W223-Gen Mercedes-Benz S-Class Facelift Unveiled – New V8, More Screens

The seventh-gen Mercedes-Benz S-Class has just received a massive facelift, featuring a new flat-plane crank V8 engine.

It has been almost six years since the seventh-gen Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223) debuted globally, and this flagship limousine is finally getting a heavy facelift. Unveiled in conjunction with the 140th anniversary of the first automobile patented by Merc’s founder Karl Benz, the new S-Class gains a refreshed exterior design, some equipment overhaul, and a new V8 heart.

We’ll start with the design changes, where the refreshed S-Class gets a new front grille that is 20% larger than the previous one. Mind you, both the grille and the hood ornament are now illuminated for the first time, and there are also the unique chrome stars studded across the grille inserts.

Sticking with the star's elements, the model also sports new LED headlights and taillights with Merc’s three-pointed star lighting signatures, which are similar to what we saw on both the new E-Class (W214) and the GLC EQ. Not to forget, the upgraded S-Class also rides on new 20-inch wheels that look like a nightmare for auto detailers.

Mercedes-Benz further elaborated that buyers can pick from up to 150 exterior colour options and over 400 interior ones, courtesy of its new ‘Manufaktur Made to Measure’ programme. On top of that, the new S-Class can also be opted with the AMG Line package that adds sporty bits like the AMG Line-specific bodykit, 21-inch AMG wheels, and more.

But perhaps the biggest disappointment for old-school Merc fans lies inside the new S-Class, as it adopts a more futuristic, screen-laden setup. In place of the luxurious wood trims on older S-Classes is the triple-screen MBUX Superscreen setup, featuring a 14.4-inch central infotainment screen, a smaller 12.3-inch digital metre cluster, and a 12.3-inch front passenger screen—all powered by the new MB.OS that supports over-the-air (OTA) updates.

To make space for this Superscreen setup, both the front dash and central console have been revamped, with the latter housing a dual wireless charger and illuminated cup holders. As for the steering wheel, it features tons of physical controls and rollers instead of the finicky touch-sensitive ones, while the gear selector is still located behind it.

Another new and potentially controversial addition to the cabin are the circular air vents that are now digitally controlled via the screens, where drivers and passengers can store up to eight positions—something that Merc described as an “innovative system that automatically adapts the position of air vents—both front and rear—to a customer’s desires.”

Moving on to the most important place in an S-Class, the rear passenger compartment can be opted with two new 13.1-inch entertainment screens with detachable remote controls and built-in cameras that allow passengers to hold virtual meetings. As for the seats, they are powered, reclinable, and come with ottoman support to give passengers a near zero-gravity seating experience.

Rounding off the interior changes is the new AI-powered MBUX Virtual Assistant that relies on ChatGPT4o and Microsoft Bing Search, as well as the standard Burmester 3D surround sound system that can be upgraded to the optional 4D version featuring 39 speakers.

Beneath the hood, the updated S-Class gets a series of powertrain options, including a new flat-plane-crank V8 in the S580 4Matic variant. Internally known as the M117 Evo, the 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 mill is mated to a 48-volt mild hybrid (MHEV) system to deliver a combined output of 530 hp and 750 Nm, which is a significant power upgrade over the pre-facelift version.

The lower two variants, on the other hand, share the same 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six that produces 376 hp and 560 Nm on the lower-specced S450, or up to 443 hp and 600 Nm on the S500.

As for the plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), there’s the S450e with a 3.0-litre inline-six that is mated to an electric motor and a 22-kWh battery pack for a combined output of 429 hp and 680 Nm, allowing a rapid century sprint time of 5.7 seconds and an EV-only range of 118 km (WLTP).

Meanwhile, the peppier S580e is largely identical to the previous version, featuring the same battery, motor, and engine setup that are tuned to produce a higher system output of 577 hp and 750 Nm. This reduces its century sprint time to only 4.4 seconds, at the expense of a slightly shorter pure electric range of 103 km (WLTP).

In Europe and some other overseas markets, the facelifted S-Class can still be opted with the 3.0-litre inline-six turbodiesel options that can deliver up to 362 hp and 750 Nm.

Buyers can also expect to find some mechanical enhancements on the new S-Class, including rear-wheel steering, air suspensions, and even the optional E-Active Body Control system for better stability and comfort.

The new W223 Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift is scheduled to hit the showroom as early as the second half of the year in certain markets, but no confirmed dates have been given for its arrival in our market. For reference, the current W223-gen S-Class is available in two guises for our market, namely the locally-assembled (CKD) S580e PHEV that retails from RM738,888, and the top-spec Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance that is tagged higher at RM2.323 million.

That said, three of the new S-Class will embark on a global adventure as part of its ‘140 Years, 140 Places’ anniversary celebration, spanning more than 50,000 km across Europe, South America, North America, Australia, Asia, and Africa.