Mercedes‑Benz has unveiled a comprehensively updated S‑Class that significantly refines its flagship sedan with new design, technology, powertrains, and comfort features while marking 140 years since Carl Benz’s invention of the automobile in 1886.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class, a flagship for 140 years of innovation
The latest S‑Class represents the most extensive update within a single model generation, with more than 50 percent of the vehicle – around 2,700 components – newly developed or re‑engineered. Positioned as the brand’s technological and luxury spearhead, it underscores Mercedes‑Benz’s ambition to remain the benchmark in the global luxury sedan segment.
In tribute to 140 years of automotive innovation, the S‑Class is presented as the ultimate expression of the “Welcome Home” feeling, combining engineering excellence, digital sophistication, and handcrafted luxury. It also plays a leading role in what Mercedes‑Benz describes as its most ambitious product launch program in company history, signaling a broader transformation of the lineup around software, electrification, and personalization.
Bolder exterior design and illuminated presence
Visually, the new S‑Class adopts a more confident and instantly recognizable appearance, with a redesigned front end that emphasizes width and presence. A key highlight is an enlarged grille—approximately 20 percent larger than before—that can be optionally illuminated and is decorated with newly interpreted three‑dimensional chrome stars.
For the first time, the iconic standing star can also be illuminated, ushering in what Mercedes‑Benz describes as a new era of visual presence and light signature for its flagship. The lighting concept extends to a striking new daytime running light signature and refined headlamp designs, reinforcing the S‑Class identity both day and night.
At the rear, subtle but targeted changes to the bumper, light graphics, and trim elements further sharpen the vehicle’s stance without compromising the timeless elegance that defines the S‑Class silhouette. Aerodynamic optimization continues to play a major role, helping the sedan maintain class‑leading efficiency and low wind noise levels at highway speeds.
MANUFAKTUR personalization and new paint finishes
Mercedes‑Benz expands its MANUFAKTUR program on the new S‑Class, giving customers broader scope to tailor the vehicle’s appearance and interior ambiance. The program includes exclusive paint finishes, high‑grade Nappa leather packages, and meticulously crafted interior details executed largely by hand.
Two new MANUFAKTUR exterior paints debut on the latest S‑Class. MANUFAKTUR Black Sparkling integrates genuine glass flakes into the paint, creating a deep, shimmering effect under changing light conditions, while MANUFAKTUR Verde Silver Magno introduces a sophisticated matte finish to the palette.
Beyond the curated MANUFAKTUR portfolio, the brand offers a “Made to Measure” service where especially individual customer requests are evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis. These bespoke vehicles are configured through an advanced visualization tool that allows buyers to explore materials, colors, and trims in detail before commissioning their tailor‑made S‑Class.
MB.OS: A software‑defined Mercedes-Benz S‑Class
At the heart of the technological update is the Mercedes‑Benz Operating System (MB.OS), described as a dedicated automotive supercomputer that orchestrates virtually every domain of the vehicle. MB.OS underpins driver assistance, infotainment, energy management, and driving dynamics, enabling faster processing, higher computing power, and seamless integration between formerly separate systems.
MB.OS also serves as the foundation for the MB.DRIVE and MBUX ecosystems, integrating with the Mercedes‑Benz Intelligent Cloud to support over‑the‑air updates throughout the vehicle’s life cycle. This architecture enables continuous feature enhancements, bug fixes, and new digital services without requiring a visit to the dealership, reinforcing the S‑Class as a truly software‑defined luxury sedan.
The deep integration of cloud connectivity and on‑board computing also enhances safety and assistance functions, allowing the vehicle to benefit from real‑time data and improvements in algorithms over time. For owners, this means the S‑Class can evolve well beyond its initial specification, both functionally and experientially, across many years of use.
MBUX Superscreen and digital interior experience
The cabin of the new S‑Class centers on the standard‑fit MBUX Superscreen, a wide glass surface that unites a 14.4‑inch central display with a 12.3‑inch front passenger display. Behind the steering wheel, a separate 12.3‑inch driver display—optionally available with 3D instrument cluster technology—appears to float, delivering crisp, configurable driving information.
The front passenger gains access to a fully fledged digital entertainment environment, with options such as video streaming, gaming, and app‑based services available even while the vehicle is in motion. Eye‑tracking and other safety‑focused technologies ensure that these features do not distract the driver, supporting safe use of the expanded digital capabilities.
Mercedes‑Benz UI designers have created curated high‑resolution ambient styles and visual modes that transform the MBUX Superscreen into an immersive digital space. These modes coordinate color palettes, animations, and information density to match driving situations or driver preference, enhancing the perceived warmth and “Welcome Home” character of the interior.
Craftsmanship, materials, and first‑class comfort
Inside, the Mercedes-Benz S‑Class continues to prioritize first‑class comfort for all occupants, while numerous details have been refined to elevate everyday usability. Redesigned door trim elements and a reimagined center console showcase new wood inlays and material combinations that blend tactile luxury with ergonomic logic.
The center console now incorporates illuminated cup holders and two dedicated smartphone compartments, both within easy reach of the driver and front passenger. These compartments support the wireless charging of two smartphones side by side, supplemented by 100 W USB‑C ports distributed in the cabin to provide fast, convenient charging for all passengers.
Seat comfort, acoustic insulation, and ambient lighting continue to be core strengths of the S‑Class, with Mercedes‑Benz fine‑tuning these systems to create a particularly serene environment. The brand emphasizes that every journey should feel like an arrival home, with technology intentionally designed to recede into the background when not required.
Powertrains and driving refinement
Under the hood, the new Mercedes-Benz S‑Class offers a refined portfolio of electrified powertrains, including various six‑ and eight‑cylinder gasoline engines, six‑cylinder diesel units, and at least one plug‑in hybrid option, depending on market. Each drivetrain is engineered to deliver the effortless performance and composure that traditionally define the S‑Class driving experience.
The focus is on combining higher power outputs with greater efficiency and reduced emissions, aided by advanced electrification and intelligent energy management via MB.OS. Drivers can expect a broad torque band, smooth power delivery, and quiet operation across all configurations, maintaining the sedan’s status as a long‑distance benchmark.
Chassis technology plays a decisive role in comfort and control, with the latest S‑Class equipped as standard with AIRMATIC air suspension and optionally with E‑ACTIVE BODY CONTROL. Both systems now integrate intelligent damping control that can proactively adjust damper characteristics before the vehicle encounters surface irregularities such as potholes or speed bumps.
This predictive damper regulation uses vehicle sensors and Car‑to‑X communication to distinguish between sharp impacts and longer undulations, optimizing ride comfort and body control in each case. The result is a driving experience characterized by benchmark quietness, refined comfort, and a sense of effortless stability, even on challenging road surfaces.
The S‑Class as a rolling benchmark
With its combination of redesigned exterior presence, MB.OS supercomputer architecture, immersive MBUX Superscreen interior, and advanced chassis and powertrain technologies, the new S‑Class aims to set fresh standards for the luxury sedan category. The model underscores Mercedes‑Benz’s strategy of fusing digital intelligence with traditional craftsmanship while offering unprecedented levels of personalization through programs such as MANUFAKTUR and Made to Measure.
As the brand’s flagship, the S‑Class is designed not just as a car but as a platform for ongoing innovation that will influence the rest of the Mercedes‑Benz portfolio in the coming years. In marking 140 years since the automobile’s birth, the latest S‑Class positions itself as both a tribute to that heritage and a blueprint for the software‑defined, electrified luxury sedans of the future.
