In celebration of 140 years since Carl Benz’s invention of the automobile in 1886, the new Mercedes-Benz S Class emerges as the ultimate icon.
As the world’s best-selling luxury saloon, it is meticulously refined in every detail to ensure it remains the benchmark in its segment. More than just a flagship model, it embodies the essence of the brand: a pioneering spirit, engineering excellence and craftsmanship.
The latest evolution of the S Class delivers its most extensive update in one generation, taking a leading role in the most ambitious product launch programme in Mercedes Benz history. With more than 50% of the S Class – around 2,700 components – newly developed or re-engineered, it reaffirms a legacy of aspiration, engineering and digital ambition, and progress.
The new S Class asserts its status with a bolder silhouette and, for the first time, an illuminated grille, enlarged by around 20% and accented with redesigned, three-dimensional chrome stars. For more than 100 years, the upright Mercedes star has symbolised brand heritage and pioneering spirit. Now, it enters a new era: for the first time, the star on the S Class is optionally self-illuminated – unmistakable, it becomes part of the S Class light signature and gives the vehicle a radiant presence at night. The contemporary light design radiates prestige at its most beautiful and transforms every arrival – whether at a grand event or simply returning home – into a memorable occasion.
The new twin-star headlamp design not only creates an iconic look day and night, but also enhances visibility, helping drivers feel more confident on any road. At the rear, newly designed taillights with three chrome-framed signature stars reinforce the S Class identity, ensuring a lasting impression.
The new S Class elevates visibility and safety with the new digital light system. Innovative micro-LED technology and a powerful new chip expand the high-resolution illumination field by approximately 40%, delivering brighter high beams while reducing energy consumption, when compared with the predecessor system.
Combined with camera data and map intelligence, cornering light adapts more precisely to road layouts – all powered by in-house software integrated into the Mercedes-Benz Operating System for faster adaptation.
Personalisation
The MANUFAKTUR programme delivers an unparalleled level of personalisation, offering exclusive paint finishes, luxurious leather packages and exquisite handcrafted details. Two new MANUFAKTUR shades are now available as standard colours: MANUFAKTUR black sparkling, featuring genuine glass flakes for a striking shimmer, and MANUFAKTUR verdesilver magno, introducing a sophisticated matte finish to the popular verdesilver tone.
For those seeking ultimate individuality, the newly launched MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure programme enables customers to create a truly individual vehicle. With MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure, customers can choose from more than 150 paint colours and over 400 interior colours for the new S Class. Additional equipment choices include illuminated door sills with brand lettering, steering-wheel variants and emblem packages. It offers a broad selection of pre-approved options with fixed pricing and instant feasibility confirmation – and even enables customers to explore the full spectrum of technically achievable colours, providing unmatched customisation options for both exterior and interior designs.
Requests that extend beyond this portfolio are evaluated individually by the MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure experts during a personalised consultation, either at the Center of Excellence in Sindelfingen or at a location of the customer’s choice. The personalised vehicle is brought to life through an immersive visualisation tool, enabling customers to select colours and design elements that reflect their individual taste.
Top-tier assistance
The new S-Class models are equipped with a water-cooled supercomputer, providing sufficient power reserves for future functions. To provide top-tier driving assistance, every model comes equipped with a wide array of sensors: ten external cameras, fi ve radar sensors and 12 ultrasonic sensors. These sensors work in conjunction with a high-performance control unit running on MB.OS. Artificial intelligence algorithms, which are trained on large amounts of fleet data, process the sensor data to understand the surrounding traffic conditions.
Standard equipment includes MB.DRIVE ASSIST, with features such as Distance Assist DISTRONIC with Steering Assist and Lane Change Assist. Evasive Steering Function Plus autonomously steers around objects or other vehicles to prevent collisions within the vehicle’s own lane. For enhanced highway support, Proactive Lane Change Assist offers automated lane changes. Additionally, MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO includes enhanced assistance functions such as automated braking at stop signs and on traffic lights. While the different functions will be available either as a factory-fitted optional extra or as a Digital Extra7 via the Mercedes Benz Store, their availability is also depending on the market.
Parking assist detects parking spaces on both sides of the vehicle at a particularly early point and enables angled parking for the first time. It also recognises spaces not marked solely by white lines. Notably, the car can now assist in exiting a parking space, even after a manual parking manoeuvre. In addition, the system can park fast, adding significant value for customers. Under certain conditions, this assistance system enables the vehicle to precisely retrace its path when reversing. While this assistant is active, the image from the reversing camera and a graphic representation of the planned path are displayed on the main screen. This is particularly useful in traffic situations where a turning manoeuvre is not possible.
Serene elegance
In the new S Class, every journey becomes an experience of first class comfort and serene elegance. Mercedes Benz has refined the interior in numerous areas to create a space where technology and craftsmanship meet. The redesigned instrument panel, featuring the new MBUX Superscreen, integrates seamlessly into the cockpit. New elegant door trims and a reimagined centre console showcase exquisite wood inlays and combine the finest materials with an ergonomic design. The console features new illuminated cup holders and easily accessible mobile phone compartments, allowing for the wireless charging of two smartphones side by side within the reach of both the driver and the front passenger. In addition, cable-based USB-C charging with power delivery of up to 100 W ensures fast and convenient charging options for all occupants.
The new multifunction steering wheel offers improved ergonomics and intuitive operation.
Back to the future
In the new S-Class, rear-seat excellence is a given in both wheelbase variants. Customers can choose between a more dynamic silhouette and a long-wheelbase model with even more expansive rear-seat space. At its pinnacle, the four-seat first-class rear compartment in the long-wheelbase model turns the rear of the S Class into a business lounge.
The full-length rear centre console discreetly keeps everything within easy reach: concealed storage with wireless and fast-charging USB-C ports for mobile devices, plus a refrigerated compartment plus temperature-controlled cupholders. Folding tables create a comfortable space for working on a laptop, signing documents or enjoying a quiet meal on the move.
Those who prefer to travel in the rear can also choose from new trim finishes for the rear centre console, adding a further touch of personal exclusivity.
Always in reach: the two new detachable MBUX remote controls in the rear provide effortless operation of vehicle functions such as climate control and window shades, as well as the larger 13.1-inch displays of the MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment System.
These screens also feature integrated HD cameras, making them ideal for business video conferencing with Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Webex, allowing occupants to join a video meeting and stay productive whilst travelling in style.
This article refers to the international model range of Mercedes-Benz, UK-specific information will be available in due course.
Find out more on the Mercedes-Benz website.
