Mercedes’ largest sedan is dazzling with artificial intelligence technology, a more powerful V8 engine, and a star-studded facelift.
The 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been updated with refreshed 6-cylinder, plug-in hybrid, and V8 powertrains.
Its redesigned interior features massive screens, video conferencing capabilities, and an animated AI assistant.
The new S500, S580, and S580e will go on sale in the second half of 2026.
The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class has undergone a major transformation.
Mercedes has renewed more than half of the components in its new class. The most obvious design changes are the car’s new light signature. The new star headlight design, taillight details, and illuminated grille reflect Mercedes’ identity.
The new star-shaped headlights have a reversible feature and provide high-range illumination. The illuminated bonnet, used for the first time, is designed to be invisible to the driver. The front grille has been enlarged and is adorned with Mercedes-Benz stars. The door sill lights project the brand logo onto the ground. Customizable 50-spoke cast wheels complete the design.
AI-controlled interior
Mercedes’ hyperscreen is now used in the S-Class. A 12.3-inch vertical driver display, a 14.4-inch touchscreen center display, and a 12.3-inch passenger display completely fill the cockpit.
The latest MBUX system now incorporates Google automotive AI. Like the new BMW iX3, Mercedes attempts to humanize its digital helper. It can be an animated MB star or “LittleBenz,” a vaguely humanoid face with vacant eyes that looks something like a cross between a robot and the front of a car.
Optional rear-seat screens are larger than before—13.1 inches rather than 11.1—and integrated cameras allow for video conferencing capability. The tablet that used to reside between the rear seats is gone, with a pair of remotes now provided instead. Available audio systems top out with Dolby Atmos. Optional Active Ambient Lighting is also available.
Adding to the existing list of heated elements—seats, steering wheel, armrests, and headrests—the 2027 S-class becomes the first car available with heated front seatbelts. The new S-class also adds digital vent control, which allows the vents’ position to be retained in memory settings; thankfully, one can still move the vents by hand. Other interior changes include a revised center console with dual phone-charging pads and a redesigned steering wheel that swaps some of Benz’s fussy touch-swipe pads with physical controls. We feel heard.
More Powerful Powertrains
The three model designations (S500, S580, and S580e) are unchanged. The S500 returns with a turbo- and supercharged 3.0-liter inline-six now making 442 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque (472 in brief bursts with overboost). The S580’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 has been revised and now features a flat-plane crankshaft and makes 530 horsepower and 533 pound-feet, up from 496 and 516, respectively. As before, the six-cylinder and V-8 engines are supplemented by a 48-volt electrical system that powers a 23-hp starter-generator for energy regen and engine-off coasting.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain in the S580e once again is based on the S500’s inline-six. For 2027, output climbs to 576 horsepower (up from 510). EPA battery-only range is not yet available, but the Feds rated the outgoing version’s 22.7-kWh battery at 48 miles. All S-class variants continue to use a nine-speed automatic transmission and power all four wheels.
The 4.5-degree rear-steering system is now standard, while the 10-degree rear-steering system remains optional. Airmatic air springs are again standard, and optional Active Body Control returns. New for 2027, both setups are supplemented with iDamping. These intelligent active dampers pre-emptively adjust based on road conditions; the information is sent from other Mercedes-Benz vehicles to the cloud and then transmitted to the S-class.
What about the other S-class models, the AMG S63 and the Maybach variants, you ask? Mercedes isn’t ready to talk about those just yet, but we should learn what’s in store soon. Meantime, the S500, S580, and S580e are set to go on sale in the second half of the year, with pricing expected to be announced sometime between now and then.