The New Flagship of Mercedes-Benz Has Everything to Prove
It’s a critical juncture for the grand flagship of Mercedes-Benz, the S-Class, a luxury land-yacht that has been synonymous with money and power since the 1970s. Big sedans are out of favour and big SUVs are in, not to mention the fact that the combustion-engine S-Class now faces a threat from within; it shares its top spot in the Mercedes sedan lineup with the electric EQS.
In part at least, that explains why, for 2026, the white-coated engineers at Mercedes have given their flagship S-Class an unusually extensive overhaul. This was just supposed to be a refresh, a nip, a tuck, tasteful, restrained, but the engineers have instead changed 50 per cent of the parts. Although you wouldn’t know it just by looking at it, there’s a lot of new technology under the sheet metal. Mercedes is calling this, “the most comprehensive update for a single S-Class generation to date.”
Understandably, they are rather proud of it.
“The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the world’s best-selling luxury sedan — and, for many, simply the best car in the world,” said Mathias Geisen, the Mercedes-Benz board member for marketing & sales. “We have refined every detail for our customers — to elevate what has always defined the S-Class: presence, prestige and that unmistakable feeling of coming home,” he added.
Does the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Look New?
Well, not to the untrained eye, no. Only your S-Class’s chauffeur would notice the subtle tweaks to the lights, bumpers and some new 20-inch wheels with a lovely cross-spoke design.
The biggest visual change is an illuminated grille, which, if you look closely, is patterned with dozens of little Mercedes-Benz stars. As for the actual Mercedes-Benz star, that one that stands proudly atop the hood to guide the way, it too can light up.
If that’s not enough, the newly launched MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure program allows customers to select from more than 150 paint colours and over 400 interior colours for the new S-Class. Further customization requests will be, “evaluated individually by the MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure experts.”
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is All About the Software
The love-it or hate-it Superscreen display — which is really two displays behind a single glass panel — remains and utterly dominates the dashboard. At least this time Mercedes designers have integrated the screen more artfully into the surrounding cabin architecture.
Software is the key enabler of nifty new features here, all under the umbrella of the latest MB.OS (Mercedes-Benz Operating System). For example, thanks to its partnership with Google, drivers can now speak to the built-in Google Maps system using Google Cloud’s new conversational Automotive AI Agent. Combined with a new MBUX Surround Navigation system that shows directions in a real-time 3D model of the vehicle’s surroundings, there’s really no excuse for getting lost anymore.
The rear-seats work as a mobile office, with built-in cameras for video-conferencing while being shuttled between the office and the company jet. If you’re just looking to relax, Benz is promising the usual first-class experience. For movie watching, there’s an optional Burmester High-End 4D surround sound system with Dolby Atmos. It’s not as good as your private home cinema, but it’s not too far off.
Which Engines Are Available on the New S-Class?
Yes, there’s a new turbocharged V8 under the hood. In the S 580 4MATIC, the eight-cylinders combine to deliver 530 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Very sporting. Power is up thanks to a whole host of changes to the oily bits, all of which Mercedes claims will improve the big motor’s responsiveness.
The six cylinder is no slouch though, with the S 500 4MATIC now offering more torque than before; there’s 443 lb-ft of the stuff, which can jump briefly up to 472 lb-ft when you really put your foot down. Both motors are assisted by an efficiency-improving 48-volt mild hybrid system.
Yes, Really: The S-Class Smooths Out Speedbumps via The Cloud
Your new S-Class knows where speedbumps are and will set its suspension system up accordingly for maximum comfort and minimal disturbance. How? As Mercedes explains, “The damping adjustment is based on Car-to-X information from other Mercedes-Benz vehicles driving ahead, which is transmitted in real-time to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud and anonymized. […] By leveraging the sensors of other Mercedes-Benz cars, the technology significantly extends the coverage of the vehicle’s own radar and camera systems, effectively allowing the vehicle to look around the corner.”
And all that just to ensure a speedbump doesn’t cause you to accidentally spill your matcha. Impressive stuff.
Is it enough, however, to pull buyers away from SUVs? The answer could well determine the future of the S-Class.
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