The next-gen Mercedes S-Class will follow the
footsteps of the latest Audi A8 by offering Level 3 autonomous driving. The
three-pointed star’s first model with a self-driving system allowing
conditional automated driving is due in 2020.
Asked whether Daimler will roll out its first Level
3 self-driving system before BMW (with the Vision iNext’s production version), Ola
Kaellenius, Daimler’s head of research indicated a confident yes. “The
next S class is due for 2020, so the timeframe should be realistic,” he said.
In Level 3 autonomous driving, the vehicle can
handle the driving at low speeds, say in a slow-moving traffic on a highway for
instance. The automated driving system performs all dynamic driving tasks, but
the driver is required to take over as soon as it reaches its limits, which may
vary in different countries.
Among other advanced technologies, the all-new
Mercedes S-Class will feature the all-new MBUX infotainment system that debuted
in the 2018 Mercedes A-Class this year. Natural voice recognition offered by
this system, activated by saying “Hey Mercedes”, will make voice commands
simpler and less robotic. This system will feature augmented reality and
artificial intelligence.
The next-gen Mercedes S-Class will see a higher
usage of electrification. However, while enhancements for the plug-in hybrid
variant are obvious, reports suggest that a pure electric variant is still a
few years away. There’s no word on the conventional engines, but it’s safe to
assume that options will include a variety of six-cylinder and eight-cylinder
mills, and maybe even a few four-cylinders for Europe and twelve-cylinder units
powering the top-spec Maybach and AMG variants.
