The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class has made its Middle East debut in Abu Dhabi, and the brand used the night to unveil the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class as well. Both cars were shown at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, in a region where the S-Class has long been a common sight at hotel entrances and in official motorcades.
Mercedes calls this the biggest update the S-Class has had within a single generation. It says more than half of the car is either new or reworked. That is a bold claim for what is still technically a facelift, but the list of changes backs up more of it than usual.
The front grille is about 20 per cent larger. The DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps now use micro-LED technology, and for the first time buyers can order an illuminated three-pointed star on the bonnet. At the rear, the new taillights carry three chrome-framed stars. Inside, the instrument panel, door trims and centre console have all been redesigned. The engine range has been refreshed too, with updated electrified V8 and six-cylinder engines and plug-in hybrid options.
The biggest change is to the software. The S-Class now runs on MB.OS, the Mercedes-Benz Operating System, which ties together the driver assistance, infotainment and core vehicle systems and allows over-the-air updates. This is also the first Maybach to use it. The fourth-generation MBUX system adds an AI-powered virtual assistant and a standard Superscreen that places a 14.4-inch central display and a 12.3-inch passenger display under one continuous sheet of glass. Rear passengers get two 13.1-inch screens with detachable remotes and built-in cameras for video calls. The cameras show who this car is really for, since many S-Class owners spend more time in the back seat than behind the wheel.
The Maybach takes that idea further. It gets executive rear seats, optional automatic comfort doors, a MAYBACH setting in DYNAMIC SELECT tuned only for ride comfort, and new AIRMATIC air suspension with predictive damping. For buyers who want something more personal, the MANUFAKTUR programme offers more than 150 exterior colours and over 400 interior colours.
The launch was also part of Mercedes’ 140th anniversary. The display included the 1886 Benz Patent Motor Car along with the W116, W126 and W140 generations of the S-Class. One of the three “140 Years. 140 Places” S-Class saloons, which have been driving across six continents since January, also made its first stop in the region.
Mercedes has not yet announced regional pricing or delivery dates. The bigger question goes beyond this market. Moving the S-Class onto a software-led platform puts it up against the BMW 7 Series, and the result will depend less on the new grille and more on whether MB.OS works well years after purchase.
