The newcomer is expected...
The newcomer is expected to be capable off-road - thanks to low-range gears and a selectable four-wheel-drive system - as well as refined on it. It will have seven seats and feature a Range Rover-style split-opening tailgate.
Spied during development...
Spied during development testing, the new luxury car will have an advantage over rivals thanks to hybrid power and an innovative collision avoidance system.
Codenamed P12, externally the car gets a sleek new design, with large, bold headlamps surrounding the trademark Mercedes grille. Sharp creases down the flanks and a high rear help disguise its size - it"s fractionally longer than the current car.
A redesigned interior will offer superb luxury, with cues taken from the latest M-Class, unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show. That will include a new automatic gearshift, which consists of a simple steering column-mounted stalk, similar to the one on BMW"s 7-Series.
But arguably the biggest innovation will be the collision-avoidance system. A development of the current radar-guided cruise control, it uses information gathered by sensors mounted on the front of the car to detect obstructions. In an emergency, it prepares the vehicle for an accident by tightening the seatbelts, then applies maximum braking power to minimise any impact. The S-Class is set to debut at September"s Frankfurt expo.