FIRST DRIVE I 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class ven though almost 30 models make up today’s Mercedes-Benz portfolio in the U.S., the launch of an all-new S-Class is still a defining moment for Germany’s most successful premium automaker. Mercedes SUVs, particularly the GLE and GLC families, have become the brand’s volume sellers, but an S-Class is still meant to be nothing less than a statement of engineering excellence and technical expertise that underpins the very credibility of the three-pointed star. The mission statement for the 2021 S-Class is thus crystal clear. The 2021 S-Class, code-named W223, is built on a new platform known internally as MRA2. Effectively an evolution of the current car’s underpinnings, MRA2 has been reworked to package a new rear-steer axle and a larger battery for plug-in hybrid versions of the car. Compared with the
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outgoing long-wheelbase W222 S-Class, the distance between the front and rear axles has been increased by 2.0 inches to 126.6. Overall length has grown 1.3 inches to 208.2, width has gone up by 2.1 inches, and height has increased by 0.4 inch. The exterior design is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, though in detail every panel is dramatically different from the outgoing car. Up front is a bigger grille and smaller high-tech headlights; at the rear are two-section taillights that echo the vaguely triangular format seen on the A-Class sedan. Pop-out door handles that nestle flush with the door skins complement a clean bodyside, anchored by a crisp shoulder line that runs almost the full length of the car. The raked C-pillar flows seamlessly into the trunk, which is slightly larger than that of the outgoing model.
Although the S-Class is available elsewhere with a variety of powertrains, the U.S. lineup will initially be restricted to just two, with standard all-wheel drive. The entry-level S-Class will be the S 500 4Matic, powered by the M256 3.0-liter I-6 with the 21-hp, 184-lb-ft EQ Boost mild hybrid system. It produces 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. The S 580 4Matic will be powered by the M176 4.0-liter twinturbo V-8, upgraded to work with the same EQ Boost setup as the six-cylinder engine. Outputs are 496 hp and 516 lb-ft. Standard wheels for the U.S. market are 19 inches, with 20- and 21-inch wheels available as an option. The family resemblance with the existing S-Class is clear, though in person the W223 has a more contemporary look. Inside, it’s a different story. The 2021 S-Class’ interior is a dramatic
AN S-CLASS SHOULD BE A STATEMENT OF EXCELLENCE AND
MISSION AC WORDS ANGUS MACKENZIE
58 MOTORTREND.COM FEBRUARY 2021
