Mercedes positions S-Class as pinnacle of tech, luxury

The S-Class sedan — a key halo car and profit generator for Mercedes-Benz — is getting an overhaul that steers the standard-bearer of old-world luxury into the hip, new digital age.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class will roll into U.S. stores in the spring. Pricing has not been disclosed.

The S-Class represents the pinnacle of Mercedes luxury, innovation and technology, if not volume. Sales of the sedan in the U.S. last year tallied 12,528, compared with the 22,225 GLS SUVs sold.

"New-money customers such as TikTok stars and tech bros will gravitate to the brand's flagship SUVs, but the old-money gentleman will arrive in his S-Class," AutoPacific analyst Ed Kim said.

The redesigned S-Class is powered by a lineup of turbocharged engines. The 500 4MATIC model sports a 3.0-liter inline-six turbo that delivers 429 hp. The 580 4MATIC is powered by a 4.0-liter V-8 biturbo with 496 hp. Both variants are equipped with EQ Boost, which provides up to an additional 21 hp for short bursts.

Mercedes says the S-Class' handling is improved because of new rear-axle features, which among other things reduce the turning radius for the long-wheelbase version by almost 2 meters to 10.9 meters, far better than most cars its size.

An electric 48-volt pump replaces the previous hydraulic one to more quickly adjust ride height. In combination with the air suspension, Mercedes says it offers a smoother ride, since it can continuously adjust to various road surfaces.

The exterior of the new S-Class is an evolution of Mercedes' design, with a wider, sensor-laden grille and horizontal rear lights that extend into the trunk lid.

The minimalist interior, awash in high-resolution pixels, is more a revolution. The 2021 S-Class is equipped with up to five displays. The dashboard features a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch touch screen OLED multimedia display.

The new S-Class is heavy on tech — it debuts the next generation of Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system. Options include a 30-speaker 4D surround sound system and a head-up display that overlays navigational directions onto the windshield through augmented reality.

To help offset all that distraction and take some of the drudgery out of driving, the S-Class is equipped with the latest suite of assisted driving and safety technology.

The S-Class will debut Level 3 assisted-driving technology in Germany in the second half of 2021 and is equipped with hardware to support Level 4 autonomy. An infrared camera embedded in the instrument cluster registers the driver's facial expression and eyelid movement to recognize distraction and drowsiness.

The S-Class model range, like the sedan, will get an overhaul. Mercedes is jettisoning the coupe and convertible, replacing them with a battery- electric model. The Mercedes EQS is expected to arrive in the U.S. in late 2021. The EV will offer about 435 miles of range, based on the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Vehicle Test Procedure.