Mercedes-Benz isn’t waiting until the official reveal to start building hype for its next S-Class.
The German luxury brand dropped a teaser video today featuring none other than CEO Ola Källenius himself, who walked Canadian YouTuber Justin Tse around a heavily disguised prototype.
The full reveal is set for Jan 29, but Mercedes is already talking big numbers.
It said over half the car’s components, or roughly 2,700 parts, are either brand new or heavily reworked.
That’s apparently one of the most comprehensive updates in S-Class history, though we’ll have to wait to see how much of that translates to actual driving experience versus spec-sheet bragging rights.
What we do know: the styling will be more aggressive (their word: “assertive”), and the iconic upright three-pointed star is making a comeback on the bonnet.
Mercedes has been flip-flopping on that design choice for years, so it’ll be interesting to see if buyers actually prefer the traditional look or if this is just nostalgia marketing.
What’s happening inside could be more important. The new S-Class will be the first to run the next generation of Mercedes’ MB.OS operating system, which should handle everything from infotainment to vehicle intelligence. Whether that means useful features or just more screens and menus remains to be seen.
On the comfort front, still a make-or-break for S-Class buyers, Mercedes said it’s upgraded the Airmatic air suspension with smarter damping control. It’s also expanding the Manufaktur customisation program for customers who want their US$150,000+ (RM608,000) sedan to feel bespoke.
This teaser is part of Mercedes’ “140 Years of Innovation” campaign, which is a neat way to tie the S-Class launch to the company’s historical milestone.
Källenius has been doing these preview videos for a while now, previously showing off the electric CLA, the electric G-Class, and the all-electric GLC.
As for what’s under the hood? Mercedes is keeping that locked down until the 29th.
Expect the usual mix of turbocharged petrol engines, maybe a plug-in hybrid or two, and possibly some hints about future electrification — though a fully electric S-Class likely isn’t coming just yet.
