Restyling of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223): Here's what changed

Mercedes-Benz has shown the updated S-Class of the 2026 model year. Five years after the debut of the current generation, the company calls this update the most extensive within a single generation of the flagship sedan.

Outside, the S-Class has noticeably changed. The grille has become 20% larger and received four horizontal chrome bars instead of three. For the first time, the model offers illuminated grilles with three-dimensional stars, and the signature star on the hood can also be illuminated — an option primarily aimed at the US and China markets. The lighting has also been updated: the headlights received a new Twin Star pattern, the rear lights have three chrome stars, and the Digital Light system is 40% brighter.

The options list now includes new 20-inch wheels manufactured using high-pressure casting, which allowed for weight reduction and a more elegant design. For fans of a more aggressive style, the AMG Line Plus package is available with extended air intakes, black accents of the Night Package, and dark chrome of the exhaust system.

The most serious changes occurred in the interior. The vertical central display is gone — now the S-Class is equipped by default with the MBUX Superscreen system. It combines a 14.4-inch central screen and a 12.3-inch passenger screen under a common glass, while the 12.3-inch instrument panel remains separate. The ventilation system has also been completely redesigned: instead of four round vents, there is a wide horizontal line that transitions into the doors.

Mercedes has partially abandoned touch elements on the steering wheel: now oscillating keys control the cruise control, and a separate rotary control adjusts the volume. The MBUX voice assistant supports ChatGPT-4o, Microsoft Bing, and Google Gemini, can carry on a conversation while maintaining context, and offers various avatars to choose from. Disney+, YouTube, Amazon Music, and RIDEVU are natively integrated into the multimedia system.

Among the new options are electrically adjustable vents with preset ventilation modes, heated front seat belts up to 44 °C, and removable MBUX control remotes for rear passengers. The screens for the second row have been increased to 33.3 cm and are equipped with HD cameras for video conferencing in Teams, Zoom, and Webex. For the first time, a completely synthetic leather interior is offered for the S-Class.

The engine lineup has also been updated. The V8 in the S 580 4MATIC version (M177 Evo) develops 537 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque and has received a flat crankshaft. The six-cylinder M256 Evo in the S 450 and S 500 is equipped with a more powerful electric compressor and develops a torque of up to 600 Nm (briefly up to 640 Nm). The diesel OM 656 Evo is the first production engine with an electrically heated catalyst to reduce harmful emissions during cold starts.

The S 580 e plug-in hybrid has been increased to 430 kW (585 horsepower) while maintaining an electric range of over 100 km. The armored S 680 Guard remains in the model lineup with a V12 engine producing 612 horsepower and a maximum speed of 210 km/h.

The Airmatic suspension is standard equipment, and the E-Active Body Control system is available as an option. Both systems have received the Intelligent Damping function, which uses Car-to-X data to prepare for road bumps in advance. The fully controlled chassis is now standard equipment for the S-Class: the rear wheels turn at an angle of up to 4.5°, and the version with 10° remains an option.

Mercedes-Benz does not yet disclose information about the prices and release dates of the updated S-Class.

Source: Mercedes-Benz