- New S-Class sedan has three engine options.
- Standard air spring suspension and rear-axle steering.
- 2027 Mercedes S-Class arrives in the second half of 2026.
Mercedes-Benz debuted the new 2027 S-Class sedan today, flashing a tech showcase and an exterior glow-up that even includes an illuminated star standing on the hood.
The fresh flagship is technically part of the seventh-generation model last redesigned in 2020, but Mercedes claims the 2027 S-Class features more than 50% new parts and features, including a veritable light show inside and out. It also comes with the latest tech interfaces and operating systems, as well as three refined powertrain options and a standard air spring suspension as well as rear-axle steering. A new Pinnacle Plus Package offers Maybach-levels of comfort for rear-seat passengers.
Exterior Glow-up of the 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The proportions of the full-size sedan remain the same, but the grille stretches broader and taller, adding a fourth chrome bar across the bow and occupying more real estate on the front fascia. Mercedes flexes the presence of its grille, which is 20% larger and illuminated for the first time in its long history. Lobe-shaped air intakes flank the sides, and new headlights designed to look like twin stars bookend the hood. Those micro-LED lights are significantly brighter yet more efficient and weigh less than its predecessors. Then there’s the option for an illuminated Mercedes-Benz star hood ornament.
The profile retains the same elegant curves that make this large sedan the paragon in its class. New 20-inch wheel designs with a dizzying array of spokes offer an upgrade from the standard 19-inch wheels.
New taillight designs double — or in this case triple down — on the illuminated logos. Three LED star shapes occupy each taillight housing.
Interior Redesign Glows With Screens
- Superscreen dash wall of screens comes standard
- Heated seat belts debut on the new S-Class
- Opt for massaging rear seats and a power footrest
More significant and undeniable changes happen inside. Mercedes claims a palette of more than 400 available interior colors, and natural wood inlays continue to grace a redesigned center console and its twin wireless device chargers and illuminated cupholders.
Long a benchmark for luxury materials, the new S-Class comes standard with a wall of screens under a single pane of glass across the entirety of the dash. Dubbed Superscreen, it includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D option, a 14.4-inch central touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen exclusively aimed at the passenger. Even if streaming the latest cliffhanger, the passenger screen has technology that blocks the driver from viewing it, Mercedes says.
The fourth-generation operating system running the infotainment system, as well as many other interactive parts, includes AI from Google and Microsoft that enables conversational prompts and has a short-term memory. It also powers Google Maps and augmented reality that, on its predecessor, was one the best of its kind. With navigation set, the augmented reality head-up display would project the destination’s address at night before you could see it, and overlay arrows to indicate it. It was very helpful in dense environments in cities as well as at night and in inclement weather. Now it adds surround-view camera images and further refinements.
This technology, along with sensors and the supercomputer connecting it all, aids in advanced driver-assist features as well, including enhanced parking assist and presumably limited hands-free driving. Mercedes-Benz did not disclose which markets would get select features.
A flat-bottomed steering wheel with new rocker controls comes standard, as does a Burmester surround-sound system. An available Burmester 4D system with Dolby Atmos promises even greater fidelity. We tested a 3D version in the EQE SUV a few years ago and it was a stunning soundscape.
Continuing this luxurious attention to detail that is the hallmark of the S-Class, the brand debuts an optional heated seat belt for front passengers.
Rear-seat passengers won’t be neglected. An available rear-seat entertainment system comes with remote controls for climate control, window shades, and 13.1-inch touchscreens with integrated HD cameras to look sharp while teleconferencing. A Pinnacle Package adds heated armrests and a folding center console with wireless device charging. Step up to the Pinnacle Plus for rear-seat massagers, neck and shoulder heating, and a power footrest for the rear passenger side.
Three Engine Options in the 2027 S-Class
- S 500 4Matic comes with a 443-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6
- S 580 4Matic comes with a 530-hp turbocharged 4.0-liter V8
- S 580 e 4Matic plug-in hybrid comes with a 576-hp turbocharged inline-6 paired with a propulsion motor powered by a 22-kwh battery
While it remains to be seen if all three powertrains will be offered in the U.S. and in what cadence, every S-Class arrives with 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD), a cushy air spring suspension with adaptive damping, and rear-axle steering that helps shrink the turning radius at low speeds or improve higher speed agility. The standard 4.5-degree rear-axle steering could be upgraded to a 10-degree unit to cut the turning circle down even more.
The suspension can be dialed in for even more responsive comfort with E-Active Body Control that can predictively manage each wheel to reduce body roll and pitch.
The S 500 and S 580 have a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to smooth stop/start, provide more direct burst off the line, and cut engine use while coasting for greater efficiency. In addition, each powertrain has been refined to deliver more power and more torque across a broader range.
The higher output engines also have improved performance specs from its predecessors. Rated at 442 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, the S 500 is estimated to hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, down from 4.8 seconds in last year’s model.
The S 580 e PHEV is rated at 576 hp and 553 lb-ft, and has a 0-to-60-mph time of 4.4 seconds.
The S 580 puts out 530 hp and 553 lb-ft, and hits 60 mph in an estimated 3.9 seconds.
Fuel economy estimates have not been released.
Expect a more powerful AMG variant to follow next year. Built in Sindelfingen, Germany, the 2027 S-Class arrives at U.S. dealers in the second half of 2026. Expect pricing to be announced closer to that date.
