The emperor’s new clothes: The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class has arrived

It’s hard to believe that the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is only in its seventh generation. For almost 50 years, Stuttgart’s flagship sedan has been the standard by which all luxury sedans are judged. And that’s not counting the brand’s range-topping models like the Ponton (W180), Fintail (W111), and Stroke 8 (W108) that date back from 1954 to 1965.  

The first S-Class is officially the W116 of 1972. Each of the succeeding S-Class models have cemented Mercedes’s stranglehold on the luxury sedan class—all the way to the all-new W223 model that just made its Philippine debut last Wednesday. 

Auto Nation Group, Inc (ANG), the official importer and distributor of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the country, has officially unveiled the new S-Class in a virtual public launch held at the official Facebook and YouTube pages of Mercedes-Benz Philippines (preceded by a media press con via Zoom).

“The new S-Class has undergone the most extensive refinement process in the history of Mercedes-Benz,” says Frankie Ang, Chief Operating Officer at Auto Nation Group, Inc. “The brand did to the new S-Class what it does best – putting the customers in the center. It can now be experienced with all the senses – seeing, feeling, hearing, and smelling – while offering impressive innovations in the areas of driver assistance, protection, and interaction.”

The S-Class has always been a design icon. From previous generations to the current model, the S-Class is a testament of timeless elegance and sophistication.

The dimensions have grown – with an expansive hood, short overhang, long wheelbase, flowing C-pillar and balanced rear overhang, the S-Class is designed as a classical sedan with perfect proportions. Through the long wheelbase and AMG Design line, it helps underscore the expressive character of the car highlighted by a 21-inch multi-spoke AMG wheels. The front section is also notable with the gleaming star standing proud above the radiator grille. This new exterior defines the brand’s distinct design philosophy of ‘sensual purity’ in its most modern form.

The face of the new S-Class highlights the way forward in the dark with its innovative Digital Light Headlights with its new ‘three-dot design.’ These headlights represent one of the amazing innovations with more than one million pixels per headlamp that provides optimal lighting for every driving situation. The seamless door handles are a completely new development. The handles automatically extend when you approach the car and retract when the doors are locked.

The broad emphasis of the rear is highlighted by the new two-piece horizontal taillamps with 3D-like display, sequential indicator lamps, dual exhaust tailpipes, and a rear diffuser. 

Comfort and luxury are absolute priorities in the new S-Class. Rear seat passengers can simply recline the highly adjustable plush power seats, extend the legrest, and give themselves a relaxing massage. The trendsetting interior can be experienced with almost all senses – sight, touch, hearing, and smell. The executive seats are an automotive benchmark for luxury travel. Fine Nappa leather with elegant diamond patterns further elevate the experience of contemporary luxury.

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The new S-Class brings the Mercedes-Benz User Experience to each passenger at the back with its high-end rear seat entertainment system and two fully integrated 11.6-inch touch displays with a brilliant graphic quality – paired with crisp and powerful 3D sound quality of the Burmester 3D surround sound system with 15 speakers and a total system output of 710 watts. Passengers can watch movies or simply browse the internet in the comfort of their own seats. The system can be easily controlled by touch through the MBUX rear tablet in the armrest or simply by saying “Hey Mercedes” and asking it to give you a hot stone massage. The new S-Class is more interactive than ever, with everything accessible from your seat. Passengers even have a refrigerated compartment by the center of the arm rest.

Active Ambient Lighting provides a serene ambiance to suit each passenger’s mood with lights strips that appear almost out of nowhere, and are conspicuously located in the instrument panel, continues along the doors, and into the rear. It increasingly boosts a feel-good vibe while on the road while also enhancing the passenger’s safety by showing visual warnings of any danger.

The design innovation continues to the front—driving the S-Class proves to be a pleasurable experience as well. With its interior architecture inspired by a yacht-like design concept, the S-Class is equipped with exquisite materials and fine surfaces. The slim and elegant 12.3-inch OLED touchscreen is the centerpiece of the S-Class’ cockpit. Its MBUX system also got smarter—it gets to know you and keeps on learning.

Behind the wheel, you will be greeted by an atmosphere of pure luxury. Loaded with state-of-the-art technology and innovation. It can recognize your fingerprint and remember your personal settings – and responds to your natural voice.

Driving an S-Class also means confidence on the road with a sense of perfect control. Everything is well positioned and driver-oriented, either at a hand’s reach or with the command of your voice. It has a host of driver assistance systems such as the Active Distance Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Brake Assist, Active Parking Assist, and a whole lot more that make for a semi-autonomous driving experience for the driver. Everything is about minimalism and ease of use.

Despite the car’s imposing size and weight, the new S-Class is definitely no slouch. Its 3.0-liter, inline-6 engine with 4MATIC All-Wheel Drive now has an EQ Boost mild-hybrid system, and puts out 435hp and a huge 520Nm of torque. This is mated to a 9-speed automatic, all controlled by the DIRECT SELECT gear lever located by the steering wheel.

You can select among 5 different driving modes with the DYNAMIC SELECT switch, which is paired with the AIRMATIC air suspension to help the new S-Class react sensitively to the unevenness of the roads.

Not surprisingly, the new S-Class sets a benchmark in automotive safety with its intelligent rear seat airbag for frontal impacts. Thanks to being comprehensively equipped with a range of innovative safety and assistance systems, the new S-Class can provide palpable stress relief and support, while helping to avoid hazardous situations, for example, through all-round monitoring of the vehicle’s surroundings by the new PRE-SAFE Impulse system.

And now with the pandemic, the new S-Class levels up your protection with its whole cabin with air filtration, ionizations, and fragrancing. Passengers can breathe in clean and fragrant air. Everything was well thought of to ensure that every journey is relaxing and pleasant, with the highest level of confidence that the S-Class cares for you.

The new S-Class, which has a retail price of Php17 million for the S500 (the sole variant initially available), will be available for viewing in all Mercedes-Benz dealerships at Mercedes-Benz EDSA-Greenhills (02) 8784 5001/ 0939 937 2009, Mercedes-Benz Bonifacio Global City (02) 8815 7777/ 0920 974 4575, Mercedes-Benz Alabang (02) 8553-6334 / 0905 435 2840, and Mercedes-Benz Cebu (32) 260 3333/ 0917 718 2369. (Strict health and safety protocols are implemented for a worry-free visit. You may also visit their online showroom www.mercedes-benz.ph for more details.)