2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Facelift Shows Up in Traffic, Reveals Front Bumper

The German engineers testing the car seem to be playing the strip poker card, revealing one feature of the lavish sedan at a time. As such, the latest piece of spy footage covering the S-Class, which can be seen at the bottom of the page, allows us to check out the front apron of the vehicle.

The styling cues of the bumper follow the current Mercedes-Benz styling language and while there won't be any surprise here, they seem to add a touch of elegance to the car's nose.

This is a good occasion to remind you that, when we last spied the S-Class, the model revealed its rear end, albeit not entirely. To be more precise, we got to see the taillights and the partially-covered rear bumper, with the latter having been left untouched meanwhile. Does this mean we'll get to see the new headlight graphics next time? Possibly.

Aside from the single-cover dashboard scheme that will "integrate" the current pair of displays into a single unit, we could see Mercedes' following BMW's lead in the gesture control area.

Under the hood, the most important changes are split in two main categories, both of which are still in the rumor state. The first has to do with Mercedes-Benz making its straight-six return next year, with the future engine family possibly also making its way into upcoming Land Rovers. Note that the L6 engine family should make its debut on the revised W222 S-Class.

When it comes to the second tech upgrade, this will see the S-Class fitted with a 48V system. Working with an integrated starter-generator replacing the starter motor and providing a bit of electric assistance for the mid-range, the feature should deliver a noticeable increase in efficiency.

As we've mentioned in the past, the S-Class' mid-cycle revamp is scheduled to land in the first half of next year, which probably means we'll get to meet this luxurious saloon in March, at the Geneva Motor Show.