Next Mercedes-Benz S-Class leaked

WHAT looks like an official image of the next-generation S-Class limousine has put a leak in the Mercedes-Benz drip-feed of information, providing an accurate glimpse of its exterior styling.

Benz has an official reveal event lined up for May 15, when full images and details are expected to be revealed, and the luxury model will arrive in Australia before the end of this year.

According to French website blogautomobile the image was grabbed from an official Mercedes website, with other reports pointing to it originating from the German luxury brand’s Austrian arm.

Mercedes-Benz Australia corporate communications senior manager David McCarthy thought it unlikely that Stuttgart would release an official image set early in response to the leak.

He could not comment on whether the leaked image – which looks like a brochure shot – was official as the Australian operation has not yet received photos.

The S-Class bears a close family resemblance with the much smaller CLA, key similarities being the headlights and scalloping on its flanks.

Just like the CLA250 Sport and CLA45 AMG, the sporty looking S-Class variant pictured has flared air intakes and a kinked lip spoiler on the front bumper, while the airy multi-spoke alloy wheel design also looks similar.

But stating the car’s luxury intent is a large, prominent grille with thick chrome outer edge similar to the recently facelifted E-Class.

Mr McCarthy suggested the choice of S-Class engines would remain similar to the outgoing model.

“At this stage it is our intention to have a diesel, a six-cylinder petrol, V8, AMG and V12,” he said.

As is traditional, V12 variants will be by order only due to the level of customisation buyers tend to apply to this kind of purchase, with V8 AMG models also falling into this category.

Mr McCarthy said V6 petrol and diesel-powered S350 variants had been most popular on the outgoing S-Class, with several V8-powered S500s also sold.

A couple of early adopters have pre-ordered the bahnstorming AMG variants, but Mr McCarthy said it was not possible to tell customers much about the car “because we haven’t been told much about the car”.

But he added that S-Class buyers “tend to come back year after year” and are likely to “sit and wait to see if the car really appeals to them” before discussing specifications.

In March, Benz provided a preview of the sumptuous new S-Class interior, in which luxury has been taken up a few notches to enable the model to maintain its segment benchmark status and act as appropriate replacement for the now defunct Maybach flagship brand.

Also helping keep the W222 S-Class head and shoulders ahead of the competition will be a raft of new driver assistance and safety technology.

These include an airbag underneath to boost emergency deceleration and reduce impact speed in unavoidable collisions, plus inflatable seat-belt straps that help reduce the risk of occupant injuries in a crash.

The latest version of Mercedes’ Pre-Safe occupant protection system will add radars and cameras to detect pedestrians and alert the driver of hazards.