Mercedes-Benz is almost ready to go to war against
the BMW 7-Series and Audi A8 for the umpteenth time with the new generation
S-Class, which is expected to premiere next year. Currently in testing phase, the
company’s flagship sedan was spied at the Nurburgring recently, displaying a
great balance between comfort and agility.
The wraps and plastic cladding prevent us from
discerning of the visual changes of the car. Nevertheless, we expect an
evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach, with new lighting units and
bumpers on both ends and reworked grille, which will eventually be adopted, on
a smaller scale, by the E- and C-class.
A true revolution will be carried out inside, where
previous spy shots revealed a huge portrait-oriented screen in the middle of
the dashboard and horizontal digital instrument cluster. Furthermore, it will feature a
Level 3 semi-autonomous driving system, which will allow the S-Class to drive
on its own in certain scenarios. Nevertheless, a human driver will still have
to be behind the wheel at all times, in case they have to intervene.
The engine lineup is thought to be made up of the
2.9- and 3.0-liter -six-cylinder petrol and diesel units, with electrification
and zero-emission ranges of up to 100 km. Despite the ever-tightening
emissions legislation, the AMG S63 won’t go anywhere and is expected to use
Affalterbach’s 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8, probably with 48V, mild-hybrid tech.
