S-Class (W223) Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223) Facelift

[leylandi]

My excitement has died, at least for now, since the first novelty of the year turned out to be a disappointment.

 

[Merc1]

Amazing amount of attention being lavished on a facelift.

Now...bring on genuinely new products such as the C-Class EQ and the AMG.EA 4 door GT sedan and SUV.

I don't expect much from the C EV.

M

 

[Dopebouy]

Amazing amount of attention being lavished on a facelift.

Now...bring on genuinely new products such as the C-Class EQ and the AMG.EA 4 door GT sedan and SUV.

i’m more excited to hear this new V8, anybody got a sound of it rolling yet?

 

[Dopebouy]

My excitement has died, at least for now, since the first novelty of the year turned out to be a disappointment.

same

 

[Centurion]

I wrote cheap looking, on the pictures it looks really cheap IMHO.

I saw and felt the veganza of the current X3, I wasn’t very keen on that TBH.

I guess the X7 has a higher quality vegan leather.

Vegan or not, cheaper cars tend to use lower quality material. The vegan leather in the X7 LCI is even nicer and softer than non-nappa leather offered by BMW.

 

[Design FIRST]

I don't expect much from the C EV.

M

In terms of exterior and interior design, neither do I. Actually, the same is beginning to apply regarding the AMG.EA 4 door GT and the E-Class EQ. Hoping to be proven wrong, though.

But M-B fortunately remains very exciting in terms of cutting edge technology and engineering. I'm confident that we will be seeing further evidence of this soon, pertaining especially to electric powertrains.

Design ? It may take some time before upcoming production vehicles with designs that have long been "frozen" are "flushed from the system" before something genuinely new and hopefully sustainably fascinating makes a debut. Being pretty old myself, I'm hoping that I'll be able to cognitively witness it.

 

[Merc1]

In terms of exterior and interior design, neither do I. Actually, the same is beginning to apply regarding the AMG.EA 4 door GT and the E-Class EQ. Hoping to be proven wrong, though.

But M-B fortunately remains very exciting in terms of cutting edge technology and engineering. I'm confident that we will be seeing further evidence of this soon, pertaining especially to electric powertrains.

Design ? It may take some time before upcoming production vehicles with designs that have long been "frozen" are "flushed from the system" before something genuinely new and hopefully sustainably fascinating makes a debut. Being pretty old myself, I'm hoping that I'll be able to cognitively witness it.

I don't think those dedicated AMG EVs will bring much to the table interior wise. I expect a very bare, spartan interior with 2 screens and some small switchgear, but nothing truly ground breaking. The emphasis in those cars will be the EV tech which had better be cutting edge for at least 12 months which is seemingly an eternity in the EV tech race. The SUV will of course sell better than the sedan.

M

 

[leylandi]

It somehow manages to look visually appealing from the outside, but no matter what I do, the terrible console ruins it.

 

[Merc1]

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M

 

[Design FIRST]

I don't think those dedicated AMG EVs will bring much to the table interior wise. I expect a very bare, spartan interior with 2 screens and some small switchgear, but nothing truly ground breaking.

M

I suspect that we will be witnessing some significant innovation regarding the digital replication of natural surfaces, such as open pore wood veneers or carbonfibre weaving. Not only the uncannily accurate visual replication, but also rapid innovation in digital haptics. As the criticism of vast expanses of glossy black screen surfaces is so common, I trust that manufacturers have been working on this intensively.

 

[Merc1]

I suspect that we will be witnessing some significant innovation regarding the digital replication of natural surfaces, such as open pore wood veneers or carbonfibre weaving. Not only the uncannily accurate visual replication, but also rapid innovation in digital haptics. As the criticism of vast expanses of glossy black screen surfaces is so common, I trust that manufacturers have been working on this intensively.

I really hope so, but I still don't why Mercedes didn't take this step with this facelift, by removing the gloss black. A solid plank of wood and seat controls floating on the wood surface would have been a killer change here.

M

 

[Jacke]

Why couldnt they add this as an option … it would’ve been a nobrainer

 

[Merc1]

Why couldnt they add this as an option … it would’ve been a nobrainer

Then the complaint would be that they didn't go far enough or that they did a copy/paste. An upscale variation of this might have worked. Possibly.

M

 

[shakti]

During yesterday’s Presentation Ola gave an interesting number to the public.
Last years take rate on Manufaktur specified S-class were around 50%.

This is one of the reasons, they extended the Manufaktur offering by far.

I had yesterday the unique opportunity to see the new Maybach as well, so I am expecting eve more to come for the S-class Manufaktur options.

 

[Swissbob]

Manufaktur should at least on the Maybach offer the option to get rid of the black plastic on the doors.

This is the biggest problem of the current interior.

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

I really hope so, but I still don't why Mercedes didn't take this step with this facelift, by removing the gloss black. A solid plank of wood and seat controls floating on the wood surface would have been a killer change here.

M

Should at least be an option to trim the seat controls in wood veneer.

The hyperscreen usage I think is them just having to live with the consequences of creating it in the first place. They've got all the parts and committed to the supply chain so they have to use it or risk writing inventory off.

Utter foolishness. Whichever "designer" came up with the hyperscreen and whichever exec approved it, should be banished. There's no real design. It's just a shape with a sheet of glass layed over the top.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

So there it is, the facelifted S class. Though I haven't driven it yet, a few comments:

- the rear is not better than the pre FL, but ok;
- the front lost a lot of it's sophistication and elegance. Especially AMG-line looks a bit overdrawn, silly even;
- the fact that you can further individualize your car is great, but the costs associated with it are absurdly high. Example? That new black colour, with the glass flakes in it: € 8.700;
- I have been told that the normal metallic paint is no longer standard equipment like in the pre FL and that you now have to pay extra for it;
- 4 Matic only. It's a bit stupid, that you're obligated to order an AWD, even if you don't want it or need it. It was one of the reasons, I didn't order a G70 7 series;
- and now the interior, sigh... the superscreen I consider to be a deterioration, a step backwards compared to the previous situation. It allready looks old now, just imagine how quickly this will appear outdated;
- the middle console looks nice and it's good to see brown open pore wood is back;
- the enhanced suspension is a clear benefit.

I'd never thought, I'd be saying this, but of the usual 3 suspects, Audi with it's 7 or 8 years old A8, offers the nicest and finest interior, by far...

PS @Mercedes, just the fact that one can afford the new S, doesn't mean one is willing to pay for it, when the product and its price are no longer in alignment.

 

[Jacke]

During yesterday’s Presentation Ola gave an interesting number to the public.
Last years take rate on Manufaktur specified S-class were around 50%.

This is one of the reasons, they extended the Manufaktur offering by far.

I had yesterday the unique opportunity to see the new Maybach as well, so I am expecting eve more to come for the S-class Manufaktur options.

how was the maybach? all the same or different

 

[SKY]

So there it is, the facelifted S class. Though I haven't driven it yet, a few comments:

- the rear is not better than the pre FL, but ok;
- the front lost a lot of it's sophistication and elegance. Especially AMG-line looks a bit overdrawn, silly even;
- the fact that you can further individualize your car is great, but the costs associated with it are absurdly high. Example? That new black colour, with the glass flakes in it: € 8.700;
- I have been told that the normal metallic paint is no longer standard equipment like in the pre FL and that you now have to pay extra for it;
- 4 Matic only. It's a bit stupid, that you're obligated to order an AWD, even if you don't want it or need it. It was one of the reasons, I didn't order a G70 7 series;
- and now the interior, sigh... the superscreen I consider to be a deterioration, a step backwards compared to the previous situation. It allready looks old now, just imagine how quickly this will appear outdated;
- the middle console looks nice and it's good to see brown open pore wood is back;
- the enhanced suspension is a clear benefit.

I'd never thought, I'd be saying this, but of the usual 3 suspects, Audi with it's 7 or 8 years old A8, offers the nicest and finest interior, by far...

PS @Mercedes, just the fact that one can afford the new S, doesn't mean one is willing to pay for it, when the product and its price are no longer in alignment.

Thanks for the detailed review Mick. Will you keep your W223? Maybe it’s best to wait for the W224.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Thanks for the detailed review Mick. Will you keep your W223? Maybe it’s best to wait for the W224.

Hi Sky, It has been clear to me for several months now that I am waiting for the W224.