The 2026 Mercedes S-Class (Sonderklasse) was on 29th January 2026 officially unveiled. The launch took place at the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany and coincided with the model’s history where Mercedes was celebrating 140 yars of automotive innovation.
The facelift The 2026 Mercedes S-Class facelift is a symbolic and technological leap forward. Mercedes-Benz used this update to pay homage to Carl Benz’s 1886 patent, the very foundation of the modern automobile.
2026 Mercedes S-Class Exterior
On the outside, the car maintains its sleek mercedes elegance and sleek look. Notable features of the facelift include an illuminated grille which is 20% bigger than the previous S-Class and has an array of 3D stars embedded in it. The iconic mercedes Benz star logo on the hood is also illuminated. However, Mercedes has announced that this illuminated star will be an optional feature.
The headlights are notably different fo the 7th generation S-Class. The headlihghts of the 2026 ne S-Class feature an innovative digital light twin star design which can illuminate for a distance of over 600 Meters, enhancing night visibility and creating an iconic look.
The rear of the car is pretty much like the previous generation. The notable difference is that, the tail lights have been redesigned into a sleek new look. They feature a three stars almost similar to the headlights design.
2026 S-Class Interior
Inside, the Mercedes Benz UX Superscreen in the front and the Mercedes Benz UX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment system with dual 13.1-inch displays gives the Sonderklasse experience. The MBUX integrates artificial intelligence (AI) from ChatGPT-4o, Microsoft Bing, and Google Gemini, integrating multiple AI agents into a single system.
One of the interesting features is heated seatbelts in the front – providing comforting warmth more quickly. The S-Class also features an electric air filter that enhances interior air quality elevate the atmosphere and driving experience, creating a serene personal retreat.
The console features new illuminated cup holders, and two smartphones can be charged wirelessly side by side. The MBUX augmented reality head-up display projects navigation cues such as arrows, lane recommendations and points of interest seemingly onto the road ahead.
The 2026 Mercedes S-Class is available in standard and long-wheelbase with the long wheel base having reclining rear seats and is meant to cater for business executives. It comes in 3 main engine versions. A petrol engine, a diesel engine and a plug-in hybrid. The petrol engine comes in a six (6), eight (8) or twelve (12) cylinder versions. The diesel engine only comes in a six (6) cylinder version.
Other features of the new 2026 S-Class includes; front seats that are heated, cooled and memory, rear axle steering, Standard Airmatic air suspension, optional E-Active Body Control feature, intelligent damping, which electrically adjusting the damping system right before long speed bumps. Additionally, this system can communicate with other similar S-Class vehicles within the viscinity and allow them to adjust the damping system well before approaching the speed bump.
The 2026 S-Class features up to to 15 airbags, rear belt bags that inflate during severe frontal impacts to reduce chest loads, and a Proactive Lane Change Assist that offers automated lane changes powered by upto 30 sensors and upto 10 cameras. A rim protection sensor has been included which is meant to alert the driver when parking to prevent scratching of the rims.
Mercedes has announced that to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the first automobile patent application by Carl Benz, the new S-Class will embark on a journey to visit Mercedes-Benz customers and fans at 140 locations worldwide. The vehicle will then drive across six continents, covering over 50,000 kilometers, and is scheduled to conclude its journey in Stuttgart in October 2026.
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