First Look: 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is Far More than the Typical “Mid-Cycle Refresh”

It’s industry norm to make some changes midway through a vehicle’s lifecycle, though the updates are typically modest. Not so the “refresh” coming with the 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. According to the automaker’s CEO, more than 2,700 components have been replaced, with updates to everything from its new “Digital Light” headlamps to its MB.OS supercomputer – and it even gets industry-first heated seatbelts. More from Headlight.News.

Nothing better defines the Mercedes-Benz brand than the flagship S-Class, even if the market for premium luxury vehicles has largely migrated from sedans to SUVs.

The big 4-door got a complete makeover for the 2022 model-year that drew plenty of attention – even if there was a bit of controversy. Following traditional form, no one was surprised when the German automaker confirmed it would be rolling out a mid-cycle update for the 2027 model year. But what’s in store, it officially revealed today, is far more than the normal “refresh.”

As Mercedes CEO Ola Kallenius said in a recent interview, ““We changed almost everything.” By that, he meant a total of 2,700 different components, “more than 50% of the vehicle.” This, he stressed, “is not your typical facelift.” And on Thursday, Mercedes finally backed that up by giving us a first look at the 2027 S-Class.

What’s new

With so many changes in store it’s difficult to readily sum things up, but here are key bullet points:

• With the theme, “boardroom on wheels,” Mercedes promises a “first-class experience” for rear-seat passengers who get dual 13.1-inch displays and integrated video conferencing capabilities;
• The clear emphasis with the 2027 S-Class update is on technology, something that luxury buyers certainly expect today. That includes an updated MBUX Superscreen covering the instrument panel, the latest MBUX virtual voice assistant, VR-enhanced navigation – using Google Maps now – and a new MB.OS supercomputer to power it all up;
• That computer will have the power to take the MB.Drive system to new levels, apparently. We’ll have to wait, however, for more details on what this means for the automaker’s Level 3 DrivePilot. Currently, it offers “hands-free/eyes-off capabilities – but only at speeds up to 37 mph in the U.S.;
• In the safety category, the new S-Class will offer pretty much every advanced driver assistance system currently available. And when it comes to passive safety the automaker and supplier ZF came up with something already generating plenty of discussion and debate: optional heated seatbelts.

Traditional luxury

While technology has become a clear differentiator in the automotive world – especially in the super-premium segments the various versions of S-Class play in – traditional luxury cues still matter. Among other things, the new sedan will offer extensive customization, especially for those willing to order through the Manufaktur Made to Measure program. That includes a choice of 150 different paints and 500 interior colors.

From a design standpoint, the 2027 S-Class will offer an optional new illuminated standing tri-star hood ornament, The grille is now 20% larger – and illuminated – and there are new Digital Light headlamps which not only pick up on the tri-star logo but use micro-LED technology to always stay in high-beam mode, dimming individual mini-bulbs to avoid blinding oncoming drivers. So, yes, even basic design features are increasingly going high-tech.

The Ultra Range high beams, incidentally, “can reach f up to 1,968 feet, more than the length of five American football fields,” notes Mercedes, and each of the lamps “now swivels for optimal coverage, while the new partial high beam function – available for the first time in the U.S. – improves detection of poorly lit road users.”

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Powertrains

We’ll see the 2027 S-Class get some powertrain upgrades, Mercedes leaning in on electrification to deliver a combination of muscle, mileage and smoothness:

• The S 580 4Matic benefits from one of the new internal combustion engines Mercedes has been working up, here a mild-hybrid V-8 making 530 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque;
• The S 500 4Matic turns to a new six-cylinder gas engine that gets a big boost in torque from the current package, at 443 lb-ft – “briefly” jumping to 472 lb-ft in “overtorque,” the automaker explained.

Both of these packages feature 23-hp integrated starter generators to help provide more power at low RPMs. And, as their names suggest, both the 580 and 500 send power to all four wheels.

The S 580e 4Matic, meanwhile, is the line’s plug-in hybrid option. Its upgraded gas/electric drivetrain now turns out 576 hp, an increase of 73.