Here's a Mercedes-Benz S-Class W222 Convoy, Can You Spot The Facelifts?

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz engineers are actively testing various pre-production prototypes of the facelifted model, and a car spotter recently caught no less than four S-Class sedans and an S-Class Coupe forming a convoy on a road near Stuttgart.

The funny bit is that only the two sedans in the middle are prototypes, while the other three cars probably act like a crew of unsuccessful carparazzi shield. As you can see, the visual changes will be subtle, to say the list, with the biggest differences finding themselves at the front end.

In other words, apart from redesigned front and rear bumpers, the most significant design changes will happen to the headlights, which will be slightly slimmer and show a different LED pattern.

Speaking of LEDs, Mercedes' MultiBeam LED technology should improve even further on the Sonder Klasse, especially since the CLS is better than the current S-Class in this department.

Technology wise, the semi-autonomous functions that were taken further by the E-Class W213 will also reach new heights on the 2018 S-Class, allowing the model to drive itself in many more situations.

That said, the biggest metamorphosis will happen under the hood since the S-Class W222 facelift will be the first modern Mercedes-Benz to return to the classic straight-six engine configuration in both gasoline and diesel forms.

An all-new modular engine family developed around the cylinder size found on the current 2.0-liter mills will make its debut on the luxury sedan. The new six-cylinder powerplants will share so many parts that they will be able to be manufactured on the same production line, whether they drink diesel or gasoline.

Since the S-Class will also switch to a 48-Volt electrical system, the new inline sixes will offer a mild-hybrid function as standard, which should improve fuel economy by up to 15 percent along with increasing torque figures even more.

Expect the mid-range gasoline mill to consist of a 3.0-liter, turbocharged straight-six with a small electric motor taped directly to the crankshaft, offering almost 400 hp and around 600 Nm (442,5 lb-ft) of torque.

Not confirmed yet, but the twin-turbocharged 4.7-liter V8 in the S500/S550 models might be replaced by the AMG-developed 4.0-liter with “hot-vee” turbochargers, but in a lower state of tune compared to the C63 or the GT. That exact powerplant has already made its debut on the G500 and the G500 4x4 Squared, so keep that pinch of salt away for now.

More interestingly, Mercedes-Benz has recently announced that it will be the first carmaker to introduce a particle filter on a gasoline engine, mainly to improve the higher emission ratings that result from using a stratified direct fuel injection system.

We will have more information about the redesigned S-Class once we get nearer its 2017 launch, so stay tuned since there are likely many details that are kept under wraps for the moment.