S-Class Sedan

Segment
Sedan

In just a couple of months, Mercedes will once again set a new benchmark for luxury cars. The all-new, next-generation Mercedes S-Class will officially break cover this September, but before the covers come off our spy photographers have caught a prototype of the new luxury sedan undergoing some final testing.

There's less camouflage covering its elegant body than on previous prototypes, giving us a closer look at the production model's design details. Unsurprisingly, the changes are subtle, but they help make the S-Class look more modern. We've already seen the new S-Class with less camo too, thanks to leaked photos that emerged online back in May. At the front, the full matrix LED headlights are slimmer, while the outgoing model's familiar vertical taillights have been replaced with horizontal ones.

Elsewhere, the grille is larger (but not supersized like the one on the new BMW 4 Series), and pop-out door handles adorn the side profile for a cleaner, sleeker appearance. Once again, the new S-Class will be offered with standard, long, and extra-long wheelbases, although the standard version's wheelbase will be 1.57 inches longer than the previous model.

Thanks to its new platform, the next-generation S-Class will also have rear-wheel steering to improve the handling and reduce the turning circle. All-wheel drive will also be offered for the first time paired with a V12, but this will be reserved for the range-topping Mercedes Maybach S.

More revolutionary updates will be found inside. Mercedes recently gave us a preview of the 2021 S-Class's high-tech cabin, which will boast up to five digital displays, the latest MBUX infotainment system with advanced voice recognition, an augmented reality head-up display, and a 3D driver display.

Under the hood, the new S-Class will be powered by either a six- or eight-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid 48-volt electrical system in the US. Plug-in hybrid versions will also offer electric ranges of up to 62 miles. Before the new S-Class is unveiled in early September, Mercedes will showcase the luxury sedan's advanced safety tech and comfort features on July 29 and give us a complete tour of the cabin on August 12.