This isn't the first time our intrepid spy cameraman tried to get a glimpse at the layout of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but it was his first successful attempt as the first one, if you'll remember, had to admit its defeat in the face of optics rules.
Never one to give up, he kept stalking what appears to be a large number of facelifted Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousines that buzz around Stuttgart until he got another chance. It turns out our parents didn't lie to us and perseverance does pay off in the end. Even though we have to admit we were a lot more optimistic after watching the previous clip, and there's a good reason for that.
Not being able to see much means allows your imagination run wild, and we don't know about you, but we are capable of fantasizing about some pretty nice stuff. With the S-Class interior all covered up, we were hoping to see some more significant improvements, but this latest capture shows we weren't very realistic.
Truth be told, the current S-Class has a very beautiful interior. It's a mixture of modern and classic that only Mercedes-Benz could pull without making it look tacky. The facelift will do nothing to affect that, limiting itself to some modifications to the two main displays that we've talked about before. They'll be included into the same casing with one large piece of glass covering both and no buttons dividing them, as is the case with the 2017 model.
But don't let the almost identical interior give you the wrong idea that this facelift won't bring a lot of changes to the S-Class, because it will. From its engine lineup (the straight sixes will make a return) to the level of autonomous technology and even its lighting, the new limousine will be better than its predecessor.
The new modular straight six engines will come standard with an electric motor attached to the crankshaft, giving the S-Class more low-end torque, a smoother engine start (useful in town where the start/stop system is heavily used) and 10 to 15 percent increased fuel efficiency. This will also effectively turn the S-Class into a mild hybrid.
There's a lot to be excited about with the new S-Class, and the semi-autonomous features play a big part in this. After announcing the E-Class as the most intelligent model in its segment, you'd expect Mercedes-Benz to do the same with the larger S-Class. The limousine will probably get slightly improved versions of those systems, which should make driving the new S-Class a child's play. Mercedes may choose to advertise it differently, though.
Mercedes-Benz started testing this car way back in 2015, and with a release scheduled for 2017, that's a long time to be tinkering with a facelift. Admittedly, the S-Class is probably the most important model for the Stuttgart company image-wise, but this extra attention it got could also point towards a lot of unseen new stuff.
"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie) Full profile
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