Mercedes-Benz teases next-gen S-Class flagship

MERCEDES-BENZ has given us our first taste of what the new S-Class will look like and hinted at what we can expect from the brand’s flagship sedan when it lobs sometime in the second half of this year.

Just a single, darkened rendering has been released by the brand so far, revealing a bulbous nose comprising a prominent radiator grille – behind which we can see the sensors for various radars and cameras etc. – and a wide, almost gaping lower air intake. 

Flanking the radiator grille are the now familiar Mercedes-style headlamps with both the grille and intake adorned in chrome trim.

Last but certainly not least, the classic style three-pointed star bonnet ornament has made a return, sitting prominently on the front edge of the bonnet, overshadowing a more modest two-dimensional badge on the other side of the bonnet line.

Very few details have been released concerning the new S-Class, with the only thing known for sure at this stage is that it will launch globally before the end of the year.

Appearing on the inaugural episode of Meet Mercedes Digital – a new media communications series set up and run by the three-pointed star brand – Mercedes-Benz chief executive Ola Källenius described the looming new S-Class as a “technological tour de force”.

“This is a special year for us because it’s the year where we launch our flagship car, the S-Class,” he said.

“It’s really where we put our brightest minds and most creative people into inventing what the technologies of the future are really going to be.

“I had a chance only a few days ago to drive one of the pre-production vehicles and it’s going to be amazing.

“We took it around smaller roads, bigger roads, even on the legendary German autobahn … it’s the serene ride and drive that you expect from a Mercedes.

“This new S-Class is going to be something special.”

With no word yet on exact timing or even specification levels, it would be more than safe to assume that the new S-Class will feature almost all of the brand’s most advanced and bespoke technologies.

Under the bonnet we can expect to see at least a few of the established powertrains, particularly those from the upper end of the range including the bi-turbo six-cylinder diesels, blown six-cylinder petrol hybrids and inevitably another application of the force-fed 4.0-litre V8 courtesy of AMG.

Last year, the current S-Class proved to be the most popular of the $100,000-plus upper-large sedans with its 209 sales accounting for 32.1 per cent of the segment.

Things have not been quite so bountiful this year though with the S-Class (35) being relegated to second in the segment behind the BMW 6 Series GT (89) with the 8 Series Gran Coupe only a single delivery behind it (34).