New Automotive Preview: 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Refresh Turns Up the Lights Provides AI and a Stronger V8 : Automotive Addicts

Automotive

Mercedes-Benz is giving the present S-Class a critical mid-cycle refresh for 2027, and the wild half is you may not absolutely discover it till the solar goes down. The sheetmetal largely carries over, however Mercedes says greater than half of the automotive’s parts are new or revised, which makes this really feel loads nearer to a ground-up rethink than an off-the-cuff facelift.

At evening, the up to date S-Class mainly turns into a rolling model assertion. The headlights and taillights now use three-pointed-star lighting components, there’s an illuminated grille that’s noticeably bigger than earlier than, and you may even spec an optionally available glowing hood decoration that’s designed so the motive force can not see it from behind the wheel. Extremely Vary excessive beams add some further trickery up entrance, and new puddle lamps challenge “Mercedes-Benz” on the pavement just like the sedan is arriving at its personal premiere.

Inside is the place the refresh actually flexes. Mercedes is lastly bringing its full Hyperscreen format to the S-Class, with a dash-wide glass panel that integrates a 12.3-inch driver show, a 14.4-inch central touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch passenger show. The most recent MBUX setup folds in Google-powered automotive AI, and Mercedes is leaning into the “assistant with character” concept with animated helper choices, together with the quirky “LittleBenz” avatar.

Rear-seat passengers get some significant upgrades, too. The out there rear screens develop to 13.1 inches, and built-in cameras allow video conferencing, which appears like a function designed for anybody who treats the again seat like a rolling workplace suite. Mercedes additionally ditches the outdated middle rear pill in favor of distant controls, whereas premium audio consumers can chase a system that helps Dolby Atmos.

Then there are the small-but-important quality-of-life fixes that S-Class homeowners really discover day by day. Mercedes provides digital vent management that may be saved to reminiscence settings, a revised middle console with twin telephone charging pads, and a redesigned steering wheel that brings again extra bodily controls rather than a few of the touch-sensitive fussiness. The consolation record will get much more over-the-top with heated entrance seatbelts, which is a kind of “in fact they did” luxurious strikes that you’ll by no means need to quit after getting it.

Powertrains additionally get consideration, and the headline is the V8. The S500 continues with a turbocharged and electrically assisted inline-six rated at 429 hp and 443 lb-ft, plus an overboost torque bump for brief bursts. The S580 steps up with a revised twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that now makes use of a flat-plane crankshaft and lands at 530 hp, with torque figures reported across the mid-500 lb-ft vary relying on market and the way the system output is quoted.

If you’d like the electrified flex, the S580e plug-in hybrid returns with a mixed 576 hp, whereas the outgoing mannequin’s EPA-rated electrical vary sat at 48 miles, and Mercedes has not but posted an official up to date EPA quantity for the brand new one. Chassis tech takes a step ahead as properly, with 4.5-degree rear-wheel steering now commonplace, an optionally available 10-degree setup nonetheless on the menu, and new predictive iDamping that makes use of shared road-condition knowledge to pre-adjust the suspension earlier than you hit ugly pavement. Count on the refreshed S500, S580, and S580e to reach within the second half of 2026, with pricing to be introduced nearer to launch.

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Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate fanatic with over 15 years of expertise immersed on this planet of automobiles. Whether or not it’s exploring the most recent developments in automotive expertise or protecting an in depth pulse on breaking trade information, Lloyd brings a pointy perspective and a deep appreciation for all issues automotive. His writing blends technical perception with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions each informative and interesting for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or below the hood, Lloyd enjoys check driving the latest fashions and staying forward of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive panorama.