Mercedes-Benz says its next S-Class sedan will feature the brand's first Level 3 autonomous system, a conditional self-driving system in which the car can handle most of its own driving.

Ola Kaellenius, Daimler's head of research, said at the Paris auto show last week that the technology will debut in the brand's flagship model and then spread to lower segment vehicles, Automotive News reports. The next S-Class is due in 2020, and Kaellenius, who is on track to succeed Dieter Zetsche as CEO in May, said it will be offered as an option.

That would keep it ahead of the reported 2021 debut of BMW's iNext, an electric crossover that will also have Level 3 self-driving capability, which is a subtle jump from existing Level 2 capabilities found in systems like Tesla's Autopilot and the Super Cruise GM uses in the Cadillac CT6. Those require drivers to keep their eyes on the road, ready to reassume control of the wheel at all times.

Under Level 3, the driver can take his or her hands off the wheel and eyes off the road, but will be alerted to retake control if the vehicle can't handle the functions under certain conditions. Both Mercedes and BMW are behind the 2019 Audi A8, which features six cameras, five radar sensors and a laser scanner to enable Level 3 autonomous driving, though Audi is not ready to sell the Level 3-equipped version in the United States due to several factors including lagging regulatory approvals. Automotive News reports that Germany is the only country so far that has legalized the ability to transfer operation of the vehicle to an onboard computer.

Meanwhile, General Motors has said it plans to begin production of its fully autonomous Cruise AV next year at a plant near Detroit.

Under Level 3, the driver can take his or her hands off the wheel and eyes off the road, but will be alerted to retake control if the vehicle can't handle the functions under certain conditions.

As Mercedes-Benz readies an all-new S-class for 2020, the automaker is gracing the current flagship sedan with a special edition, the Concours S.

While limited-production S-class models with numbered plaques are uncommon, the Concours S isn't celebrating anything Mercedes hasn't already toasted, bragged about, or thrown parties for on private islands. It's just here to showcase the "legacy of Mercedes-Benz cars at the Concours events," a company rep told Car and Driver after we spotted a mysterious-looking S560 at the Los Angeles auto show.

Two discreet Concours S badges on the front flanks, sparkly Magnetite Black metallic paint, and 20-inch wheels normally reserved for AMG S65 and Maybach models are all that distinguish this stately machine from other S-class models. However, like invite-only events at Pebble Beach, Amelia, and Villa d'Este, the inside is where customers will find special treats.

The tan designo semi-aniline leather seats sport unique perforations and patterns with gray stitching, piping, and Concours S embroidered type. The holes within each quilted diamond, for example, decrease in diameter toward the center. The heated wood and leather steering wheel (until now, Mercedes wouldn't offer heating with wood) has piano black lacquer, which also adorns the dash and doors. More Concours S type on the leather-edged floor mats means you'll know if anyone swipes them, or you can swap them for full-leather mats that match the quilted seats. Another leather-edged mat lines the trunk. The final announcement comes from a numbered plaque inlaid within the front cupholder cover.

Listed on the car's window sticker was a P69 Concours Edition option code that, for now, has an undetermined price. Just 100 cars will arrive in the U.S. early next year, divided evenly between the S560 and S560 4Matic models. If you make the list, surely you'll find a reason to celebrate whatever you've done to afford one.

Tucked away in a press release talking about what Mercedes will bring to the 2019 Geneva Motor Show next month is a sentence that will probably ruin your Friday: “The S65 Final Edition, which crowns and brings to an end the long success story of the 6.0-liter V12 biturbo engine in the S-Class Saloon.” That’s right, the S65 Sedan will be no more after this Final Edition, much like the recently revealed SLC Final Edition will bid adieu to the roadster formerly known as SLK.

While this is certainly a sad announcement for big-engined car enthusiasts, it’s not all that surprising. After all, Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers warned us twice last year about the gradual retirement of the AMG powerhouse. It has already started taking into account there won’t be a new G65 based on the latest-generation G-Class, while the SL65 is nowhere to be found in the German or U.S. Mercedes-Benz configurators.

Now, it’s the Mercedes-AMG S-Class Sedan’s turn to lose the V12, and it’s probably only a matter of time before the two-door AMG-branded coupe and convertible will follow suit.

Silver lining? The V12 isn’t being retired altogether. Tobias Moers told Car and Driver nearly a year ago about AMG’s plans to build the engine for other sub-brands. In other words, the Maybach brand will retain the legendary powertrain found in the S650. For how long? Your guess is as good as ours.

In today’s downsizing-obsessed automotive world in which many European compact cars have puny three-cylinder engines, the V12 is like a dinosaur facing extinction. A recent report indicates BMW will not only drop the M760Li’s V12 for the next installment of the 7 Series, but the Bavarian flagship might even lose the V8. Bugatti has already admitted the Chiron’s quad-turbo 8.0-liter W16 is the “last of its kind,” while Audi will ditch the W12 engine after the current-generation A8.

Only a new S-Class sedan is due in 2020.

If you’re a fan of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe and convertible and have the money to afford one or both, then consider this as something of an early warning. According to Automobile Magazine, Mercedes will not replace either S-Class variants once the current generation runs its course. The new sedan is still slated to arrive for 2020 and based on initial details and spy shots, it’ll be a magnificent display of many technologies, such as a fully digital cockpit. But none of that will transfer over to coupe and convertible variants. Why? Let’s just look at the sales numbers.

Oh wait, you can’t because Mercedes doesn’t publish breakdown figures by body style opting instead to clump them together. But if we did have the numbers, the results would probably not be particularly good for both. Both body styles are already quite niche and given that coupe and convertible only start at $126,000 and $135,000, respectively, it’s not like either are flying off dealership lots. Demand simply isn't there.

To compare, the S-Class sedan "only” begins at $92,000. But if you’re still saving your pennies and are afraid you won’t make the 2020 deadline, fear not. You still have some additional time.

Mercedes won’t end S-Class coupe and convertible production until sometime in the next decade. That means two S-Class generations will be produced and sold alongside side each other for a period of time. It’s not like demand is high for either coupe or convertible, but Mercedes must have done the math and concluded there’s still some money to be made.

For those diehard S-Class coupe and convertible owners who regularly replace their cars every few years or so, Mercedes will gladly sell you a next-generation SL-Class instead. The eighth-generation SL is also due to debut sometime in 2020 and it will share some basic underpinnings with the second-generation AMG GT coupe and roadster.

Update: A Mercedes rep clarified that there are actually two S65 Final Editions still for sale in the U.S. market. Get 'em while you can!

Let's start by proclaiming what's at the very top of mind: The 2020 Mercedes-AMG S65 Final Edition is the best Mercedes I've ever driven. Bold, I know, to declare a car that starts at over a quarter-million dollars to be “good,” and yet here I am putting my stellar reputation on the line.

There are endless reasons why the S65 Final Edition is such a treasure, but one stands above them all. Mercedes threw absolutely everything it has at this car. From the hand-built V12 engine to the custom leather upholstery, to the huge suite of tech and convenience features, the company employed its entire arsenal and the end result is a car that we’ll look back on and admire years down the line.

The Final Edition marks the end of the sixth-generation Mercedes S-Class, as well as the last time the big V12 will live under the hood of an AMG model. Yes, we expect the engine to live on in standard Mercedes and Maybach models, as well as in vehicles from other brands like Pagani. But this is the final hurrah for 12-cylinder AMGs.

To celebrate the occasion, Mercedes-AMG produced just 130 examples of the S65 Final Edition. And they're such hot commodities that Motor1.com was the first American outlet granted special permission to review the one vehicle available for media to explore.

The Final Edition is happy to tell you that it's special before you ever open the door or pop the hood. For $21,150, the Final Edition package adds bronze to just about everything: the wheels, the lower front fascia, and the massive trim piece that runs along the side profile. AMG also added an Affalterbach Crest onto the C-pillar which looks phenomenal and should be uniform across all AMG models. Special touches continue inside with unique floor mats, a few Final Edition interior badges, bronze stitching, and some gorgeous carbon fiber that features a copper-infused weave. Every Final Edition wears a coat of Obsidian Black Metallic paint and custom black leather upholstery.

That's some serious coin for an all-aesthetic package, but we can’t deny that the Final Edition stands out from just about every angle with its garish bronze accents. Are they for everyone? No. But only 130 people needed to fall in love, and according to Mercedes, mission accomplished: Each of the 130 cars – including the one I am driving – has a home.

Aside from the Final Edition touches, the rest of this S65 is as good as they come. As you’d expect, material quality is top-notch, from the leather covering the headliner and door panels to the metallic air vents and glossy carbon fiber. Special details are everywhere you look, too, like the 27-speaker Burmester sound system and the excellent Mercedes ambient lighting system, the two of which transform the S65 into a mobile music festival at night. Other features like the cabin perfuming system and night vision pedestrian detection debuted on the S-Class years ago, and they're still impressive today.

Specced sky-high, this Final Edition features $8,000 worth of options benefitting the lucky SOBs in the back. There’s a $1,100 refrigerated rear center console, which comes in handy transporting thank you gifts to fancy parties. The $4,950 Magic Sky Control panoramic sunroof goes from transparent to nearly opaque at the touch of a button. And $1,950 for the Executive Rear Seat package which adds a seat-splitting rear center console, tray tables, extra pillowy headrests, and heated and cooled cupholders. Long story short, you won't find a nicer place to sit this side of a Rolls-Royce or Bentley. All these goodies brings us to an as-tested price of $265,745. And yet, somehow I found myself sitting in the backseat rationalizing the number, which goes toe-to-toe with that of my studio apartment.

The twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 underhood produces 621 horsepower and a hard-to-fathom 738 pound-feet of torque, the latter of which is available from 2,300 rpm. Put another way, the S65's near-5,000 pound curb weight does little to hold back the car from rocketing forward with authority. There's an elegance to the way the S65 delivers power that's mostly unmatched by everything else on the road. From my experience, only the Bentley Flying Spur, with its ferocious W12, even comes close to mimicking the S65's graceful performance. Funny enough, the V8-powered S63 is actually faster in performance testing, but it's hard to quantify just how different interacting with the two engines is. Where AMG's sweetheart 4.0-liter V8 barks and snarls on its way up and down the rev range, the V12 offers hardly any drama, even with the go pedal almost touching the floor. In a very un-AMG move, there isn't a sport exhaust available on the S65, either. I'd almost say the engine is too quiet, but the S65 has a funny way of making you forget about shortcomings like that. The speeds this thing achieves are hilarious, even without Affalterbach’s typical melodies.

In Comfort mode the S65 exhibits what is easily the least aggressive personality of any AMG product. The suspension is incredibly supple and gives off the impression that the big sedan is gliding over bumps and bruises in the road. Meanwhile, the steering feels relaxed with good weighting, yet requires more input to move the car than something like an AMG GT 4-Door. Mixed with the engine's calm (but powerful) demeanor, these driving characteristics make the S65 a remarkably good cruiser.

If you're expecting a big personality change when switching the S65 to its aggressive Sport Splus mode, well that’s just not the case. Yes, the steering and suspension each firm up a bit, which puts the car on its toes ever so slightly, and the gearbox keeps the revs from dipping below 3,000 to stay in the meatiest part of the power band. But the torque on offer is so mighty – even on the floor of the rev range – that the transmission's heightened state is all but unneeded. That sentiment echoes the S65's sport modes as a whole. They're nice to have, but the car's baseline performance is more than enough, even in Comfort mode.

While future AMG models will somehow manage to be faster, likely with electrified powertrains, there's a charm to this V12 that newer, more efficient vehicles will struggle to replicate. From both an efficiency and performance standpoint, it's not great to have an engine the size of a small piano under the hood, but this torquey monster's temperament makes up for any on-paper losses.

Mounting up evidence against this car and its $265,000 price tag isn't all that hard. Over my few days testing it, I often heard things like “I'd rather have a Bentley,” or “I'd rather have a house.” Although those arguments have merit, they also miss the point. The Final Edition isn't trying to be better than any of its luxury rivals, it's just meant to be a celebration. This black and bronze bomber is an all-out fireworks show grand finale for a beloved generation of S-Class that set a new standard for the current Mercedes lineup. Staring at it from across the street or gunning it down a highway, the Final Edition produces smiles like a car of this caliber should.

In just a few months time, we'll shift our attention to the ninth-generation S-Class, and with it a new chapter for Mercedes-Benz. But before that happens, this was a fantastic final goodbye to the S65, a car that signifies the pinnacle of the company's current abilities.

Mercedes-Benz, in particular the S-Class, has always been ahead of the curve as far as tech and features go. The company is aiming to keep that lead, even as automakers like Tesla and Audi catch up, with its next halo sedan, which could be the most intelligent, connected and screen-heavy vehicle ever.

The standard display in the 2021 Mercedes S-Class is 12.8 inches and features the second generation of its MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system. And this isn’t just for the driver. Sure, he or she gets the central screen, another screen where the gauges would be AND a head-up display, but the passengers in the back get three screens of their own, all of which use the MBUX system and respond to “Hey, Mercedes.” They can also be shared with other passengers.


That voice control system, Mercedes says, is capable of even more dialog, and some functions can be performed without requiring the "Hey, Mercedes" activation words—things like taking a telephone call and displaying the navigation. The system can also tell which passenger said the words with several microphones spaced throughout the car. If the driver says, “I’m tired,” the S-Class switches to its “Energizing” activation program. That system uses the climate control, massage function and even fragrance and interior lights to liven up the drive. You can also use the “Hey, Mercedes” function to explore the vehicle and instruction manual, “Chit-Chat” about general knowledge and control your smart home. The system now supports 27 languages and is capable of learning and changing with time. “Hey, Mercedes, is irregardless a word?”

“It is now.”

The head-up display will use augmented reality when navigating. For instance, using eye tracking, arrows could be projected onto the road lane. It also gives information when using Active Distance Assist. The focal point is set 33 feet out into the road, and “the display area corresponds to a monitor with a 77-inch diagonal.” The image-forming unit consists of 1.3 million individual mirrors.
The new driver display, where the gauges would normally be, is a 3D LCD screen “that is so precisely adjusted to the head position of the view that the left and right eye see different pixels of the LCD.” Voila. 3D without 3D glasses. If your head moves, the driver display adjusts.

On the personalization side, you have your Mercedes “me” account that can be connected using a QR code. All of your favorite radio stations, seat preferences and other preselected settings can come with you to other Mercedes vehicles. It can also recognize you by fingerprint, voice and face recognition. Up to seven profiles are storable.

Mercedes-Benz is going to be revealing more about the new S-Class sedan, landing in September, in the coming weeks and months.

Even diehard BMW and Audi fans must admit that all eyes are on Mercedes whenever a new S-Class debuts. With the W223 scheduled to premiere in September, it’s no wonder the three-pointed star is gradually removing the mascara from its prototypes. As a matter of fact, this near-production test vehicle has hardly any camouflage left, with only sections of the front and rear fascias still hiding underneath the swirly disguise.

We’ve gone through the design changes over and over again, so we don’t want to sound like a broken record. We’ll just point out the handles recessed into the doors to enable a sleeker profile and likely improve aerodynamics a little bit to marginally boost fuel efficiency. The headlights are now sharper than before, while the vertical taillights have made way for horizontal clusters extending onto the trunk lid.

You can’t notice it, but the wheelbase is slightly longer than before. Despite these changes, the new S-Class won’t represent a significant departure from the old one, unless you’ll know where to look. Some will criticize Mercedes for coming out with an enlarged E-Class Sedan facelift, but we’re getting the feeling the two will be more visually differentiated compared to the pre-facelift E and the outgoing S.

The two won’t have anything in common inside the cabin where Mercedes’ revamped flagship will adopt a totally new dashboard design also planned for the EQS, Daimler’s range-topping electric model. It has been pretty much revealed in full in an extensive preview, complete with up to five screens, AR tech for the head-up display, XXL-sized infotainment, and many other high-end tech goodies.

Don’t let the oh-so-familiar exterior trick you into believing the next S-Class will be more of the same in terms of underpinnings. It’ll ride on an all-new platform, which aims to bring more sophistication to an already ultra-posh sedan. Should the Benz-branded not be enough, there’s going to be a new Maybach with even more luxury amenities alongside a V12 AWD derivative exclusive to the Double M model.

Come July 29, Mercedes will preview the new S for a second time, followed by a third and final teaser set for August 12.

The camo doesn't hide much of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, due later this year, but there is plenty of tech still invisible under the skin. The next-gen Mercedes flagship, which will be shown fully in September, will offer plenty of new safety and driver assistance systems, some of them industry-firsts that have not been employed in production cars to this point.

1: Airbags for Rear-Seat Passengers
That's right—rear-seat airbags—and not the curtain kind that pop out of the roof in rollover incidents. Instead, the S-Class will feature wing-shaped airbags in the front seat headrests that will deploy for the benefit of rear-seat passengers in severe frontal collisions. That's not something that's been offered in any prior vehicle, and it's a system that'll work even given the presence of flat screens. Both the driver and passenger side headrests will feature this system, but buyers will have to select the executive rear-seat package to receive them.

"With the new S-Class we are now proudly presenting the world's first frontal airbag for the passengers in the rear," said Dr. Thomas W. Hellmuth, head of body and safety for the S-Class. "The rear airbag with an innovative, tubular structure is unique, allowing it to deploy in a gentle manner. Naturally, the passengers should continue to fasten their seatbelts, and now with the new, illuminated-design belt buckles, putting on seatbelts is even more intuitive."

2: Rear-Axle Steering
Four steerable wheels are better than two, and Mercedes says that the next S-Class, optioned with this system, will be as maneuverable as a compact sedan. The rear wheels will be able to turn 10 degrees for more agile footwork in dense urban areas, and its turning radius will be reduced 7 feet thanks to this ability. The optional rear-wheel steering will be offered in two variants: with a 10-degree angle, or a 4.5-degree angle. That's right, buyers will be able to pick how much steering angle they want.

"The rear-axle steering makes the S-Class as maneuverable as a compact car," said Jürgen Weissinger, chief engineer. "Even for the S-Class with a long wheelbase, the turning radius is reduced to under 36 feet. And thanks to Active Parking Assist with 360-degree camera, the vehicle can fit into tight parking spaces while monitoring whether anybody is moving within that space. When leaving a space, the S-Class keeps a wary eye out for crossing traffic."

3: Active Blind Spot Assist
In dense urban areas, bicyclists are often hurt by car doors that pop open unexpectedly. The new S-Class will be able to detect approaching hazards even before a passenger actually opens the door while the car is parked. How will this work?

"As another feature celebrating its world premiere, the exit warning function now gives a warning as soon as the driver or front passenger reaches for the door," says Dr. Michael Hafner, head of automated driving. "This is because the MBUX Interior Assistant recognizes when a hand approaches the door handle."

When the MBUX Interior Assistant system detects an approaching vehicle or person, a red warning triangle will be displayed in the exterior mirror. Mercedes should call this the Biker Warning System.

4: E-Active Body Control
This will likely be one of the more significant additions to the S-Class repertoire, and it's the same system that has debuted in a number of recent Mercedes SUVs. Each wheel gets a damper with two working chambers that feature an adjustable damping valve along with a hydraulic pressure reservoir. A motor/pump unit forces the hydraulic fluid to be displaced, which creates a difference in pressure within the damper, tilting the car from side to side to compensate for g-forces while cornering, as well as up and down when needed.

"The motor/pump units at all four wheels are coordinated by a central control unit which also actuates the valves and the compressor for the air springs, and therefore always controls the entire suspension system," Mercedes adds.

5: Pre-Safe Impulse Side
One very innovative safety feature—and perhaps one of last resort—will use the same E-Active Body Control to quickly raise the body of the S-Class if the side-mounted radar sensors sense an impending collision.

The S-Class will raise itself by up to 3 inches in such a scenario, in order to let the door sill absorb more of the impact as opposed to just the door itself. The aim of this system is to let the sturdier door frame take more of the impact, versus just the door, and reduce the deformation of the passenger cell.

With a lot of buzz created by the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class' interior and technology, it was only a matter of time until we finally received some solid news about the enthusiast's higher performance, yes still posh, version of the fullsize luxury sedan. As with many manufacturers these days, it seems that the next biggest step to creating sporting potential is to harness an electric powertrain in the most efficient and effective way possible. BMW supposedly as their eyes set on making the M5 electric, so, naturally, Mercedes-Benz wants a piece of that pie, too, albeit with a much larger sedan. The upcoming Mercedes-AMG S63 in all its electrified glory has all but been confirmed, that is, until an article from Car Magazine was released, sharing their impressions on the almost-here S-Class.

While much of the story focuses on the driving dynamics and nifty technology found in the impressive "lower" S500 variant powered by an electrically assisted 3.0-liter inline-six that makes 453 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, the chassis and all the interesting safety systems and driving features all hold promise.

More importantly, the whole engine lineup was obviously hinted at already, stating the availability of two diesels in S350d and S400d trim, a pair of six-cylinders in the S450 and S500, and one V8 in the S580. There will be a V12 with a mild-hybrid system in the Maybach S650, too. But, if you want the fastest S-Class around, you'll want to wait for the S63e AMG, which will do zero to 60 miles per hour in under 3.5 seconds thanks to 800-plus horsepower.

We're pretty sure that those numbers are more or less another confirmation that the S63e AMG is definitely coming soon. It'll most likely be powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with an electric motor, rocking a 603-horsepower combustion engine, and a 201-hp electric motor. Expect more news soon, with the release of the S-Class in September, with the S63e AMG coming the following year.

S500 variant powered by an electrically assisted 3.0-liter inline-six

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-class is set to make its debut this Wednesday, September 2, at 8 a.m. ET live on the Mercedes website and on YouTube.

• Mercedes has already shown off the redesigned interior of the S-class and allowed us to ride in its signature luxury sedan.
• We expect the new S-class to go on sale next year and start around $95,000.

Mercedes-Benz has already described several features of the new 2021 S-class, but the automaker has stopped short of a full debut of its signature luxury sedan. That debut is scheduled for this Wednesday, September 2, and it will be streamed on the Mercedes website at 8 a.m. Eastern time.

Mercedes has been generous in the leadup to the debut, showing off the fully redesigned interior, which sports impressively sized screens throughout. They include a 12.8-inch vertically mounted infotainment screen, a 12.3-inch gauge cluster, 11.6-inch screens on each seatback, and a 7.0-inch MBUX infotainment tablet for the rear occupants.
Earlier this summer, we got to ride in a prototype of the new S-class and found, to nobody's surprise, that the luxuriousness of the sedan has been further refined for 2021. Despite the camouflage covering the exterior of the vehicle, many details—including flush door handles, a long hood, and a larger grille—could still be made out. On Wednesday, we'll bring you the full story on the S-class in detail.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-class to arrive in the U.S. sometime next year and to start around $95,000.

The S-Class stands for the fascination of Mercedes-Benz: legendary and traditional engineering expertise defines the luxury segment in the automobile industry. The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class can be experienced with all the senses - seeing, feeling, hearing and smelling - while offering numerous innovations in the areas of driver assistance, protection and interaction. Mercedes-Benz is shaping the next generation of individual mobility for our times with innovations that place the focus on people. The new S-Class uses digitisation for a car that responds empathetically to the needs and wishes of its driver and passengers.

Modern luxury reaches a new level with the interior of the S-Class. The designers have created a feel-good ambience with lounge character marked by elegance, high quality and airiness. The dashboard with its new architecture, modern surface design and ergonomic display arrangement is a noteworthy highlight. But the feel-good aspect goes even further: With high ride quality and low noise levels as well as an extensive range of ENERGIZING Comfort programs, the S-Class looks after the well-being of its passengers.

The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class has become more intelligent in many areas, including the driving experience, which is taken to the next level. Digital innovations such as in MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) are joined by new developments that increase driving enjoyment while making driving even safer: among them are rear-axle steering with a large steering angle and safety innovations such as the rear airbag. As a new function of PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side, the active E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension can raise the vehicle body (on both sides) just before an impending side impact. Following further systematic developments, the driving assistance systems take another step towards autonomous driving. Thanks to improved environmental sensors, for example, the parking systems provide the driver increased support when maneuvering at low speed. The integration into MBUX further enhances this as the level of visualization enters a whole new dimension.

It was only yesterday when Mercedes unveiled the new S-Class and we’re already turning our attention to future derivatives of the luxobarge. As it turns out, we won’t have to wait a long time for the posh Maybach version as British magazine Autocar has learned the official premiere is scheduled to take place in November. Unsurprisingly, the extra-long sedan will premiere at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China where the Maybach brand has been enjoying great success since its reintroduction a few years ago.

Mercedes has already announced the Maybach S-Class will be the only version of the lineup to still offer the silky smooth V12 engine, a twin-turbo 6.0-liter powerhouse with heaps of power. According to Autocar, its output will remain unchanged, at 621 horsepower and a mountain-moving 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque.

The Benz-branded S-Class is already bigger than its predecessor in both wheelbase configurations, but the fancier Maybach will be stretched furthermore for stellar rear legroom. Aside from the confirmed 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, additional details are not available at the moment of writing. However, Markus Schäfer, board member for Group Research and Development, Procurement and Supplier Quality, told Autocar the Maybach version will be “very differentiated from the long versions.”

In related news, the S-Class lineup will be further diversified with the launch of not one, but two AMG models. While the V12-powered S65 is not coming back, the S63e and S73e will pack a tremendous amount of power. Both are said to combine a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with a rear-mounted electric motor, which will allegedly develop 134 hp in the S63e to enable a combined output of nearly 700 hp. The top dog will employ a 201-hp specification of the electric motor for a grand total of 805 hp.

Both AMG models are believed to be in the final development stages and will share a lithium-ion battery pack with a capacity of approximately 20 kWh. It’s unclear when the two performance versions, but deliveries in the UK won’t start until the middle of next year.

The slow-selling coupe and cabriolet versions are not coming back, while a plug-in hybrid diesel powertrain has also been ruled out even though the E-Class is available in some markets with an electrified diesel. The most advanced setup will be reserved for the EQS, a fully electric flagship coming next year with a far more striking design compared to the conservative S-Class.

Since the market launch in 2015, around 60,000 examples of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class have been delivered worldwide. In 2019, with around 12,000 units, more Mercedes-Maybach S-Class cars were sold than ever before. The growth rate in China was in double figures. Alongside China, the main sales markets in recent years have been Russia, South Korea, the USA and Germany. The new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is set to continue this success story. It combines the perfection and high-tech solutions of the only recently presented Mercedes-Benz flagship model with the exclusivity and tradition of Maybach. The 18 cm longer wheelbase compared to the long variant of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class entirely benefits the rear. Thanks to Executive Seats as standard and the Chauffeur package, the rear section becomes a comfortable working or resting area. They are complemented by exclusive details such as large areas of trim on the rear of the front seats and between the two rear passengers. In a number of markets, sales of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class will commence before the end of 2020. Germany will follow in spring 2021.

"With the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, we are emphasising the progressive, modern approach of its exclusive product portfolio shortly before the 100th anniversary of Mercedes-Maybach automobiles," says Dirk Fetzer, head of Mercedes-Maybach product management. "As they did then, today's customers have high expectations of their exclusivity and individuality, elegant design and first-class standard of finish, all based on the very latest technology. Especially with respect to comfort, safety and design, the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class has unique selling features in the hotly contested luxury segment."

The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class (length/width/height: 5469/1921/1510 millimetres) is a classic three-box saloon. Distinguishing features at the front include the distinctive bonnet with a chromed fin and the Mercedes-Maybach radiator grille. This is highly recognisable by its vertical, three-dimensional trim strips. The word mark MAYBACH is elegantly integrated into the chrome surround of the grille. The rear doors are wider than those of the brother models, and the C-pillars feature a fixed quarterlight. Exclusivity is emphasised by the Maybach brand logo on the C-pillar. On request, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class can be equipped with electrically operated comfort rear doors.

The exclusive appearance of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class can be enhanced by a two-tone paint finish with a dividing line which is applied by hand to the highest quality standards. This is available as optional equipment, as is the DIGITAL LIGHT headlamp technology. This allows new functions, e.g. the projection of guidelines or warning symbols onto the road ahead. In each headlamp, DIGITAL LIGHT has a light module with three extremely powerful LEDs with light that is refracted and directed by 1.3 million micro-mirrors.