Best Shots Yet of Mercedes S-Class Facelift

Almost undisguised

by Clinton Deacon
August 20, 2008 7:00 PM
Filed Under: German, Mercedes-Benz, Spy Photos

The Mercedes S Class has only been on the market for a short while but with rivals such as the BMW 7-series and Audi A8, the German manufacturer cannot afford to be complacent. Ahead of its launch our spies have caught a prototype shed of almost all of its disguise.

Clearly visible are the new front skirt and fog lights, a revised bumper, as well as the new side mirrors. There will also will be a modified layout of the headlights: while the flashers will move to the bottom of the units, LED daylight driving lamps will be fitted to the outer edges of the front lamp units. A slightly re-designed rear bumper and taillights without the coloured “metal” stripes will round off the facelift.

Engines are likely to benefit from a bit of emission busting tuning whilst the rumours state the model will be available with both petrol and diesel hybrids by 2010.

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Comments

NOTAY

August 20, 2008 7:21 PM

looks like a stretched ford mondeo

fatt1

August 20, 2008 9:25 PM

r u blind?

NOTAY

August 21, 2008 11:54 PM

no but i think u are

fatt1

August 22, 2008 6:03 PM

haha ur tooo funni :D. wat mondeo u been lukin at dat luks lik dis s-class u dumass?

NOTAY

August 25, 2008 3:28 PM

ur a dumass u cant spell

fatt1

August 26, 2008 5:17 PM

ok as ur not familiar with txt slang...i shall write it in long...DUMBASS

NOTAY

August 26, 2008 10:01 PM

u shouldnt talk about urself like that, ino thats wot all ur friends call u but dont call ur self a DUMBASS

fatt1

August 27, 2008 11:16 PM

hmm...real smooth lol not so much with the logic eh?

NOTAY

August 28, 2008 3:19 PM

listen lets jus forget all this, it was jus my opinion on how the car look and u disagreed fair enough every1 has different opinions.

alessandro

August 20, 2008 7:27 PM

wow, look, black! Like after grill-party.

RS5

August 20, 2008 8:00 PM

Audi should've patented the use of daytime LEDs. LEDs really look stunning and completely change the road presence a car has, especially why I love the S5 and S6. Too bad now that other manufacturers like Mercedes and BMW have started to use them, especially for their uglier cars. LEDs could've been a huge one up advatange for Audi.

RCarvalho

August 20, 2008 10:02 PM

The first car that used LED's was the past BMW 3 series coupé with the restyling!! So Audi just copied that.... as they always do! BMW and Mercedes are a few steps above Audi.... Audi is at the same level as VolksWagen.

Asger

August 21, 2008 1:42 AM

Uh, no RCarvalho. Audi used LEDs in concepts as far back as 2003 with the Le Mans and the Nuvolari concepts. Try again when you're better informed.

RS5

August 21, 2008 4:03 AM

True, Audi has been experimenting with different lighting methods since a while ago, even before any other company. Carvalho, get your facts straight. And by the way, I was talking about front LEDs. Now many cars have rear LEDs; they're pretty common these days.

RS5

August 21, 2008 4:05 AM

Unless you were talking about the rings around the headlamps. Do you seriously think that those look anything nearly like those on the R8, S5 and S6? If you do, you must be blind to think that Audi copied BMW in that.

ShinyG

August 21, 2008 8:30 AM

Somewhere deep down I wished Audi did patent LEDs as driving lights, that way they wouldn't become overused like every other design cue on most german cars. On the other side, patenting LED driving lights is as stupid as patenting the wheel. Only an american would think of that and only in America that would it be possible. Followed by years and years of lawsuits of course ;) To be back on topic: this car is big, inefficient when used by single corporate executives driving it alone in rush-hour traffic and subjectively ugly. I call this a lowered SUV for it's uselesness!

mmr66

August 20, 2008 8:01 PM

now the front looks like the c class if you look closely.

wjaprep

August 20, 2008 10:52 PM

It looks better. I like the tailights. The car is still a bit to blob for my taste, but its looking better. I hope we get a swb soon.

BabyMilo

August 21, 2008 12:10 AM

i love the s class and now they've made it look even better =D

GPKH

August 21, 2008 12:24 AM

It's amazing how Audi and Merc are copying BMW's twin headlights. no wonder you find it looking better BabyMilo

wjaprep

August 21, 2008 11:15 PM

eh, kinda sorta. Cept Merc came out w/ double headlamps in 1971 for us reasons and bmw in 1970. Anyweigh, bmw still has their own unique look where as Mercs look more as one headlamp. And Audis dnt really hav double headlamps either...

GPKH

August 21, 2008 12:26 AM

The side mirrors don't go with the car, it was taken from the GLK directly1

darzav

August 21, 2008 12:42 AM

RCarvalho is absolutely right. Merc and BMW are always one step ahead. If you knew anything about cars you would know BMW were the first to come up with the LED day time driving lights in the 3-series. Maybe you would also like to know Merc came up with seat belts. Audi took it? So did all other manufacturers. What if Merc patented it?

Regardless of RS5 lack of knowledge. The S-class looks stunning as always. It is truely the leader of its class.

RS5

August 21, 2008 4:08 AM

Seat belts are a necessity and safety innovation, LEDs are an accessory that are not necessary in all cars, but just make cars look unique and futuristic. Get the difference, or too complicanted for your simple mind to comprehend? And the S class is pretty damn ugly, as well as most of the other products that are coming out of Mercedes and BMW these days. That's my opinion, I don't care what you think.

Joe_Limon

August 21, 2008 1:00 AM

S-class, I think it's supposed to stand for sporty class or something like that... but to me the styling is more along the lines of sedated-class, as in it would bore yourself to sleep if you were forced to look at it for any extended period of time.

benz_man

August 21, 2008 3:04 AM

In English, S-class translates to "special class". The W221 is boring to you? Have you driven one for any time?

machida

August 21, 2008 5:51 PM

The S-Class name derives from super. Basically it's from the German for "large" and nothing more than that. The larger Mercedes-Benz models have had S in their model name (number) since the 1930s. The actual name S-Class was not used formally by M-B until the 1970s.

benz_man

August 21, 2008 7:35 PM

Mercedes Benz's title is: Sonderklasse. Can any German speaking readers translate this for me? I'd be very gratefull...

afterace2

August 22, 2008 1:34 PM

sonderklasse = special class

tumbo

August 21, 2008 2:18 AM

RCarvalho, you win the price for the most stupid comment of the year.

davethepetrolhead

August 22, 2008 10:29 AM

@ Benz_man Sonderklasse translates to "special class". You don't need to speak/understand German just use the Babel fish website type in the 2 languages u want to convert. Then the words u want to convert & you should have your answer.

benz_man

August 22, 2008 6:15 PM

I'm aware. Those translations can be a bit crude sometimes. I wanted to hear (see) a true German speaking persons translation while I had the opportunity.

norther

August 21, 2008 3:43 AM

my god.. would u look at those eyes. this is one ugly sun of a gun!

Merc-Benz

August 21, 2008 7:20 AM

WOOW!!! great car!

wisp

August 21, 2008 10:39 AM

Fashion trends have a bad habit of looking cool today and stupid a while later. I can promise you that these day light running lights if over done like on Audis will look pretty nerdy in 2 years time. I'm a BMW fan but their rings that looked cool not too long ago now look dated and the same will happen to Audi's over emphasised LED's. The point is we will pretty much soon be seeing a crazy use of LED's on every second car even on Nano's should Tata have his way. They will be so common and boring.

This Merc now looks too Japenese like a Toyota Crown or something.

afterace2

August 21, 2008 2:12 PM

same story was with lexus-style white rear lamps few years ago, they used to look cool at the begining, but too many brands copied this, as well as too many people used the aftermarket lights in this style for their cars. Now it looks just silly.

benz_man

August 21, 2008 7:45 PM

LEDs for DRLs is not a fashion trend. The LEDs use considerably less energy than conventional halogen DRLs, and they will last the life of the vehicle. BMW is combining LED tech with other small efficiency contributions to raise fuel economy numbers 1-2 MPG on all of their vehicles. When those extra dollars per gallon are in your pocket, I bet you'd be happy to see LEDs on lots of cars...

Joe_Limon

August 21, 2008 11:18 PM

1-2mpg? jebus their cars are fuel pigs if they can get those kind of economy gains and still not have any production cars able to hit 20mpg in the city

benz_man

August 21, 2008 11:47 PM

Joe_, the tech isnt in production yet. I think North America will begin the roll-out in 2010. CAFE is f****** up everybodies future plans.

Joe_Limon

August 22, 2008 12:58 AM

yes, thats the thing ppl don't understand, peak fuel efficiency found at peak torque/power. But running at peak fuel efficiency/power pollutes more... causing car companies to de-tune their cars to meet the CAFE standards.

benz_man

August 22, 2008 3:24 AM

Yeah, GM has killed its V12 program (for good) and canceled a high-feature Northstar replacement. Mercedes has devoted itself to forced induction on every model by 2012, Ford has practically done the same with EcoBoost. The new CAFE standards came with no warning, after manufacturers were well into their future models. It sucks, but its good for home; aka Earth. Now, if we could just get the other 78% of industry thats polluting our atmosphere, we might have a fighting chance...

IpsesNipse

August 21, 2008 11:25 AM

bmw didnt have any front daylight leds Audi came up with it a long time ago. the circle light on the beemers arent leds just plain nicer looking lights. Read about thongs insted of just thinking it might be so cuse u like the brand more. None of the german brand copy of each other, it would be too obvious and humiliating. Koreans and americans can copy cause they are actually the same. Bottoline is that Audi had the daylight leds first. But its not copying any more than using a diffusor or integrated indicators.

daviepops

August 21, 2008 11:34 AM

The current S class was pig ugly from day one and this update still leaves it light years behind rivals Audi A8, Lexus LS and BMW 7 series in terms of style ... because this Merc has NONE ... even if it was the most comfortable and best built car ever made I still wouldn't choose something as dull as this.

DriveCritic

August 21, 2008 12:00 PM

The only difference that I can see (without comparing this photo with a pre-facelift one) is the changes to the headlight design - the use of two projector lamps.

IpsesNipse

August 21, 2008 12:07 PM

And Audi isnt any step behind. Audi has the best diesel engines and out the germans the best familycars

kevoluetion

August 21, 2008 12:12 PM

Those who always attack Audis are those who feel threatened by them, and always need to reassure BMW and Benz are the leading brands. WRONG! I knew it, sooner or later someone will copy the daytime LEDs

BritBoy

August 21, 2008 12:36 PM

How on earth could you Patent LED Daytime Running Lights? In some Scandinavian countries daytime running lights are compulsory (Volvo anyone?) and is currently being made law in the UK. An LED is just an advancement of the basic lightbulb, there is NO WAY you could patent the use of an LED in a motor vehicle. If you could patent the use of an LED light then surely there is nothing to stop a manufacturer patenting Xenon headlamps or just the plain old Halogen headlamp?

IpsesNipse

August 21, 2008 1:45 PM

I think it looks quite plastic and cheap. And the grey stripes on the brake lights look stupid as in the old one. No impruvement in styling. The old s looked nicer and more expensive. I would rather buy a used old one than a new even if they costed the same

benz_man

August 21, 2008 7:32 PM

WOW, the W220 was a POS! That car is one of the single reasons Mercedes lost so much ground in quality tests. The current S-class (W221) is picking up where the 1992-1999 (W140) left off. Wise vehicle purchasing decisions include more than just what a car looks like. You sound like a 16-year-old female "I like that color, daddy."

The_woo_factor

August 21, 2008 1:53 PM

Guys. Stop arguing. You all know Audis are better than its rivals, especially in the styling department. Face it! BMWs are all ugly and Mercs are just old man's cars. This one is no exception.

BritBoy

August 21, 2008 2:23 PM

Ipsesnipse - I think the it is losing the stripes on the back lights - it looks like tape in those pictures. At least with BMW, Merc, etc they show a bit of imagination and varity with their design. Unlike 1 design Audi who take the same sausage different length "philosophy" too far. Try lining up an A4, A5 and new A6 and spotting any differences in the nose or tail. Boring.com

kevoluetion

August 22, 2008 8:29 AM

If you cant, then you're not a very good "car fan"

The_woo_factor

August 23, 2008 8:53 AM

Same sausage different length? At least all sausages look awesome. Unstated elegance my friend.

The_woo_factor

August 23, 2008 8:55 AM

Boring? BMWs are ugly and Mercs are just for old folkes. You sound like a youngish guy, last thing u want to be seen is in an old folks' car.

wisp

August 21, 2008 3:03 PM

I like Britboys statement "same sausage different length philosophy". The suprising thing is that certain people go Wow! nice! everytime 'Tina Turner' shows up on stage with the same stage dress in different colours. Don't you think this is a lack of imagination from the singer. Now picture the 'guy next door' that Wows at the same sausage different length every time a butcher cuts a different lenth everytime. Audi must really be amused at it's clients level of interest in their extremely cost effective designs. I bet it's execs laugh at the buyers of their cars behind closed doors.

Pentium

August 21, 2008 3:50 PM

yes he is :)

seemshaz

August 21, 2008 4:23 PM

can merc stop with the facelift come make something new

machida

August 21, 2008 5:58 PM

The current W221 is only 3 years old! Have you not yet noticed how car life cycles work? Typically for a German car, a model is completely redesigned every 6 years (give or take). In the middle, they freshen its looks with a facelift, usually just soft trim and things like taillamps. Such changes do not require major reengineering and extensive crash testing, which would take away precious engineering resources that are already being devoted the replacement model due in another 3 years or so.

Tuner_Mad

August 21, 2008 5:21 PM

Looks decent.

AMG version please!

IpsesNipse

August 21, 2008 6:52 PM

I just dont get it why it looks so plastic when Mercs have alway looked so solid and well done.

500lbman

August 21, 2008 7:13 PM

Anyone who thinks an Audi A8 or a BMW 7-Series, or any other large premium class sedan is better than the S-Class doesn't know a thing about the cars in that segment and has not driven all the cars in this segment. The S-Class debuted almost every saftey system available on ALL cars nowadays. Electronic Stability Program, traction control, brake assist, air bags, anti-lock brakes, crumple zones, all came first on the S-Class. If you get into a BMW 7-Series and try to tell me it is a better looking car that is easier to live with and drives better and is safer than the S550, you are insane. The Audi? Talk about heavy and numb... Cannot handle near as well as the S-Class. Not to mention you could go buy a VW Phaeton for a lot less money and get the exact same car. The S-Class has not low-line equal. Drive the cars for a day and do some research about the developement and amenities of the cars. You cannot dispute the S-Class' greatness. It is the benchmark in the premium sedan segment.

benz_man

August 21, 2008 7:50 PM

He's right

RS5

August 21, 2008 10:42 PM

Why don't you do some research yourself. The base MSRP for a new Phaeton (while it was still being sold in the US) is only a couple thousand dollars less than that of the A8, which is exactly why nobody bought the VW.

benz_man

August 21, 2008 11:07 PM

RS5, a well maintained, low mileage, 05 Phaeton is around $30K now. A similarly optioned and maintained 2005 A8 is worth aprx 37% more. Go figure...

RS5

August 22, 2008 8:07 AM

Why would you compare the prices of used cars. A new 2004 base Phaeton cost 65,000 USD. A new 2004 base A8 cost 69,000 USD. Go look it up. 500lbman has no idea what he's talking about.

kevoluetion

August 22, 2008 8:33 AM

Then why is Benz so quick to come up with a facelift if it felt it was on top of the ladder?

benz_man

August 22, 2008 8:51 AM

Because an 05 Phaeton is the cheapest way any middle-class person can get close to owning a Continental Flying Spur or brand new A8. While the A8 is not an exact clone, many of the components are shared. The A8 gets a spaceframe too.

500lbman

August 22, 2008 5:12 PM

Who cares how much a Phaeton really costs? The point is the S-Class is a better car than all of them. I am right, you are wrong, I am smart, you are not, I am good looking, you are not attractive, etc...

RS5

August 23, 2008 8:16 PM

Who cares? Just because you were wrong? You sound very mature, like someone who would've actually driven an S class..not. I care that you're wrong because it shows that you don't know what you're talking about. I'd take an A8 over an S class or a 7 series just because the latter two are just so damn ugly.

racsozelev

August 21, 2008 11:07 PM

well, in spain the LED front light issue is seen as something ridiculous, given the amount of daylight hours we enjoy here. it is more of a show off (hey, here i come with my audi)than anything else. you recognize these new audis coming from kilometers, like there is no other thing more interesting than them on the road. goes with the nouveau-rich label that marks these cars in my country. this is very common coment i´ve heard from other car enthousiasts. i don´t know if it is possible to turn them off. i hope so.

wjaprep

August 21, 2008 11:17 PM

Yes, I agree, DRLs are pointless in America. Espically LEDs which are just blinding.

benz_man

August 21, 2008 11:50 PM

DRLs save lives man! And LEDs aren't blinding unless you hold your eyeball two-inches from the d*** thing...

kevoluetion

August 22, 2008 8:36 AM

People complain when Audis design are subtle and not agressive enough, and when Audi comes up with something that draws attention, you guys complain its too 'look at me'...you wont be saying that when every car maker has led on their front lights later.

wjaprep

August 23, 2008 12:08 AM

Ok, fair enough. DRLs are blinding TO ME (my mother grandmother, cousin, a few friends...)but honestly, they really are pointless in America where the sun is out for hours @ a time almost daily., I think theyre a great idea for the UK and Netherlands, we just really dont need them here in America... and somehow I always come off as an Audi hater... that is false. The TT (and beastly S8) is one of my favorite cars ever. But anyweigh (I know it spelt anyway, but tht looks cooler), Ive alweigs(...same with always) though DRLs were stupid in America, on GM cars, Toyota, "Lexus", BMW, Merc and everone else who uses them, I mean, if you can't see a car comming in daylight, should you REALLY be driving?

alessandro

August 29, 2008 2:55 PM

Daytime driving lights on isa a mandatory thing in Northern Europe.

wisp

August 22, 2008 1:05 PM

Led's have already have started to get abused, check ps'd Merc - there's more to come from other makers and roads will soon look like 'Vegas' at night.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080821.003/2012-mercedes-blk-details-emerge

Targa_Florio

August 22, 2008 3:13 PM

Wrong, BMW diesels are undeniably the most power efficient, the smoothest, the most eco-friendly (4 cylinders), and in 6-cylinder guise almost as smooth as a gas engine (try it out with the 286hp 335d Coupé).

Audi's diesel are a bit more "agricultural", especially the 4 cylinders borrowed from volkswagen (even those with common rail).

The breakthrough from volkswagen in terms of engine is the new 2.0 TSI with 211hp, derived from the 1.8 TSI (gasoline). Interestingly, it works a bit like a diesel with a peak power at 4500rpm, then the output stays constant up close to the redline. And its fuel consumption is comparable with a 200hp diesel (except when flooring the pedal).

PotatoEater

August 22, 2008 5:47 PM

so much jabber. loud exhaust notes. empty vessels make the most.

michelin901

August 25, 2008 10:07 AM

i prefer the old s as well. this one looks a bit too plasticky and those body colored light strips were just wrong. but theres no denying the fact that the s always introduces the latest tech and will remain the leader in its class.

isaacu

September 3, 2008 4:58 PM

Mercedes-Benz have done what they do best with their S-Class. Absolute minimal changes to what is a "Class- act".

"Daimler Benz, you have the helm. Warp 9!......"

Isaacu

isaacu

September 3, 2008 9:48 PM

My comment above was made at September 3, 2008 2:58:47 PM!

res Ipsa loquitur!

Isaacu

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