Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Making the star shine
You don't have to walk around the car for long to understand what Mercedes is aiming to achieve with the redesign of the S-Class. The luxury saloon remains unchanged in its dimensions, but it sends out new signals - ones that you only really notice when it is dark. For the first time on a production model, the upright star itself is illuminated. At the same time, the grille grows and is accentuated with many three-dimensional chrome stars. This is not a random gimmick, but a deliberate statement: We don't want anyone to miss who is driving ahead.
"Our customers around the world wanted to embody even more status than the S-Class already has," says Mercedes-Benz Board Member for Marketing and Sales Mathias Geisen about the truly enlightening appearance. The sentence is remarkable because it gets to the heart of this facelift. It is not a question of completely reinventing the car, but of sharpening it in those areas that are considered to be decisive for purchasing in the luxury segment: Representation, perceptible comfort and digital up-to-dateness - without disturbing the basic principle of sovereignty that traditionally defines this class.
Geisen emphasizes that he generally listened closely to customers during the redesign, especially in the interior. The focus there is on detailed craftsmanship, "even more decorative parts, even more wood", a different set-up for the displays and digital comfort in order to create the "welcome home" feeling typical of the brand, "which our customers attach great importance to". Between the lines is the realization that in this class in particular, the question of materials and appearance is clearly not an afterthought, but a core product.
At the same time, digitalization was driven forward with a clear focus. "In many parts of the world, the S-Class is still a chauffeur-driven vehicle, which is why we say: What comes after the B pillar is of central importance," says Geisen This is not just a pretty sentence, but a strategic setting. The S-Class should not just be driven, it should be used: as a rolling board office, as a retreat, as a mobile lounge. Video conferences on large HD screens with Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Webex are part of this. But private customers should also feel at home here. Two detachable remote controls regulate the climate, seats and entertainment, which runs on 33-inch displays in razor-sharp HD resolution. Streaming apps such as Disney+ or Sony Pictures Entertainment can be accessed directly and, thanks to the Burmester 4D sound system with Dolby Atmos, the music literally vibrates right into the backrests.
But Mercedes wants more than luxury. The Swabians want to show that they master software as well as leather and paintwork. At the heart of the new model is the specially developed MB.OS operating system, which is based on a new electronic architecture. This "intuitive supercomputer" networks all systems, from the drive to the sensors and infotainment, in a common digital nervous system. The new architecture is also designed for future assistance functions. In Europe, Drive Assist is standard equipment, including Distance Assist with steering and lane change intervention. Depending on the market, there is also Drive Assist Plus with extended functions. To this end, Mercedes has upgraded the sensor system with up to ten exterior cameras, five radar sensors and twelve ultrasonic sensors. They work together with a powerful control unit running MB.OS. Artificial intelligence processes the sensor data to record the traffic situation.
As a result, Drive Assist is now able to keep in lane, park and even park on an angle independently. The system also helps when leaving tight spaces, even if the driver has previously parked manually. Later, the vehicle will also be able to automatically reverse along a previously driven route, which can be very helpful in winding old town streets. The 360-degree camera provides such a vivid image that you almost believe you are standing outside the car.
Another visible highlight of the new interior design is the new instrument panel with the so-called "MBUX Superscreen". It consists of a 36.6 centimeter central display and a 31.2 centimeter passenger display as a visual unit under a continuous glass surface. While the driver receives clear information, the front passenger can - depending on regulations - use personalized entertainment, such as streaming, games or apps. A camera-based privacy function is designed to adjust the passenger screen so that the driver is distracted as little as possible. An additional 31.2-centimetre instrument cluster that appears to float behind the steering wheel is available as an option.
MB.OS also includes the fourth generation of MBUX infotainment, including AI integration. ChatGPT 4o and Microsoft Bing are mentioned, as is Google Gemini, which are to work together in one system for the first time. The virtual assistant understands multi-level conversations, remembers context and reacts to moods. When you say "Hey Mercedes", a freely selectable avatar appears on the screen, either as a human-looking likeness or as a mini-figure called "LittleBenz", which blinks, reacts and plays with emotions. It acts as a digital concierge - quite obviously a concession to Chinese customers - controlling navigation, music and settings or simply chatting if desired.
The operating logic has also been adapted. The improved interface now shows recently used apps, customizable folders and intuitive wipe navigation. There is also an app portfolio of more than 40 applications in categories such as audio, video, productivity and entertainment, which is set to grow further. The digital stage also includes the navigation and display experience based on Google Maps, supplemented by a 3D real-time display of the surroundings and an augmented reality head-up display that appears to project directions directly onto the road.
Under the hood, Mercedes is sticking to its classic range of drive systems. The eight-cylinder engine in the S 580 4MATIC now produces 537 hp (395 kW) and 750 Nm of torque, a slight increase on the previous version. The revised six-cylinder petrol engine in the S 450 and S 500 4Matic increases the maximum torque to 600 Nm, and up to 640 Nm via overboost, which should result in a more dynamic response. Improved insulation measures are also intended to reduce the noise level.
The plug-in hybrid variant combines the six-cylinder engine with a powerful electric motor and should enable an electric range of around 100 kilometers. The system output increases by up to 55 kW compared to the previous generation. Mercedes promises a smoother and more spontaneous driving experience. And the diesel six-cylinder engine in the S 350 d and S 450 d now works with an electrically heated catalytic converter for the first time in order to meet stricter emissions standards without sacrificing smoothness. Common to all conventional engines is the 48-volt system with integrated starter-alternator. It provides support when starting off, enables recuperation and is intended to ensure very smooth start-stop processes.
In terms of comfort, the S-Class continues to rely on air suspension as standard, with the electronic roll compensation "E-Active Body Control" as an option. Both systems now have the "Intelligent Damping" function, which uses Car-to-X data to detect unevenness such as bumps or potholes at an early stage and adjusts the damping accordingly. The system uses swarm data from other Mercedes vehicles, which is intended to improve comfort, especially on long journeys. In addition, the rear axle steering - now with 4.5 degrees as standard and up to 10 degrees as an option - is designed to improve agility and stability. In the 10-degree configuration, it reduces the turning circle of the long-wheelbase version by almost two meters and makes parking, manoeuvring in narrow driveways and turning in city centres easier. At higher speeds, the rear wheels steer parallel and stabilize.
Customers will be able to configure and order the new S-Class online from January 30. The S 350 d 4MATIC will be available in Germany from 121,356 euros or as a lease for 1020 euros per month. For business customers, it starts from 101,980.00 euros excluding VAT.
The result is a facelift for the S-Class that does two things at the same time: it provides visible status signals - a shining star, a more powerful grille - and it retracts the digital infrastructure beneath the luxurious appearance. Mercedes is thus fulfilling customer wishes and expanding its flagship where it has always traditionally scored points: in comfort, in the rear and in technical superiority - which can now be recognized from afar at night. (aum)
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