MTrauman

Any knowledge as to:


* Availability of order guide;


* Production start date;


* When order banks are open;


* Any changes as compared to 2015?

newyorktoLA

2015 just started! Hold on to your horses - info will be released in probably a few months - I would expect 9G-Tronic and more ambient lighting colors (a la CLA), but it's too early to tell.

MTrauman

Based on facts, I do not think it is too early to pose this question.


For MY 2015, production started on 3/20/14. That is just over ten months of production for 2015. It was also about twelve months ago that the Dealer Order Guide was released for the 2015 model year. Additionally it was just over 12 months ago dealers could not order 2014 models and the ordering switched to 2015 models. Another fact that is interesting is that the 2016 S Class Maybach will be available for sale in the US in April 2015.


Yes it is possible that MB will decide to produce the model year 2015 S Class for more then twelve months. But I wanted to pose the question nonetheless.

ajm0623

yeah - im with you, mtrauman. it's time for me to trade the 221 for a 222, but if im only six months or so from a 16 with enhancements, id like to wait as i only have 11,000 miles on the 221. so, i, too, would like to know what is being offered in the 16 - technologically and colors, etc. maybe a decent steering wheel?! haha. however, i think mb is going back to the normal production schedule - introducing the 16 in the historically-accepted sept/oct timeframe - instead of what they did with the 15, whose production and introduction was accelerated to shorten the 14 model year run for some reason. alas, i have nothing to offer you in terms of real details on the 16.

LovinMercedes

I was told that 2016 was going back to the regular production cycle and that 2015 would be a slightly longer year.

I think this means, DOG's in April/May time frame, and deliveries toward the middle/end of the summer.

Obviously, I am only repeating some information given to me, and it may not be correct.

SB_NYC

I am considering trading in my 2014 for a 2016 come summer time, however the only thing that may hold me back is the that I'm afraid 2017 will be the facelifted model, which would kill value on a 2016. If that is the case, I think it's odd they are releasing the 600 maybach as a 2016 and not wait for a 2017 facelifted version.

MTrauman

Would you consider another European Delivery like your '14?


I really enjoyed following all your pictures and write-up on your '14 Euro Delivery.


I also think it is odd they are releasing a 2016 model S Class Maybach without changing the Model year for all S Class cars to 2016 at the same time. One of the facts that could indicate production starts for all 2016 S Class cars in March 2015--but maybe not.

hyperion667

I'd like to see a green ambient color

ajm0623

yes. if we look at how the 221 run went - 17 could very well be the facelift. seems to be a 7 yr run latley with the first three years as the original design and the last four years as a facelift. with tweaks along the way. to wit 221 (222)
07-09 (14-16) original design
10+ (17+) facelift
12-13 (19-20) bigger engine (???? for 222)
14 (21) new chassis

hyperion667

didn't know cla has 12 colors! what bugs me about the S colors is that a few are the same color, with a different huebut it does WOW anyone that sees it at night including me and my family

BluetecKING

I think you are right because the 2015 Plug in still has yet to be produced. My dealer has had no word on it and said it would most likely be special order only. 2015 is as stated under future veichles on mbusa.com

mortgagemaster

I asked my sales person about the 2016 ordering guide and after asking her Sales Manager relayed back to me that late May/early June is when they expect the ordering guides to be available. I am ordering a 2016 S550 coupe and she suggested that June would be the earliest we could order it. I want to pick it up the first week of October in Stuttgart so a early June order should be OK. One change that is rumored is that the Bengal Red/Black designo leather may be made available across the line in the coupes, so that changes my preference from a Lunar Blue with porcelain/espresso to silver with red/black. We will see if that rumor is true

Wolfman

July will be the month for 2016 models (for delivery, that is). Lovin is spot-on, regular production cycle is in place now.
MB already stated the 7 year life cycle, so splitting this into 3.5 years for the facelift is about right.
9G-Tronic is a given since the coupe already has it and the S500(550) 4-matic Maybach comes with it as well (can be ordered now, delivery starting in June in Germany). Btw, there will also be a S400 Maybach for China and other countries that heavily tax big-engined cars.

Edit. 9G-Tronic in the coupe is available in Europe as you can get non-4matics there. Not in the US at this time. This will change with the 16 model year...

Streamliner

Yeah, me too.

mortgagemaster

Confirmed last week by looking in Netstar at my sales person's desk...she has customers still on the list for an S Coupe from 1 year ago. One order shows up as a 2015 model and it is being produced in mid May, arrival late June. So that confirms that the 2016 run will not start until after that, with a September/October delivery timeframe. She estimates still that I can order my 2016 in early to mid June for early October pick up in Germany..

Long3494Qut

I'd like to see 12+ ambient colors and a spare and a non pano roof.

Streamliner

Can I get an AMEN?

If the 2016 was available without that %#€£¥@&?! Pano Roof and with a jack & spare under the trunk floor, I would take the big financial hit, dump my 2015 and order a new one. My granddaughters would love more ambient colors!

emnic1

Looking for Euro delivery of 2016 S550 4matic sedan late this year. Hoping for 9 speed transmission and USA version of Speed Limit Assist. Seems MB would want to catch up or top BMW on these two. Any word on these or other enhancements?

SB_NYC

9 speed is already out in some models, so I assume they will release for the W222. Probably would make the model more fuel efficient and a shade faster. It would a way to market the 2016 for new buyers despite the 2017+ (assuming) debuting as the facelift model.

MBZSW221

My guess is that the facelift will have a sharper front end which I noticed happens on almost all facelifted S-Class gens.

Wolfman

Facelift?? That should be due for the '18 model

MBZSW221

18??? Usually they facelift on the 4th model year.

Wolfman

Right. Started in 2014, will be in 17 for the '18 model.

SB_NYC

No, the 4th model year should be 2017 debuting august-september if 2016

2014...
2015...
2016...
(2017)...

IE- w220: 200-2002+2003-2006
W221- 2007-2009+2010-2013

Wolfman

I guess we'll have to see when they will facelift the car. With newer tech and shorter attention span of consumers, things could definitely change.

But you are making the S-Class life cycles sound much shorter than they actually are. They are typically 7 years or even longer, not the six years based on your listing.

In the past, there was a much longer timespan for US model introductions. That was different with the W222.
Given the rapid US roll-out of the car (just 3 months later), they compressed the 2014 model year and stretched the 2015 year.

Here are the full model life cycles:
W220: August 13, 1998 – July 20, 2005 = 7 years (give/take a month).
W221: August 2005 – June 3, 2013 = almost 8 years.
W222: June 2013 (but in the US already in Sept. 2013)