New Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Top five interior wow-factors

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has always been a flagship, not just for Mercedes-Benz.

Generations of S-Class have pioneered innovations that went on to change how cars interact with their drivers, passengers and other road users.

The all-new W223-series 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class will debut in its complete public form in early September, but the drip feed of information is already well underway.

This week it’s the interior of the new limousine that is the focus – a third space (ie: work, home and the S-Class) that Mercedes-Benz claims has a “feel good ambiences with lounge character marked by elegance, high quality and lightness”.

Here’s just our list of the wow-factor elements that are likely to make the new W223-series 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class a step change in automotive interiors.

The interior of the new-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class is designed with six guidelines in mind: unexpected moments, stimulating contrasts, stunning proportions, freeform and geometry significant graphics and natural attractions.

Pushing the design wankery aside, in our minds the key defining elements of the new S-Class interior are: larger screens and more ‘black panel’ technology; a lower dash scuttle which features large areas of high-grade materials including metals and timbers; the extensive use of lighting for mood and alerts (see below); the juxtaposition of hard and soft (very soft in some cases) surfaces; and a general softening of the lines and curves that make up the traditional elements within a car’s cabin.

The central portrait orientated screen will likely get the lion’s share of the commentary on the interior of the new S-Class, but that sells the step-change the car delivers short. It’s not hard to see the new S-Class cabin evolving into the futurist home away from home we’ve been promised by various autonomous concepts.

It’s the bespoke style of the flowing surfaces inside the new 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class that should get the attention. Insiders say they match the workmanship levels of luxury vehicles with mid and high six-figure price tags. Think R-R and the Flying B.

Head of S-Class colour and trim, Belinda Günther, told carsales the industrialisation of these surfaces was one of the key challenges of the new vehicle.

“The most challenging aspect of the new W223 S-Class in a positive way were the large décor surfaces, because of the beautiful and generous size and the merge of the materials and the shape.

“It was a big job to find the tailor-made and innovative finish for those surfaces. The structure, the flowing lines but also the ship’s deck were definitely the most challenging bits.”

Lighting plays a huge part in the way the new 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class interacts with its drivers and passengers – not just in creating and supporting mood, but also in conveying alert messages as well as providing MBUX infotainment system and climate control feedback.

Mercedes-Benz claims more than 250 LEDs are used in the ambient lighting system alone and they are 10 times brighter than the previous generation items, making them clearly visible even in bright sunlight. This enables the ambient lighting to become active parts of the driver assistance systems.

“For example, Active Blind Spot Assist warns of an impending collision with a red light animation,” Mercedes says.

Setting the climate control system to colder or warmer in individual zones now also triggers a “visible impulse” and when you use the improved 'Hey Mercedes' voice assistant (which recognises which occupant of the vehicle it is interacting with) the lighting system “animates the corresponding seat position”.

Wellness is one of the themes of the new 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Not only will the car be safer thanks to myriad driver aids, next-level crash structure and airbags aplenty, but the new limo will seek to pamper its occupants in what Benz insiders call a “noiseless NVH” environment.

Noise is better controlled than ever thanks to a combination of sound attenuation materials and active technologies, the latter likened to high-end noise cancelling headphones.

On top of that, there will be reactive and proactive systems that work to keep driver and passengers comfortable and in the case of the former, alert. The new S-Class will, for example, use eyelid tracking technology to determine whether the driver is fatigued or even stressed. The car will then adjust systems accordingly.

The reactive systems will be activated via button or by voice command.

An onboard ‘Energizing Coach’ will even suggest an “appropriate fitness or wellness programme based on vehicle and trip data”. And if the driver uses a smartphone health app or wears a fitness bracelet, the car can take information from these to inform its proactive wellness settings.

Ensuring air quality is up to snuff is part of this overall system. Thus, the W223 Mercedes-Benz S-Class gets a new cabin air filtration system that targets fine dust, pollen and odours. An ioniser and active fragrancing (with special S-Class fragrance) will also be offered.

Much is being made of the steps forward in passive and active ergonomics in the new 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Benz is claiming a “significant improvement of the interior dimensions for driver, front passenger and rear passengers” and has fine-tuned the relationship of driver to seat and steering wheel to ensure the driving position works for all shapes and sizes.

Seat and steering wheel adjustment increments are finer and there’s even an electronic, algorithm-based system that allows the car to automatically adjust your driving position and mirrors based on your height and other details. That’s voice-activated – of course.

The seats that grace the cabin of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class are worthy of a story in themselves. The redesign balances the needs of various users – even chauffeured cars – and delivers more comfort and enhanced crash performance.

New head restraints employ neck warming and audio ‘Near-ear’ functions. Heating and cooling (now via a more efficient radial fan) are a given and the massage functions offered have been overhauled.

Indeed, the six air bladders that facilitate the massage functions are now closer to the surface so that they can be felt more clearly.

A range of rear seating options will be offered across the standard and long-wheelbase 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class variants. Two- and three-seat versions, reclining seat functions, a folding centre armrest and business centre console options will all be part of the mix.