It’s what’s on top that grabs you first, however. Like any S-Class the body is huge and the wheels equally so (actually 24-inchers!). But it’s how the traditional three-box saloon shape has morphed into what Mercedes calls a "one bow" proportion that serves as a peek into Merc’s next luxury-class design language.
The “one bow” look centres on a stretched arc profile with long cabin, short bonnet and boot, and big doors made possible by the huge wheelbase. The lower half of the car is silver and the top half replicates a “black panel” look, with the two haves separated by… more lights.
A “lightbelt” around the waistline circumnavigates the body, connecting the hi-tech headlights and light matrix front grille with an equally glowing rear end, where 229 LEDs have been integrated into the body.
It’s a seamless and very sculptural form that, to us at least, succeeds in conveying what any S-Class has to convey: luxury travel.
But what is it with all the LEDs? Mercedes believes digital light technology allows for an unlimited number of display possibilities and is a key safety element in interaction between a vehicle and its environment.