Mercedes-Benz’s flagship 2021 S-Class is the brand’s sci-fi vision of the automobile’s future
September 22 2020, Matt Bubbers
Science-fiction visions of the automobile’s future suddenly seem closer to reality with the new luxury flagship S-Class sedan from Mercedes-Benz.
The company is aiming high with this one. “The new S-Class underpins our claim to produce the best automobile in the world,” Markus Schaefer, member of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz AG, said in a statement.
As its flagship model, the S-Class sets the template for Mercedes-Benz vehicles for years to come. The brand is going all-in on big screens, smart technology and automated driving; many of the features and design cues seen here will eventually trickle down to other models.
The German company took the wraps off its new full-size sedan in a digital event – a video stream with interactive elements – the likes of which have quickly replaced car shows during the pandemic. Attendees watched musician Alicia Keys talk about the new stereo and saw six-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton explain how this car makes him feel relaxed.
The S-Class is the darling of the C-Suite and the vehicular equivalent of a big Rolex chronograph or a chunky pair of Oliver Goldsmith glasses. The model’s history can be traced back to the early 1950s, but the S-Class name wasn’t introduced until 1972. Its main rivals include the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Porsche Panamera and the Lexus LS. These days, Tesla’s Model S is more of a competitor to the big Benz than any sedan from Cadillac or Lincoln.
Seen from the outside, the new S-Class hardly looks new, let alone groundbreaking. Subtle things like the smoother, simpler bodywork, new lights and flush door handles distinguish it from its predecessor. The new model is more spacious and bigger in every nearly dimension, but it would take a keen eye to notice.
Beginning next year in Germany, the S-Class will gain a Level 3 automated-driving mode supported by a LIDAR sensor. But, we’ve seen other automakers, namely Audi and Tesla, make bold claims about next-level automated-driving features; in both cases, these features have yet to materialize.
In Canada, higher-end Mercedes vehicles like the S-Class have continued to perform relatively well in the sales charts despite current challenges and uncertainty, according to David Sherrard, national manager for product management at Mercedes-Benz Canada.
When the first new S-Classes arrive here next Spring, Mercedes will sell the S 500 (short wheelbase) and the S 580 (long wheelbase); both are expected to have all-wheel drive. They’re powered by a straight-six and a V8 gasoline engine respectively. The price has yet to be announced, but the current S-Class starts at $109,000.
Drivers will surely be hoping the car’s manual is considerably shorter. It’s one thing to tout lots of a cool new sci-fi technology; it’s quite another for it all to work well in the real world.
