Photo: SB-Medien
Even though the W222 S-Class has been one of the most successful Mercedes launches, it cannot resist the winds of progress. After launching the mid-life facelift earlier this year, the company has begun development of an all-new generation.
The W222 has been in production since 2013, and in that time Mercedes has sold over 300,000 units, despite some of them costing as much as a new Ferrari. The replacement is expected to arrive around 2020 and will take advantage of all the new technologies that are trending right now.
Mercedes-Benz likes to develop all the best stuff for the flagship sedan and then let it trickle down to the average models. As such, we think that this mule is hiding a much-improved or all-new version of the Modular Rear Architecture.
At first glance, the white car looks like any other pre-facelift S500, albeit with unusual green mirrors. But look closer, and you will see that the wheel arches are deeper and much wider. The latter definitely suggests that the next-generation S-Class will have tracks that are wider by about two inches.
It's been suggested that Mercedes is also looking into carbon fiber reinforced plastic technology, so even though the W223 S-Class will likely be a little bigger, it will still be lighter.
Internal combustion engines don't have that much time to walk the earth, and Daimler just dumped billions into the development of new four- and six-cylinder engines. So it would make sense for new powertrains like the S 400d or the S 560e to carry over to the next generation. However, Hermann-Joseph Storp, the chief engineer for the W222, said its replacement would be even greener. Perhaps he just meant the mirrors!
We can also presume the next S-Class will be among the first German cars to offer Level 3 autonomy. But at this moment, little else is known about the project. Mercedes did patent the SEC name, suggesting a return of the classic coupe. But we don't yet know how this ties in with the nameplates we have today.
Mercedes-Benz likes to develop all the best stuff for the flagship sedan and then let it trickle down to the average models. As such, we think that this mule is hiding a much-improved or all-new version of the Modular Rear Architecture.
At first glance, the white car looks like any other pre-facelift S500, albeit with unusual green mirrors. But look closer, and you will see that the wheel arches are deeper and much wider. The latter definitely suggests that the next-generation S-Class will have tracks that are wider by about two inches.
It's been suggested that Mercedes is also looking into carbon fiber reinforced plastic technology, so even though the W223 S-Class will likely be a little bigger, it will still be lighter.
Internal combustion engines don't have that much time to walk the earth, and Daimler just dumped billions into the development of new four- and six-cylinder engines. So it would make sense for new powertrains like the S 400d or the S 560e to carry over to the next generation. However, Hermann-Joseph Storp, the chief engineer for the W222, said its replacement would be even greener. Perhaps he just meant the mirrors!
We can also presume the next S-Class will be among the first German cars to offer Level 3 autonomy. But at this moment, little else is known about the project. Mercedes did patent the SEC name, suggesting a return of the classic coupe. But we don't yet know how this ties in with the nameplates we have today.
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