S-Class (W222/C217/A217) [Spyshots] Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222) Facelift Spy Pics & Info

[Wunderkind]

We have a S320 in Hong Kong and it's also sold other parts of Asia.

 

[HUTSUTAo]

We have a S320 in Hong Kong and it's also sold other parts of Asia.

how does the spec differ from the s400? Is it a spec down version or is it just a s400 with a detuned engine?

 

[Wunderkind]

how does the spec differ from the s400? Is it a spec down version or is it just a s400 with a detained engine?

The S320 has 272hp. No wood trim on the steering wheel, cheaper headlights, and no-frills spec.

The S400 (non-hybrid) has 336hp I think.

 

[Amat46]

It's about damn time, even though this is 2 months earlier than I expected. I called it and knew by this point a W222 facelift was approved in the first half of this year, despite not much discussion on that subject (mostly outside of GCF).



Thank you GTA8.5 for this information.

As usual, World Car Fans could not be bothered to get the bloody information entirely right, as it will NOT go on sale next year. I really do not understand how many websites that are in this business, cannot put out accurate information and are more often misleading.

One has known for many years, how long it takes for an S-Class face-lift to go through testing, let alone overall development. It is not going on sale next year, simple as that. You will not see something like this, then expect a quick unveiling. Didn't happen with the GLE (spied in late 2013, barely on sale) and GLS (barely unveiled), therefore it will not happen with this either.



I had mentioned much of last year and from late 2013, that the W222 S-Class facelift would be frozen (or reach mid-development) in the first half of 2015 and spy shots would surface in the fourth quarter of 2015 or Q1 2016.

Development of the next generation S-Class began a year ago and its design programme is now underway, in the early stages. Final selection is going to be in 2017, barring no unforeseen delays. In that instance, it is not finished yet. Whether it will be called W223, W230, or W300 is the question. The uniformity in chassis codes since the introduction of the W220, makes me wonder what's behind that.

As great as the W222 has been, it will be superseded by a revolutionary product in half a decade's time. Most product planning, especially that of vehicles in this segment, has a facelift's design approval somewhat paralleling or immediately preceding the commencement of the successor's own design programme.

Upon presentation or market launch of the incumbent model's mid-cycle or visible updates, is when the successor is signed-off in the design department (programme approval) or reaches midway in the overall programme.

W213 design work began in 2011, just as the W212 facelift was frozen. The final proposal was done circa January 2013, just as the W212.5 was unveiled.

On a side note, German Car Forum and its members commendably are amongst the few that prove to be very knowledgeable about how the automotive industry ACTUALLY works and have a very impressive collective intellect in that regard. Essentially most of us are aware that massive, labor-intensive programmes are not done in a vacuum and require precise, concrete targets and generous lead times.

The S-Class, is a perfect example of this. Daimler AG has been generous enough to the public, to highlight the efforts undertaken to make certain projects possible, while sensibly guarding the intellectual property in the same breath. Outside of BMW AG, the rest of their competitors prove to be quite insecure in this regard and too vague to the detriment of the public's enrichment.



I'd shoot a guess and say that it will have slimmer headlights? I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments, but the next one is far from done in that aspect and is in the early stages of design. I don't think MB ever approves a mid-cycle facelift design the same year as the successor's design.

I believe that only happened once under Bruno Sacco in 1995, with both the W202 facelift (mid-1997) and W203 (due in late 2000!). That right there is bad product planning and guaranteeing an obsolete product in aesthetics.



It is not "too soon", this is typical of Mercedes-Benz standards, especially with the S. The W221 facelift was first spied circa January 2008, being unveiled on April 8, 2009 and launched 1-2 months after that. The design for the W221 facelift was finalised by May 2007, if not earlier than that. That's for a model that was barely launched in the autumn of 2005 and Q1 of 2006 in most export markets.

The W222 was barely launched in late July, so the timing is highly correct. I hinted towards this for about 2 years now, as one knows what is typical of them, in terms of their high standards. For the barely visible changes to our facelifted XJ for MY2016, it took us roughly 2 years to test them before launch. The MY2014 changes to our XJ in the autumn of 2013, were a placeholder for the facelift.

The W222 facelift is planned for summer 2017, if not late spring 2017. The W140 S-Class was launched in mid-1991 (for MY1992 in some markets), yet had its facelift (MY1995) already frozen by the end of 1992 and in patents by February 1993, with the newly designed S600 grille (yet labeled 600SEL).

The W140 had a second facelift in mid-1996, which was already signed-off by the early months of 1995 (if not mostly identified by late 1994). The W126 facelift was signed-off in 1983, being introduced at IAA in 1985.

Because of the complexity of the W222, they need as much time as they can get. The W222 design changes are already accessible to patent examiners, that pretty much get to see these things before everybody else.



Bingo, as that's the way it is and always has been. Nearly 7 years ago we saw this in early January 2008:

Before these photos showed up exactly 15 months later:

Highly unlikely for such a facelift. No one has ever redesigned door handles to my knowledge during a mid-cycle facelift to that degree, so I doubt it will happen here. I am probably wrong about the no one has ever, but in this segment that holds true. While Lexus did redesign the door handles on the LX570 recently, the assembly is not really different (LS still has door handles designed in 2003-04). Nothing like that will be happening for at least until 2021 on this car.

Only a serious safety flaw or recall would bring that about, which is clearly not the case.



Never, say never. Development is ongoing and they have 2 years left to make such critical decisions in Stuttgart.

Oh how I missed this! Very informative write up mate

 

[MBZFAN]

It would be nice to get an I6 for the U.S. market, a gas model with like 385hp, a S450 if you will.
M

Speaking of an S450, reminds me of Mercedes recent foray into an abridged AMG with the introduction of the C450. I understand that the AMG Sport/Sportline will be expanded throughout the product line. Would facelift time be the time for the S550 "Sport"?

 

[SKY]

According to the latest information provided by Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog, the 2017 generation S-Class will feature the new OM656 diesel engine, which produces 340 hp for the upcoming S 400 d variant. Along with this, it appears the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 version will be replaced by an all new S 650 model, likely to carry a newly-engineered V12 powerplant (M280 ???). Possibly, this is the reason for relocating the V12 engine production from Affalterbach to Mannheim. Apart from building its own performance units found in the AMG "65" versions, Mercedes-AMG is also in charge of engineering and manufacturing the V12 engines for the Mercedes-Benz "600" models. So, this explanation seems fairly logical.

There are some possible scenarios at the moment:

- the top-of-the-range Mercedes-Maybach S 650 gets a completely new V12 engine (the ideal and common sense solution), with the peak output located somewhere in the 560 hp - 600 hp range. It would not make sense to fit the M279 engine under the hood of the S 650. To be honest, it is indeed a tried'n'tested engine, but it is in fact a thoroughly upgraded M275 unit dating from 2002, so it has been on the market for 13 years already.

- the new Mercedes-Benz S 600 also receives the new V12 engine, but in a slightly detuned variant packing around 550 hp

- the new Mercedes-Benz S 600 stays committed to the current M279 engine, but gains an extra 20 hp to reach 550 hp

It will be nice to see MB launching a new V12, since the current one is old as heck and VAG has recently introduced the brand new 6.0 W12 TSI. Which seems to be a marvel.

 

[Serpens]

I don't want this to happen yet. Mercedes needs to let the Audi A8 and Lexus LS show their face first so this car be introduced after them or around the same time as the Audi A8.

M

Completely disagree. Mercedes shouldn't be compensating because one program is taking seemingly forever (Lexus LS) and the other has faced continuous delays (Audi A8).

 

[Merc1]

Completely disagree. Mercedes shouldn't be compensating because one program is taking seemingly forever (Lexus LS) and the other has faced continuous delays (Audi A8).

You missed the point, Mercedes is compensating for anything. What they're doing is letting the competition think they've caught up or catch up and then leave them behind, again.

This has nothing to do with compensation, that is how is usually goes and if this facelift is for the 2018 model year, then what I said is exactly what is happening. We know Mercedes doesn't care what Lexus does with the LS.

M

 

[Mick Briesgau]

So we would have:

S400d
S550
S600
S63
S65
S650 Maybach

Of course, I'm seeing this from an American perspective, but isn't there also an S350 in Europe?

Yes, there is an S 350 model, but to be precise the title is S 350 d. This version will carry on and will be powered by the new OM656 engine, with a peak output greater than the current 258 hp mark. The S 400 d will be a new addition to the S-Class lineup. And, in Europe, the S 550 is entitled S 500.

What you both forgot in the current and probably future line up:
S400h (6 cylinder petrol with small hybrid unit 225 + 20 kW (306 + 27 PS);
S400 4-matic (6 cylinder petrol 245 kW (333 PS).

 

[Serpens]

You missed the point, Mercedes is compensating for anything. What they're doing is letting the competition think they've caught up or catch up and then leave them behind, again.

This has nothing to do with compensation, that is how is usually goes and if this facelift is for the 2018 model year, then what I said is exactly what is happening. We know Mercedes doesn't care what Lexus does with the LS.

M

As carmaker1 said, it's not like they're tricking the competition. This is just business as usual. It's not like the facelift comes out and the competitors are like "OMG didn't see that coming!!!" They're well aware Mercedes hasn't shown their full hand yet.

You also literally said "Mercedes needs to let the Audi A8 and Lexus LS show their face first" which implies that Mercedes would indeed care what Lexus is doing.

 

[Merc1]

As carmaker1 said, it's not like they're tricking the competition. This is just business as usual. It's not like the facelift comes out and the competitors are like "OMG didn't see that coming!!!" They're well aware Mercedes hasn't shown their full hand yet.

You also literally said "Mercedes needs to let the Audi A8 and Lexus LS show their face first" which implies that Mercedes would indeed care what Lexus is doing.

You didn't get it so lets move on. I didn't mean it literally. I mean that is what needs to happen, not for MB to actively do that.

M

 

[Serpens]

I think the Sports grille was implemented to attract younger buyers, which is like the Holy Grail for auto manufacturers. The traditional grille is seen as too "stuffy" and stereotypical M-B customer.

Personally, I like the traditional grill with hood ornament with an AMG-pack. That strikes the right balance between sporty and elegance.

Darn kids ruin everything!

Totally agree. I'm not surprised given how high the average US buyer of Mercedes is (although I'd say that's skewed by MB's larger offering of $100k+ models vs. competition).

You didn't get it so lets move on. I didn't mean it literally. I mean that is what needs to happen, not for MB to actively do that.

M

My understanding can only be as good as the words you choose.

 

[Merc1]

Totally agree. I'm not surprised given how high the average US buyer of Mercedes is (although I'd say that's skewed by MB's larger offering of $100k+ models vs. competition).



My understanding can only be as good as the words you choose.

Clearly.

M

 

[Der Hofmeister]

What you both forgot in the current and probably future line up:
S400h (6 cylinder petrol with small hybrid unit 225 + 20 kW (306 + 27 PS);
S400 4-matic (6 cylinder petrol 245 kW (333 PS).

The S 400 will boast 367 hp as in the Coupe, not the usual 333 hp. The S 400 h with 326 hp goes without saying.

This strategy is intended to create a certain distance between the two versions. A 31 hp gap is considerable, 7 hp would have meant too little.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

The S 400 will boast 367 hp as in the Coupe, not the usual 333 hp. The S 400 h with 326 hp goes without saying.

This strategy is intended to create a certain distance between the two versions. A 31 hp gap is considerable, 7 hp would have meant too little.

This is what the German pricelist shows:

Benziner (Super, Super Plus)
S 400 h Limousine 225 + 20 kW (306 + 27 PS) 6 Zylinder 139 g/km 6,0 l/100 km 7G-TRONIC 87.167,50 Euro
S 400 4MATIC Limousine 245 kW (333 PS) 6 Zylinder 196 g/km 8,4 l/100 km 7G-TRONIC 90.321,00 Euro

I guess you're talking about the future and not the current data?

 

[Der Hofmeister]

This is what the German pricelist shows:

Benziner (Super, Super Plus)
S 400 h Limousine 225 + 20 kW (306 + 27 PS) 6 Zylinder 139 g/km 6,0 l/100 km 7G-TRONIC 87.167,50 Euro
S 400 4MATIC Limousine 245 kW (333 PS) 6 Zylinder 196 g/km 8,4 l/100 km 7G-TRONIC 90.321,00 Euro

I guess you're talking about the future and not the current data?

Yes, I am referring to the facelift generation.

 

[nikola1984]

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[SKY]

Hmmm, with the new vertical bars trim for the AMG models, maybe MB puts the S600 grille on the entire range and gives the top end models the vertical bars one.

 

[ThroughandThrough]

The turning indicators at the bottom of the headlight remind me of the FL W221.

The current headlights are hard to beat, I just hope these aren't a step backwards in terms of design.

 

[DjordjeC63]

@ThroughandThrough

Those are basic headlights (basic LED headlights), which are available from start of W222.