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

[shakti]

Timing is just confirmed, looks like, that I will have this week the opportunity to drive (better co drive) the new S-class on the race track in Spa / Belgium .

As AMG will demonstrate the „Red Pig“, I hope to get some information about the upcoming AMG version too.

Hopefully I can make some pictures too.

 

[klier]

Timing is just confirmed, looks like, that I will have this week the opportunity to drive (better co drive) the new S-class on the race track in Spa / Belgium .

That's amazing. Even more so considering there's some major changes on the track with these new buildings and walkway and stuff!

 

[shakti]

just some details of the new S-class
from todays Mercedes employee presentation @Maastricht CAC

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

just some details of the new S-class
from todays Mercedes employee presentation @Maastricht CAC

It appears now even the standard leather has a quilting pattern on it. A nice touch.

Thank you for the photos mate.

What impressions are you able to share with us?

 

[Rolf]

I like the front styling of the FL S-class, in these pics you can notice how they emphasized the grill to stand out.

As for the interior changes, I think it's a mixed bag. I am glad Mercedes has added more wood trim to the front doors and the center console is matching the wood trim on the doors, but I am disappointed they didnt add the extra wood to the rear doors and left them the same as the pre FL model with the fugly piano black shiny trim. The biggest disappointment is the look of the vents front and rear seat, I think they look very cheap for a car in this price bracket with the black plastic surround trim and much prefer the pre FL metal vents.

Pre FL rear seat metal vents>

FL rear seat vents:

Pre FL Front seat vents:

FL front seat vents:

 

[lukeswiss]

I like the front styling of the FL S-class, in these pics you can notice how they emphasized the grill to stand out.

As for the interior changes, I think it's a mixed bag. I am glad Mercedes has added more wood trim to the front doors and the center console is matching the wood trim on the doors, but I am disappointed they didnt add the extra wood to the rear doors and left them the same as the pre FL model with the fugly piano black shiny trim. The biggest disappointment is the look of the vents front and rear seat, I think they look very cheap for a car in this price bracket with the black plastic surround trim and much prefer the pre FL metal vents.

Pre FL rear seat metal vents>

FL rear seat vents:

Pre FL Front seat vents:

FL front seat vents:

Yeah, the old vents felt bespoke, and the new ones feel like something wedged into the hyper screen. It's a shame because that end cap looks like a separate piece, I feel they had other option.

 

[shakti]

Fortunately Petra, an experienced Ing from the Mercedes S-class interior Team was available during the event and she helped to understand the new elements.

Some were driven by customer feedback, like the additional and easier accessible charger areas for phones or the double remote for the rear seats.

Some were designed to integrate next level technologies, like the vents, which are now motor driven with automatic adjustments to serve all people in the car better.

Apart from the big screen it was sure, that some costsavings needed to be integrated as well, but smart and not too obvious.

Petra likes, what the colleagues from Manufaktur can do and ( to my personal understanding) she likes more luxury and functional elements than too sporty accessorized interiors

Being a co driver on the new S-class showed nothing special compared to the previous version, the mirrors might be a little less noisier than the previous version.

But as my personal S has the Turanza Maybach tires and the FL S-class was on winter tires, the new one was driving with much more noise, that I am used to, so difficult to focus on isolated mirror wind noise .

The new V8 was very smooth, the NVH spec follows Mercedes S-class needs, so different sound to the original AMG usage.

Will be interesting to see, if the V8 engine will change the NVH character again for the Maybach implementation.

Regarding the S-500 6cyl I was not able to recognize a difference to the previous version ( which is in my car) , but the ride was on the comfortable side, so it might be, that in sport or sport+ differences will occur.

Anyhow, I loved to be in Spa and to see the 2 existing Red Pig Cars in real and in such a small group.

 

[AndreB]

Cost reduction 101

 

[shakti]

Retro: Op historische gronden - Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse doet op wereldtournee Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps aan | Autosport.nl

Een replica van de Rote Sau, de 300 SEL 6.8, en een S 63 met een vergelijkbare bestickeringEen Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse voor een toerwagenrace? Vandaag...

autosport.nl

if you are interested to read more about the event,
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[PINHEAD]

From the film Nuremberg

 

[SKY]

From the film Nuremberg

I mistook the S on the last pic for a W214 E-Class...

 

[PINHEAD]

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[Rolf]

I mistook the S on the last pic for a W214 E-Class...

At a quick glance it is easy to mistake it for an E-class, especially with black exterior and those Mercedes emblem tail lights.

 

[Rolf]

I mistook the S on the last pic for a W214 E-Class...

At a quick glance it is easy to mistake it for an E-class, especially with black exterior and those Mercedes emblem tail lights.

 

[MAJESTIC]

I mistook the S on the last pic for a W214 E-Class...

Same thing happened with the W222 and 213...

 

[Swissbob]

Same thing happened with the W222 and 213...

And A205 and A217 at night.

 

[GTA45E]

Mercedes cost-savings parts bin #102:
The upcoming GLS and GLE refresh will share the same hvac vents as the refreshed S-Class. It's a shame, really.
The previous ones look better and were unique to the S. The refreshed GLE/GLS will enjoy a nice-looking customizable wooden panel beneath the large screens with better-looking supply vents on-center, much like the electric GLC. This would have looked great on the refreshed S-Class. Another cost-saving, overlooked opportunity.

 

[Swissbob]

Mercedes cost-savings parts bin #102:
The upcoming GLS and GLE refresh will share the same hvac vents as the refreshed S-Class. It's a shame, really.
The previous ones look better and were unique to the S. The refreshed GLE/GLS will enjoy a nice-looking customizable wooden panel beneath the large screens with better-looking supply vents on-center, much like the electric GLC. This would have looked great on the refreshed S-Class. Another cost-saving, overlooked opportunity.

Better than expected tbh, but I prefer the current one, because I don’t like the passenger displays.

The air vents looks terrible sorry.

 

[Merc1]

I don’t see an issue here. The GLS and GLE need something and the skateboard screen works better in a SUV IMO.

M

 

[Rolf]

I think this vertical screen layout looks neater and better integrated in the GLE/GLS dash than the superscreen on the FL S-class. Its a pity they shared the same vents, that does smell of a little cost cutting but its not a serious thing as the vents on the EQ models all look the same anyway.
Even BMW are sharing vent design nowadays with the 5 series and 7 series just having no visible vents and just a slit in the dash.