4.6 seconds, making it the quickest accelerating production S-Class in history at the time. Top speed was, once again, electronically limited to 250 kph (155 mph), but the large sedan could hit 300 kph (186 mph) if de-restricted.

Braking was improved by fitting the S 55 with 14.2-inch brake rotors at the front and 13-inch rotors at the rear, while the ABC suspension had a firmer ‘Sport’ mode and extremely limited body roll during hard cornering.