The all‑new Mercedes S‑Class is a complete tech fest

That shell is said to be lighter but stiffer than before, with half of it (by weight) now aluminium for a 60kg saving over its predecessor. This despite the new model having a lot more of everything, including those electric motors – now 19 in each seat! – and dimensions that have grown a little in all directions for a bit more room inside, as if it needed it.

Of all the thousands of statistics about the new S-Class in the 31,716-word press pack one that stands out is: 0.22. It’s the new car’s drag factor and it’s good enough to make this one of the most aerodynamically slippery cars in production, even if the frontal area has increased a little (blame the “high status” grille for that…).

One thing that helps its aero efficiency, and to be standard on all models sold in the UK, is new flush door handles that slide out of the body when you approach the car, or give them a stroke. All very Tesla.

What’s not very Tesla is what is under the bonnet, and in all versions that is a combustion engine, either petrol or diesel. All the petrols have some form of electrical help of the EQ Boost kind and one of them, due later in 2021, will be a plug-in hybrid with impressive electric-only range of 62 miles.

But the real technology revolution for the three-pointed star’s traditional technology leader – the battery powered S-Class to be known as EQS – is not due until early 2022. As previewed by a concept last year, this much more radically different S-Class is Merc’s answer to Tesla and ultimately the luxury car future.

Inevitably, though, where any S-Class is concerned, there is still plenty of wizardry to shout about here, in what Mercedes describes as the most technically advanced car it has ever put into series production. What is a surprise however is the number of trick new technologies that are apparently not going to be available in UK models.

Here, in any case, is a round-up of 10 things that have piqued our interest, ahead of UK deliveries beginning this December with S350 diesel, S400 diesel and S500 petrol models, available in both standard and long wheelbase forms.

Front airbag for rear seat passengers

Mercedes says this world-first reduces the impact of severe frontal collisions for those in the back, while deploying gently thanks to new tubular design. Alas Merc says it is not for the UK.

The cabin with a light show

Mercedes love its LEDs and this (optional) system adds an extra 250 of them in the cabin to back up the standard ambient lighting. The LEDs come on and off according to the driving assistance systems and the climate control. Perhaps try this one before you buy it…

As manoeuvrable as a hatchback

Making a big limo which stretches to 5,289mm (long wheelbase version) as manoeuvrable as a hatchback takes some doing but Mercedes says it has licked it by giving the rear axle 10 degrees of (counter direction) steering, reducing the turning circle by 2m – so it is tighter than that of an A-Class. The system is also said to benefit high speed stability. But again, not currently available in UK models.

A car that can drive itself

Mercedes says the new S will be able to drive itself at speeds up to 60km/h from the second half of 2021, in places where the traffic is heavy or on certain motorway stretches in Germany. It’s all down to a slew of technologies, and a great many cameras, sensors and radar systems, that come under the (optional) Drive Pilot umbrella. The car will be able to control its speed, distance, steering and lane changing, leaving the driver to browse the internet or deal with emails (but not fall asleep). A side benefit will be an ability for the car to park itself, even in multi-storey car parks, via control from your smartphone.

Headlights that send a message

Digital Light is the (optional) trick headlight tech for the new S-Class, and a first in any Mercedes. It uses three powerful LEDs in each light to allow a whole range of extra functionality: projecting warning symbols on to the road, aiming a spotlight at a pedestrian and projecting guidelines for the car to follow on narrow lanes are all examples Mercedes gives.

Hey Mercedes, what’s new?

With five screens in the cabin the new S-Class promises to rival your local mutiplex cinema, though note for some reason the UK is restricted to three screens. It’s all part of the second generation of the MBUX (Mercedes user experience), now said to be twice as powerful as it was before. The voice assistant “Hey Mercedes” that controls everything now speaks 27 languages, answers general knowledge questions and is able to recognise, and communicate with, individual passengers as well as the driver. It can also link to a “smart” home, with Merc citing the example of someone who wants to find out what lights are on in their bedroom. Bit scary that...

Augmenting reality on the road ahead

Thankfully there ls no need to wear 3D glasses to get the spatial effect of the new driver display, that is achieved by what Mercedes calls eye-tracking. The 3D effect is enhanced on a giant augmented reality head-up display that can project turn arrows on to the road surface.

Anticipating your every move

Another one not for the UK, not yet anyway, this new element of MBUX uses cameras in the roof to pick up on passenger body language in order to anticipate that passenger’s intentions. Turn your head towards a window, for example, and the car will automatically lower the sunblind. It will also notice if there is a child on board but no child seat fitted.

Brace! Brace! Brace!

If the car suspects it is about to be t-boned, it can, within a few tenths of a second, jack itself up by 80mm on one side in order to better direct the forces of the crash to a stronger part of the structure. It’s the latest element of Merc’s Pre-Safe crash system, part of the E-Active suspension, but as yet is not scheduled to be fitted to UK cars.

Feel the music

The new S-Class has 10 massage programmes in the seats but some versions – sadly again not those sold in the UK – get in addition an acoustic massage mode that links to the music you are listening to through the top Burmester 4D surround sound audio system. So you do literally feel the bass right in the small of your back…