Wolfman

Here are some details on the W222 facelift. Enjoy

Introduction is in April/May 2017 with deliveries in August as MY18 in the US.

Many are technical updates but there will be the usual cosmetic ones as well.
The biggest changes are happening on the engine side of things…


Interior:
New LED display unit and steering wheel with touch pads (a la W213)
Seats will also feature massage functions in the seat base
64 color Ambient lighting

Electronics:
Updated comand & telematic software
Remote Park Pilot via Smart phone
Improved Distronic Plus with lane change assistant, Drive Pilot. The car will stay in center of the lane and does the stuff listed for the W213
48Volt for onboard electronics

Exterior:
New 84 segment multi-beam LED headlight with new LED DLRL design (triple eyebrow)
The usual front/rear end updates (front/rear bumpers, exhaust, tail lights)

Engines:
S550: The M278 gets kicked out and gets the 4 liter V8 M176 engine
S63 gets the M177 4 liter Turbo V8 engine
V12 engine with more power and 4matic!
M256 Inline 6 Turbo
9G-Tronic transmission for all engines (I assume excluding the V12 but who knows?)

Non US stuff:
OM656 Inline 6 Diesel in 2 power levels: S400d +?
S300H gets dropped
S250d via OM654 engine
Some 2nd gen hybrids

RJC

Good info

5634MG

Some new spy shots:

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/2018-mercedes-benz-s-class-facelift-spyshots-reveal-new-interior-104602.html#

WSH

Rumors are rumors

Wouldn't want 4Matic on 65 unless 4M tech vastly improved

'16 S65 Coupe w/MBC is phenomenal vs CA mtn twisties (notably sharper/more enjoyable than 600lb lighter '14 SL65; notably more precise/stable vs ?1200lb ltr GTS)....Airmatic sucks until proven otherwise vs relevant use cases in CA, where large (?majority) % of US' >$250K AMGs are sold/driven

Need to solve jerky 65 7-sp autobox vs urban driving before attempting 9-sp or 15 (or 100+)-sp box w/dubious upsides when can't solve basic box vs a 740lb-ft motor (where no. gears is fairly irrelevant, but downshift blips are vastly enjoyable in CA mtn twisties driving)

Also, '16 S65 CCB are noisy (even post-proper bedding) vs utterly quiet, arguably world's best brakes of '13+ SL65 CCB: vs same CA urban/mtn twisties driving

TestnDoc

Any word on 4K connectivity? I like the MB apps, but they are too slow.

Wolfman

4k? You mean 4G? If so, CarPlay will solve that by not even bothering with MB's build-in crap. That will be in the MY17.

That said, MB is 10 years behind on the connectivity here in the US but there is a big push at MB to become the leader in connectivity/integration. Europe is not as bad as here though...

Wolfman

Well, we'll have to see but I think you are confusing 4matic with Airmatic.

While those two go together right now, 4matic as applied in AMG cars is quite good.
The question is wether MB can put MBC into an AWD car. I don't know the answer but assume they are working this area especially since BMW has introduced a 600hp V12 with AWD and their version MBC, although with air suspension.

So in the city a regular 760 will beat the S65 handily. I am sure MB will not let this stay that way for long...

Jason B

Ok, am I noticing larger fender flares in the updated pics??? I just looked casually, then sent that link to a friend and he goes, "the fender flares are back!". I looked again, and I seem to see larger fenders that are more flared vs the 14-17 ???

Wolfman

No, this is how the W222 looks. There are no exterior updates to date in the wild...This appears to be a S400h with a S600 grill.

Fender flares are gone for good. From what I understand is that MB looks at them as something of the past.

Jason B

Yea, I loved them. Looks like the last one left with them is the CLS.

hyperion667

are you *&%#$% me? 64 colors of ambient light?? WTF!!! I want 64 colors of ambient light too!
steering wheel looks interesting as well; all knobby and spin-ish

5634MG

No more distronic stalk; controls will be on the left side of the steering wheel

Jason B

Interesting. Is this a good thing?

Wolfman

With more focus on the semi-autonomous driving and auto-passing it's probably not a bad idea to have easier access to the controls.

Streamliner

I read somewhere that the new E Class would have a Rear Cross Traffic Alert type of system, that would warn the driver, as they were backing up, if a car or ped was approaching from either side. Do we think the 2018 222 will have such a system? Many GM cars have had if for years now.

Wolfman

Absolutely. All W213 assistive systems are part of the facelift

TestnDoc

I hope this is correct. My lease is up in the fall, and will either get the new E or get an S if it has all the goodies above.

Wolfman

It is confirmed If anything, there will be more, not less...

TestnDoc

Thanks wolf. I'm all in

Streamliner

Me too!

Chucky300

This time around - there was an extra year added before the face lift model was issued.

W220
2000
2001
2002
2003 FACELIFT
2004
2005
2006

W221
2007
2008
2009
2010 Facelift
2011
2012
2013

W222
2014
2015
2016
2017 (extra year before facelift)
2018 FACELIFT

Jason B

So, that means only about 2-3 more years until a complete redesign?

LovinMercedes

Me three!

swaynesworld

How can one be really sure as to the redesign and then whether that design is an improvement acceptable to the driver?

Practically thinking reviewing the redesign after it is released makes all the difference in owner satisfaction. In other words, I don't want to be a "Guinea Pig" for a redesign that has too many kinks to work out. I'd like someone to do that work for me so I can have greater enjoyment of the product! "To wait is gain"

Just my views.

Wolfman

I's a facelift. No metal changes to speak of; just the usual bumper/headlights/taillights and updated electronics. What kinks are there to be worked out?

You see it, like it, buy it. If not, you don't...