The Mercedes S-Class facelift (W223) was unveiled at the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart, marking the occasion on which the Stuttgart-based manufacturer celebrated 140 years since the invention of the automobile.
More attractive design
The Mercedes S-Class facelift comes with a grille that is 20% larger than before, now featuring four horizontal bars instead of three, with tiny, hot-stamped stars in a chrome finish placed between them. For the first time in the history of the S-Class, the grille and the Mercedes logo on the hood can be illuminated.
With a new twin-star headlamp design featuring Digital Light, the S-Class boasts a distinctive look by day and night. Another innovation is the optional integrated light projector in the side sills, which casts Mercedes-Benz lettering onto the ground to welcome and bid farewell. The rear has also been reimagined: new taillights with three chrome-framed stars reinforce both the model and brand image.
Three new trim designs are available for the front and rear center console: open-pore oak, a native wood that brings a natural surface character to the S-Class; open-pore amber-brown fishbone-pattern wood, where walnut features a V-groove and is precisely tailored to shape; and, as a technical-luxury counterpoint, a high-gloss metallic textile blend.
The Manufaktur program has been expanded, with new Manufaktur colors and options now available. Customers can choose from 150 new exterior colors and 400 new interior colors.
The S-Class facelift can be ordered with wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches, with particular attention drawn to the new 20-inch multi-spoke wheels manufactured using a high-pressure casting process. Optionally, AMG Line and AMG Line Plus packages are available.
More luxurious interior
Mercedes has taken customer feedback into account and has returned to physical buttons on the steering wheel. These include rocker switches for the speed limiter and Distronic, as well as a roller for volume control. For the first time, seat belts are heated, featuring integrated heating wires that warm up to 44°C.
Also debuting for the first time, Mercedes offers the Digital Vent Control system, which allows the front and rear air vents to be oriented in eight preset positions that can be memorized and activated via the MBUX Virtual Assistant. At the same time, the air vents can still be adjusted manually.
Several rear-seat configurations are available:
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Electrically adjustable seats with backrests reclining up to 37 degrees
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Rear Comfort Package with ventilated seats and Thermotronic automatic climate control in the rear
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Rear Comfort Package Plus with massage function, Chauffeur package, Executive seats with backrests adjustable up to 43.5 degrees (on the long-wheelbase version)
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First Class with two individual rear seats
New multimedia system
The Mercedes S-Class does away with the portrait-style screen and now comes standard with the MBUX Superscreen from the E-Class, featuring two displays under a single glass surface: a 14.4-inch central display and a 12.3-inch passenger display. The multimedia system includes an improved Zero Layer function. As before, the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is optionally available in 3D. The Dual Light Control (DLC) technology for the passenger display, developed by Mercedes-Benz, prevents content from being visible to the driver peripherally when required.
The MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment System with two 13.1-inch displays is now available with individual detachable remote controls and interior cameras, turning every seat into a meeting space. With these remote controls, rear passengers can control the MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment system, adjust the volume, set the ambient lighting, configure the rear climate control, and operate seat functions such as adjustment, heating, ventilation, and massage.
They can even close the opaque roller blinds on the rear and side windows for privacy whenever desired. The remotes are stored in a docking station with a lock/unlock mechanism in the fold-down armrest or Business Console, yet remain fully operable when removed—allowing passengers, for example, to recline the seat, start a massage, and adjust the temperature while selecting content on the rear screens without needing to reach for a display.
The MBUX Surround Navigation system shows a real-time view of the vehicle and its surroundings. It seamlessly combines the driving assistance view with a 3D representation of the surroundings and route guidance on the driver display, showing other road users such as cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrians.
For the first time in the S-Class, the navigation system uses Google Maps, and Mercedes is among the first manufacturers to offer Google Cloud’s new Automotive AI Agent for in-vehicle conversational services with Google Maps. Optionally, as before, the MBUX Augmented Reality Head-Up Display is available, projecting key guidance cues such as arrows, lane recommendations, and points of interest seemingly onto the road ahead.
More than 40 apps can be installed, including audio, video, productivity, and entertainment applications. For the first time, user-specific app folders can be created.
Customers can choose between two top-tier audio systems: Burmester 3D Surround and Burmester High-End 4D Surround (39 speakers, 4 exciters, 1,750 W, and Dolby Atmos). Tactile transducers integrated into the seats vibrate and pulse in time with the music, allowing occupants to literally feel their favorite tracks.
New engines
As announced two weeks ago, the engine lineup has been substantially revised. Here are the updates:
New V8 M177 Evo
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The Mercedes S 580 4Matic receives the new V8 M177 Evo engine with a flat-plane crankshaft, now producing 537 PS and 750 Nm, paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system featuring an electric motor delivering 23 PS and 205 Nm. The new engine includes a series of modifications, such as a refined injection system, optimized intake and exhaust ports, a revised intake camshaft, and improvements to the compressor wheel and turbocharger housing. Maximum torque of 750 Nm is available across a wide range, from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm.
New inline-six petrol M256 Evo
The inline-six engine receives a more powerful compressor (in addition to the turbocharger, this engine features a small mechanical compressor that ensures sufficient boost pressure until the turbo comes online), a cylinder head with optimized intake and exhaust ports, and a revised intake camshaft. It is equipped with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology with a 23 PS and 205 Nm electric motor. It is available in the S 450 4Matic and S 500 4Matic.
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The Mercedes S 450 4Matic, powered by the 3.0-liter M256 Evo inline-six, now produces 381 PS and 560 Nm—an increase of 14 PS and 60 Nm over the previous engine.
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The Mercedes S 500 4Matic, also powered by the 3.0-liter M256 Evo inline-six, retains the same output of 449 PS, but torque has increased from 560 to 600 Nm, with an overboost function that briefly raises maximum torque to 640 Nm.
New inline-six diesel OM656 Evo
The major innovation is the world premiere of an electrically heated catalytic converter, which brings the exhaust system into the optimal temperature range early and ensures efficient temperature maintenance throughout the entire driving cycle. The diesel engine also features 48-volt mild-hybrid technology with a 23 PS and 205 Nm electric motor.
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Mercedes S 350 d 4Matic produces 313 PS and 650 Nm, unchanged
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Mercedes S 450 d 4Matic produces 367 PS and 750 Nm, unchanged
PHEV
Both PHEV models receive increased output:
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Mercedes S 450e now produces 435 PS and 680 Nm, up from 408 hp and 650 Nm, thanks to a more powerful turbocharged inline-six petrol engine delivering 326 PS and 540 Nm (previously 299 PS and 450 Nm) and a stronger electric motor producing 163 PS and 480 Nm (previously 150 PS and 440 Nm).
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Mercedes S 580e 4Matic now produces 585 PS and 750 Nm, up from 510 PS and 750 Nm, thanks to a more powerful turbocharged inline-six petrol engine delivering 449 PS and 560 Nm (previously 367 PS and 500 Nm) and a stronger electric motor producing 163 PS and 480 Nm (previously 150 PS and 440 Nm).
Rear-axle steering and suspension
All Mercedes S-Class facelift models come standard with rear-axle steering featuring a 4.5-degree angle and Airmatic air suspension.
Rear-axle steering with a 10-degree angle is optional, as is the E-Active Body Control suspension. The 10-degree rear-axle steering reduces the turning circle by almost 2 meters on the long-wheelbase version.
The Airmatic air suspension features intelligent damper regulation, providing significantly greater comfort over long speed bumps, which are particularly common in southern Europe and the USA. Speed bumps are detected via dedicated vehicle sensors and stored in the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud for up to 14 days, allowing the system to prepare the suspension in advance whenever another equipped vehicle approaches the same obstacle. This intelligent suspension control can be combined with both the standard Airmatic air suspension and the optional active E-Active Body Control suspension. The function was developed in-house by Mercedes-Benz and is patented.
The Mercedes S-Class facelift can be ordered starting January 30, 2026, with prices starting at 121,356.20 euros for the Mercedes S 350 d 4Matic.
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