Mercedes-Benz has updated the S-Class luxury limo, including changing the colour palette and adding some extra onboard technology. Although the updates are minor, a new Sony Pictures Entertainment video streaming system and an updated parking assistance system are among the highlights.
Minor changes
Mercedes-Benz’s changes to the S-Class are very small indeed, and though the company claims to have made “visual and technical upgrades,” the biggest external change is the inclusion of two new optional exterior paint finishes. The Verde Silver Metallic is expected to be a popular choice, while Velvet Brown Metallic may prove a more acquired taste.
Inside, meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz has tweaked the seating, adding comfort front head restraints with additional cushions to the standard equipment list.
Tech tweaks
Perhaps the greatest changes are hidden inside the car’s onboard computers, where Mercedes will be offering the S-Class with Sony Pictures Entertainment's (SPE) RIDEVU video streaming service. With special controls and features designed specifically for the car, it allows customers to stream Sony content on demand, directly to their vehicle. As such, it includes a “curated library” of films available for screening, which Mercedes claims will “enrich the Mercedes-Benz entertainment bundle.”
The MBUX infotainment technology itself has also been tweaked, with slightly altered menus that have seen the assisted parking suggestions moved to a more intuitive location. And the company has included an OLED centre display as standard, as well as the aforementioned streaming tech and internet radio, while customers can get a customisation package that includes mini-games such as sudoku and “atmospheric mode” settings for the interior.
Mercedes-Benz has also included the pre-installation for the smartphone-based Digital Vehicle Key function (that’s already offered in Europe) on vehicles bound for the USA and Canada, while all pre-installations will now be usable with compatible Android devices, as well as Apple iOS systems.
Safety matters
But the tech upgrades aren’t just there for convenience. There’s a new Automatic Lane Change function for the European market that works with the adaptive cruise control system on motorways and dual carriageways, allowing the car to initiate a lane change by itself to overtake a vehicle in front automatically with no input from the driver. However, the driver remains responsible for controlling the vehicle and Mercedes says they must monitor the process throughout.
And for those who want even more protection from their S-Class, Mercedes-Benz has applied all these changes to the “special-protection version” of the S-Class, known as the S 680 Guard 4Matic. The V12-powered armoured saloon is already part of the Mercedes stable, and offers protection from small arms and explosives thanks to armour plating and other design tweaks.
Coming this summer
According to Mercedes, the lightly refreshed S-Class will go on sale this month, with the first cars arriving at European dealerships in July. Whether that will be the case for the Irish market remains to be seen, but the car is expected to hit Irish roads at some point this summer.