2010 Mercedes S-Class Facelift Spied in White

2010 Mercedes S-Class Facelift Spy Photo

Clear view of barely-disguised prototype

By Christopher Jackson
December 11, 2008 11:05 PM
Filed Under: German, Mercedes-Benz, Spy Photos

We've got some spy photos of the upcoming Mercedes S-Class facelift, refreshingly free of camouflage. Due to arrive in mid-2009 as a 2010 model, the freshened S-Class features a distinctive band of LED daytime running lights, new wheels and a redesigned rear fascia, as seen in past spy shots. This white prototype, caught in bright, direct sunlight, gives us the clearest look yet at the new car's lines.

The big news is on the inside, as Mercedes' flagship is expected to feature the revolutionary new SPLITVIEW display screen. The updated COMAND infotainment system is coupled to an eight-inch backlit active-matrix LCD display that allows the driver and front passenger to view two different images on the same screen. This will enable the S-Class to show a movie to the front-seat passenger while the driver retains access to all of COMAND's information systems.

Comments

ck314
December 11, 2008 10:44 PM
Now it's alles perfekt. Should have looked like this from the beginning, in my opinion... Tough confrontation with the sexy new 7-series at sight.

Motor_Yakuza
December 11, 2008 11:09 PM
Hmmm, a big car for ur boss, not to exciting.

Moviestar
December 11, 2008 11:36 PM
looks boring and that's being nice...much prefer the LS460

wjaprep
December 13, 2008 5:00 AM
"A Toyota" Bwhahahahahah +2 points to unknown

Joe_Limon
December 12, 2008 12:46 AM
hmmm, I see no appeal. Oh well, to each their own.

zyzyphe
December 12, 2008 12:50 AM
thin LED fog lamps: the new fashion

ck314
December 12, 2008 2:45 AM
not fog lamps yet, it's drl leds

machida
December 12, 2008 3:42 AM
Looks like both... DRLs within the headlamps (look at the row of LEDs across the bottom edge) and foglamps in the lower apron.

ck314
December 12, 2008 6:37 PM
Must be turn indicators and/or city lights, I am not aware of antifog LED technology, eventhough it's in the works.

benz_man
December 13, 2008 4:50 PM
I haven't gotten the kind of confirmation I prefer, but the inside word is, the LED's on the bottom are part of Mercedes' new "Adaptive High-Beam Assist" system and act (with other parts of the light cluster) as fogs (light the lower quadrant of driver-sight close to the road, and reflect lane markings in inclement weather). AHBA supposedly adjusts the low beam pattern and length constantly, and dips your high-beams for you whenever traffic is present. However, this is all hearsay.

ck314
December 15, 2008 5:57 PM
When xenon lamps started pouring around, some said they could spare foglamps but wasn't really the case. I guess this is somehow happening again with LED tech, but the fact that this car and the new E-class on some official pics appear with those lights turned on in a sunny day suggests they basically act as DRLs under normal conditions. It must be like the optional LED pack on the new Cayman replacing conventional foglamps.

Uptohere
December 12, 2008 1:12 AM
I dunno, I still like this car. LED drl's Audi: check. Merc: check. BMW?

carbonsigma
December 12, 2008 5:41 AM
BMW already has DRL angel eyes on some models.

ck314
December 12, 2008 6:40 PM
aston martin, lancia, porsche, lexus, etc, etc. wake up.

lucifa
December 14, 2008 10:50 AM
people have been modifying bmw's to have angel eyes drl's for years. nothing new.

rcw
December 12, 2008 2:05 AM
Is it just the white paint job masking the details or does this redesign seem less fussy and overdone than that of the current model? I can't figure it out. This version just seems a little more subdued, or in my opinion, more tasteful and less garish.

machida
December 12, 2008 3:44 AM
I think it's the color. The sheetmetal is unchanged, just the bumper covers, wheels and lights. While I always though the current taillamps were fussy with their body-color dividers, these just look cheap and clumsy to me, and make the rear of the car look narrow and awkward.

How I miss the old W220 model...

sub39h
December 12, 2008 6:22 AM
i've got both. trust me, the V221 with an AMG bodykit is much better

machida
December 12, 2008 5:14 PM
I'm talking about styling.

ck314
December 12, 2008 6:43 PM
W220 models were too plain and dull for a top of the range Mercedes. I haven't totally assimilated those protuberant front fenders, but it now looks cleaner, led fresh so to speak lol

benz_man
December 13, 2008 4:34 PM
The W220 was garbage, especially compared to its W140 predecessor. Cheap materials, and questionable electronic suppliers. Styling is subjective.

st_efano
December 12, 2008 7:01 AM
the rear lights remind of Nissan Teana

lucifa
December 14, 2008 10:51 AM
...i'm actually thinking maybach rear lights?

BabyMilo
December 12, 2008 7:01 AM
i dont like how they have done the rear lights, they just dont match the car...

dolcegabbana
December 12, 2008 7:50 AM
Ofcourse pics look a little stupid with the whole tape and all , we all know what a S class look like in person , it's sick , especially the amg ofcourse, but what kills it , is the stupid color matched defuser , it's like on nissan maxima SL 2007 , other than that I'm sure in person and with official pics it'll look good but idk yet we'll see , and no ls460 is not even a match , put both side by side and look at build quality and you just cant compare both, but LS is nice , but new 7 is the winner in looks there , not in built quality

ck314
December 12, 2008 6:57 PM
It's not a difussor (theese are protuberant under the car and often black) it's just some bumper trim probably in different sizes so you don't need a specific bumper associated to upscale versions (600?). Glad that they integrated tail pipes in a Lexus fashion, looks much better. As for the new 7-series finish you'd be surprised. Interior materials look even better than those in W221's mkI.

nendor
December 12, 2008 10:14 AM
This is mercedes legendary saloon, they sell 100K every year this car has been popular for generations

rgowani
December 12, 2008 2:40 PM
Even the side view mirrors have changed. Thankfully they appear much bigger than the current puny mirrors.

politz
December 12, 2008 5:13 PM
The S-class is one of my favorite cars for a while now, but the redesign is not enough to make it look 'richer' and more distinctive than the new E-class.

politz
December 12, 2008 5:14 PM
Though the S-class still looks BETTER, by the way.

giga_games
December 12, 2008 10:01 PM
agree, looks much better! cool lights!

wjaprep
December 13, 2008 5:02 AM
Looking better, it was just to round for me. Bigger mirrors.

Windtalker01
December 14, 2008 6:55 PM
Those headlamps remind me of BMW concept CS and new 7 series!!

m.nuskie
December 19, 2008 12:36 PM
Mercedes Benz s class is the worlds most advance technological car in the world it has everything in inside. but it doest have automatically folding working tables and automatic closing doors

ck314
December 22, 2008 6:31 PM
it DOES have automatic shutting doors

zimstyles
January 23, 2009 5:26 AM
it does have self closing doors, standard since 2000 i believe

miller
December 30, 2008 9:37 PM
the new 7seres from BMW IS cool not merecedes new FL S

carking
March 11, 2009 4:34 AM
But why the C-Class grille?

chucksutnick
June 6, 2009 10:02 AM
Info on the 2010 S-Class packages and pricing:

The base price is not yet released. P3 package is discontinued. P2 has everything that P3 had, with the exception of Night View Assist (NVA). NVA is offered as a separate option for $1740. There are two AMG appearance packages for 2010: one with 19" wheels, and another with 20" wheels. ABC has increased to $4040, but now includes "Crosswind Stabilization" which can keep the car level and on track in "winds approaching hurricane force."

wannaraceme
June 11, 2009 11:25 PM
This morning while driving to work along 101 Southbound from San Francisco, I saw a 2010 S-Class (with Michigan plates). I took a couple of pictures -- one on the left front while I pulled alongside the car, and another of the rear end from a couple of lanes away. The driver noticed the flash from my camera and sped off to lane 1 (center most lane) after I took the first picture. Does anyone want to take a look?

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