Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223)

The Mercedes-Benz W223 is the seventh generation of the SClass full-size luxury sedan, produced by Mercedes-Benz since 2020. It replaces the W222 SClass which had been produced since 2013.

Design
The W223 S-Class is based on the second-generation Modular Rear Architecture (MRA) platform and uses a four-link front suspension and multi-link independent rear suspension. Air suspension is standard and can automatically lower by 20 mm at 160 kph to increase stability.

Compared to the previous generation W222 S-Class, rear headroom has increased by 16 mm and rear legroom has increased by 41 mm. Boot capacity has increased by 20 L to 550 L. The W223 directs heat from the engine to the wheel arches and underbody to improve airflow and has a drag coefficient of 0.22.

At the launch, Mercedes-Benz announced that its V12 engine would be exclusive to Mercedes-Maybach S 680 4MATIC and that no coupé or convertible version of S-Class would be produced. At IAA 2021 in Munich, Mercedes-Benz revised its position to add the V12 engine to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, S 680 Guard 4MATIC, ending the Mercedes-Maybach's exclusive use of V12 engine.

Equipment
The W223 uses the second-generation Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system. It features a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED centre infotainment system with haptic feedback. The MBUX system features over-the-air software update support, automatic driver profile selection via voice or fingerprint recognition, and a virtual assistant which activates by saying "Hey Mercedes". The assistant can be controlled by the rear seat passengers and can also control smart home appliances. The car can automatically close the windows and sunroof and recirculate air as it approaches a tunnel or detects poor air quality. Interior cameras can detect driver movements as to automatically lower the rear sunblinds if the driver looks back or switch on the interior light if the driver reaches towards the glovebox. The cameras can detect if a child seat has been installed but the seat belt has not been buckled. The car features 22 cameras and radar sensors for the adaptive cruise control, automatic steering, lane departure warning, emergency braking, and traffic sign recognition. Radar sensors can predict oncoming side collisions and raise the suspension by 8 cm to direct the crash force towards the doorsills. A SAE Level 3 semi-autonomous driving system is available in Germany since the second half of 2021.

Optional equipment includes rear-axle steering, rear-seat airbags, and a head-up-display with augmented reality for navigation directions. The headlights can project symbols on the road to warn the driver of incoming obstacles, such as roadworks, pedestrians, and traffic lights or warning signs.

The rear-wheel-steering system for reducing the turning radius is optional at extra cost. The turning angle can be set at 4.5° or 10°, reducing the turning radius from 13.1 m to 12.2 m and 11.2 m respectively.

For the first time in a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, the S-Class has two different types of external door handles. The standard equipment is the grip handles as found in existing Mercedes-Benz vehicles while the optional extra cost equipment is the flush-fitted handles that pop outward electrically when the Keyless Go remote fob is in close proximity.

The models with six-cylinder inline petrol engines have a 48-volt electrical system with an integrated motor-generator to provide additional power when needed. This system also provides the power for the air conditioning system and for recharging the battery. The integrated motor-generator is also used as a starter motor in lieu of a separate and dedicated starter motor.

Mercedes-Benz
The engine range from W222 is carried over to W223 with inline six, V8, and V12. For the first time, the V12 engine is fitted with 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system and is exclusive to S 680 Guard 4MATIC. The 4MATIC system is standard equipment for most of S-Class models with exception of S 450 e. S 350 d and S 580 e can be ordered with 4MATIC system as extra-cost option. All models except S 680 Guard 4MATIC are offered in both standard and long wheelbases.

Mercedes-Benz S 680 Guard 4MATIC
On 28 July 2021, Mercedes-Benz announced the new armoured S 680 Guard 4MATIC. The S 680 Guard 4MATIC has VPAM VR10 armour level.

Due to its heavier weight, the top speed limit is reduced to 190 km/h.

Mercedes-Maybach
The Z223 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class was revealed on 19 November 2020 with model designations S 580 4MATIC and S 680 4MATIC. The Mercedes-Maybach is 18 centimetres longer than the predecessor. Several design cues, separating the Mercedes-Maybach from Mercedes-Benz, are carried over. Another first for Mercedes-Benz is the frontal airbags for the rear passengers.

Available engines are a 3-litre six-cylinder inline petrol for S 580 e 4MATIC, 4-litre biturbo V8 for the S 580 4MATIC, and a 6-litre biturbo V12 for the S 680 4MATIC. Both are fitted with standard 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system.

Exclusive to the Chinese market, an S 480 4MATIC with 3-litre six-cylinder inline petrol engine is offered due to the high taxation on engine displacement.

In Germany Mercedes-Maybach announced the launch date of May 2021 for ordering and the delivery date of July 2021.

Mercedes-Benz launched the S 580 4MATIC and the S 680 4MATIC in India on 3 March 2022. The S 580 4MATIC is assembled at Mercedes-Benz manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune.

Mercedes-Maybach S 580 e
The Mercedes-Maybach S 580 e debuted in February 2023 as the brand's first plug-in hybrid model, featuring an inline-six engine and an electric motor that produce a combined 510 PS output. S 580 e is only Mercedes-Maybach model not to be equipped with 4MATIC system.

Mercedes-Maybach S 680 "Edition 100"
To commemorate the 100-year anniversary of first production car by Maybach Motorenbau GmbH in 1921, Mercedes-Benz launched the limited production of Mercedes-Maybach S 680 "Edition 100". The production is limited to 100 units.

The S 680 "Edition 100" has the special two-tone paint colours: High Tech Silver (Hightechsilber) on lower part and Nautical Blue (Nautikblau) on the upper part. The interior is done with special upholstery design in two-tone colours: Crystal White and Silver-grey Pearl

Mercedes-Maybach S 680 Haute Voiture
The Mercedes-Maybach S 680 Haute Voiture is a special edition of the S 680 that is based on "haute couture" (high fashion). It was presented in May 2022 in a concept form, with Mercedes later confirming intentions to put the Haute Voiture into production, with the production version being unveiled in December following a Dubai fashion show.

The car features a two-tone paint job consisting of Nautical Blue and Rose Gold above and below the belt line, respectively. This color is exclusive to the Haute Voiture. It sports monoblock wheels painted to match the blue paint on the upper body. The body is also adorned with chrome trim.

For the interior, the car is upholstered in Bouclé, a type of fabric woven from yarn, that incorporates blue, beige, rose gold, and various other shades of gold into the pattern, with additional crystal and glossy opal white features. The car comes with a set of linen and mohair (yarn made from goat hair) floor mats, as well as a set of rose gold champagne flutes.

The MBUX system was upgraded with the intention to emphasize the atmosphere of a fashion show catwalk, with sparkling glitter clouds and a variety of rose gold accents. Drivers are greeted with sparkling particles and a magnolia blossom on the profile selection menu, and available are 12 different elegantly dressed avatars, such as in a tailcoat, evening gown, and dinner jacket, and are adorned with fine accessories.

The Haute Voiture is accompanied by a special hand-made gift box containing a key ring, its badge number, and a scale model. Mercedes will also be releasing a bag collection, made of materials of the vehicle's interior, to be available in different sizes and styles. The bag collection has been released in early 2023 in limited run and are available at both Maybach Icons of Luxury physical and online stores.

The Mercedes-Maybach S 680 Haute Voiture is launched in early 2023 and is strictly limited to 150 units.

Mercedes-Maybach S-Klasse "Maybach by Virgil Abloh” S 680
As inspired by the "Project MAYBACH", Mercedes-Benz introduced the Mercedes-Maybach S-Klasse "Maybach by Virgil Abloh” S 680 that interpreted the style, fashion, material, and design directions set by Virgil Abloh and Gorden Wagener for their "Project MAYBACH" Show Car. The special edition honours Virgil Abloh who passed away in 2021 from cancer.

Only 152 were produced, and 39 were sold in the United States to artists, celebrities, and other influential individuals. Alicia Keys was the first person to receive an S-Klasse „Maybach by Virgil Abloh” S 680, as a gift from her husband Swizz Beatz.

It has 2-tone paint with a top in obsidian black and a tan bottom with tan wheels. The interior has sand-colored Nappa leather accented by black trim on the doors, center console, and steering wheel. Customers also got a 1/18-scale replica of the car inside a custom-made wooden box wrapped in tan Nappa leather, along with a special car cover with the Maybach and Abloh logo. Rick Ross was offered an S 680 but declined.

S 63 E Performance
In December 2022, the Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance, the high performance version of the S-Class, was introduced. It uses a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, which is powered by a 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 in the form of the M177, along with an electric motor and 13.1 kWh battery pack. The car produces a combined 802 PS and 1430 Nm of torque. The car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds. Additionally, the new S 63 E Performance has a top speed of 250 km/h, however when coupled with the AMG Driver's Package, the top speed will increase to roughly 290 km/h.

For the first time in the S-Class' history, the design features a Panamericana style grille design with a large Mercedes-Benz logo in the center, instead of a hood ornament like on the standard models.

In June 2023, buyers who ordered their S 63 E Performance upon the opening of the order book on 5 April 2023 were informed that the delivery of their orders would not take place until the first quarter of 2025.

Engines
The engines are carried over from previous generation of S-Class (W222) with two petrol and diesel six-cylinder inline engines at launch. Mercedes-Benz launched the models with V8 and V12 engines in May 2021. A first for a Mercedes-Benz passenger car, the V12 is fitted with the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. No diesel PHEV models have been introduced (as of November 2023).

Transmission
At launch, all models are fitted with the nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission. The new AMG S 63 E Performance is also fitted with an additional 2-speed transmission specifically for the electric motor.

Dimensions
The S-Class is offered in both standard and long wheelbases for most of the markets. In certain markets such as United States, China, Russia, and Turkey, the S-Class are sold in long wheelbase version only. In China, the S-Class have "L" suffix badge while the German and international markets do not.