Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the all-new 2022 S-Class in the international market. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has an internal designation W223 for the short wheelbase and V223 for the long-wheelbase model. The new-generation model is expected to be launched in the Indian market in 2021 and is likely to come in the long-wheelbase avatar.
After a long-running teaser that went on for the last couple of month, the premium automaker has finally revealed the 2021 S-Class in full. On the exteriors, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class features an ever more imposing front fascia that is larger than before, 200 sq. cm but the brand has worked around the aerodynamics so much so that the S-Class is one of the world’s most aerodynamic cars with the drag coefficient figure from 0.22.
The long-wheelbase model measures in at 5289mm in length, 1954mm in width, 1503mm in height and 3216mm of the wheelbase. In the standard SWB avatar, the new S-Class is 5179mm in length and comes with a wheelbase of 3106mm. The 2021 model is larger in all aspects as compared to its predecessor. The car in the LWB variant is 34mm longer, 55mm wider, 12mm taller and has a 51mm longer wheelbase. In the SWB model, the new S-Class is 54mm longer, 55mm wider, 10mm taller and has a 71mm longer wheelbase, as compared to the outgoing model. The larger exterior dimensions also translate to a more spacious interior as well, and the new-generation S-Class gets improved headroom, elbow room, legroom, and boot capacity.
In terms of design and styling, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class features a bold chrome-accented front grille with three horizontal blades and a vertical spine, wide lower air intakes with a chrome-accented wing-shaped element, chrome window lining, flush door handles wraparound LED taillights with a chrome bar that connects the two lights. The radiator grille is also flanked by sleek LED headlamp units integrated with DIGITAL LIGHT, a light module that comes with three extremely powerful LEDs that refracts light directed by 1.3 million micro-mirrors with a capacity of projecting more than 2.6 million pixels per vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz DIGITAL LIGHT has entered production for the first time and makes possible new assistance such as – Warning of recognised roadworks by projecting an excavator symbol onto the road surface, aiming a spotlight at pedestrians detected at the roadside as a warning, Traffic lights, stop signs or no-entry signs are pointed out by projecting a warning symbol onto the road surface and assistance on narrow road lanes (roadworks) by projecting guidelines onto the road surface.
On the inside, the 2021 S-Class features the second-generation MBUX infotainment system that features a portrait-oriented 12.8-inch infotainment screen s OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology along with a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument display with Augmented Reality Heads-Up Display with animated turn-off arrows that are projected on the road lane, an MBUX high-end rear entertainment system with two 11.6-inch displays with touch controls on the rear of the front seat backrests along with the optionally available MBUX rear tablet on a docking system bringing five screens in the 2021 S-Class. The new S-Class also includes a 263 LED ambient light system, a 31-speaker Burmester 4D surround-sound system, fingerprint, face and voice recognition technology gesture control and a lot more.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class comes in 5 trim variants – S 450 4MATIC, S 500 4MATIC, S 350d, S 350d 4MATIC and S 400d 4MATIC powered by two engine options – the M256 series 3.0-litre straight-six cylinder petrol motor that comes in two states of tune. The engine on the S 450 produces 367 Hp of power and 500 Nm of torque plus 22 Hp & 250 Nm of added output with EQ Boost and the engine on the S 500 makes 435 Hp of power and 520 Nm of torque plus 22 Hp & 250 Nm of added output with EQ Boost.
The other option is an OM656 3.0-litre straight-six-cylinder diesel engine that comes in two states of tunes, a 286 Hp of power and 600 Nm of torque and another with 330 Hp of power and 700 Nm of torque. Both the petrol and diesel powertrains are matched to a 9-speed 9G Tronic automatic gearbox with 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, except for the S 350d. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class also features a rear-wheel steering system.
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class also features a plethora of active and passive safety features that highlight features such as – E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL, ENERGIZING seat kinetics, a new innovative tent-like Rear airbag technology, Centre airbag, next-generation PRE-SAFE function with Impulse Side protection system that uses radar-based technology to predict an imminent side-impact and deploys air cushions in the seat to move the occupants to the centre of the car and more.