After months of spy pictures and teasers, Mercedes has revealed its all-new W223 S-Class to the world with confirmation that it's bigger, more spacious and considerably more technologically advanced than its predecessor. That's as bold a promise as ever, given the advancements of the W222, but with over a third of W223s expected to end up in China, tech absolutely had to be at the centre of its all. Although at this stage all variants will use combustion engine power, with the following all-electric EQ S and its bespoke platform set to follow later. As such, the W223 feels like a bridge between two technological eras.
You only need look at the cabin to see it illustrated. On sale this month, the W223 S-Class gets Mercedes's MBUX technology with cutting edge occupant assist features, but it's all embedded into a physical dash layout that retains plenty of traditional features. Yes, there's a big central infotainment screen and an all-digital instrument cluster, and several buttons have been swapped for touch sensitive ones. But it doesn't appear to be overwhelmed with visible tech. Instead, the systems have all been integrated into arguably one of the tidiest cabins currently in production.
Of course, behind the soft leathers and gloss black trim are a plethora of motors and sensors. They're there to contour, massage and support torsos in different driving modes, to softly guide climate control air onto bodies and to minimise fatigue over extended periods of time intelligently. Mercedes's cabin tech can monitor the movements and postures of the S-Class and work to ensure they remain in best health and mood; there are 19 motors in each front seat alone, for crying out loud. If the driver turns their head, the rear window blind automatically opens.
27 languages can be understood by the new MBUX voice control software, which responds to Hey Mercedes as before but is now more able to understand conversational requests, rather than specific commands. And the head-up display projects those augmented reality instructions directly onto the windscreen, to help with navigation, keep the driver informed with minimal effort and generally emphasise that this tech is there to reduce distractions, as much as that may seem hard to believe to some. Adding to this is promise that the W223 will be autonomous capable in certain scenarios from 2021, with over the air updates unlocking the improvement.
The new S-Class can also be integrated into a person's Internet of Things, allowing them to ask the car for an update of how things are at home - with electrical appliances controllable via the voice control system. No more arriving home to a cold oven or wet clothes in the washer-dryer, then. This control works for both front and rear passengers, too, an important trait because over 90 per of W223 buyers are expected to opt for the long wheelbase, as was the case with the old car. If they do, they're granted an S-Class offering 24mm of extra rear legroom. The short wheelbase car has 41mm more than before, thanks to the 71mm longer spacing between front axles.
Interestingly, though, the UK won't be given the most equipped S-Class offering, not at least to begin with. For example, the W223 is available with up to five screens, but not in Britain. Also, the rear frontal airbag Mercedes has developed, which is not included in the launch car's options list. Same goes for the four-wheel steering and ingenious E-Active Body Control, which uses the Merc's 48v architecture to control the air suspension for maximum absorption of bumps and even additional protection in the event of a side-on collision. It does that by angling the car's strong sills at the approaching vehicle.
While these features aren't offered on the W223 at launch, though, there's every chance they'll be added at a later date. A Mercedes spokesperson said that a customer really wanting some features should talk to their retailer. Rear-wheel steering may be available on request, for example, which suggests it's a demand issue rather than one of compatibility. Those to opt for the four-wheel steering would cut two metres from the car's turning circle. It's also said to improve agility and enhance stability, as is almost always the case with these two-axle turning systems of late.
At first at least, British buyers will only be offered the S350d, S400d and S500, with the latter getting EQ Boost MHEV hardware and producing 435hp from its inline six-based powertrain. AMG variants are due with the V8, as are plug-in hybrids and that fully electric EQ S at later dates. We'd be surprised to not see them make it to the UK; although it's true that China and the European mainland remain at the focal point of the S-Class offering, so perhaps those markets will receive each variant first. We'll eagerly await that lot because while this new S-Class is nothing short of a tech fest on wheels, there's very clearly much more to come from that W223 base. And from what can be seen so far, it looks to be another impressive addition to the lineage.
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