You are right, it's relatively tight, but items beyond the drivetrain, such as items related to seats, composition of paint, composition of glass layers, laser technology and calibration, light lenses hydrophobic-layer protection, etc don't get finalized until few months before release date. In other words, no reason to stop developments if it can be enhanced until last minute (items that are classified as "enhancing features") meaning even if it won't work, risk is low and they could proceed without it. One example if you remember is the 2014 W222 (1st year) that came without the touch pad (instead they installed a standard phone keypad). No one was able at that time to provide a glass composition that won't brake quickly at high temperatures and pressure under laboratory conditions, so they decided to proceed without it and then an enhancing unit with a more rigid glass composition was introduced in 2015 W222 (yet even that one has shown some crack issues in some cars after years). This type of enhancing accessories do get very tight deadlines and many German companies seek help from outside through licensing to accelerate the development phase.
Another example of these accessories, try to break one of the window button/switches, and you will notice a a crystal-like structure (cone shape) between the LED spot light an the surface of the window switches to make transmitted LED light through it be very even (no glare but still shinny) when projected against the surface of the buttons so you won't feel there is a shiny bulb underneath the button. These cones inside the switches act as a light scattering sheets for short-pitch LED arrays to achieve acceptable spatial luminance uniformity.
That could have been replaced easily by a dummy shape cone until the crystalline structure of a certain glass is developed to make the light projected on the button from the LED spot less "glary" as it's right now!
See this real life example: https://www.led-professional.com/res...led-luminaires
you will be supersized when you find how many innovations and technologies are their actually in the car that 95% of people would never even notice if they were included or not.

 

Now that was an interesting post.

 

You come across as being rude and egotistical. Do you have proof that Wolfman has been less than honest on his comments about the release date of the W223? Wolfman has been a great contributor to this forum. I have learned a lot by his posts.

 

Wolfman and I have discussed that before in an earlier post months ago and we continued the discussion so your comment describing me as rude is an indication of you being the rude person here. It's between me an him, I have not said he was not honest, he was honest and very honest, my entire discussion with him was about the need for a valid reference when publishing critical dates. This has nothing to do with his previous contribution which i've also endorsed in many previous cases, this forum it share info and learn from each others and share opinions, if you don't like my response then skip it she same way Wofman asked me to skip his in case we are not on the same page. There is a room her for disagreement but I would recommend u keep judging people aside from your responses otherwise u r the one to be rude when u judge/describe others in this case

 

Ya Wolfman s a great guy. Nobody really knows exact dates for sure. Anything could delay things and looks like it is. As for me I’ll be driving my new to me 2017 S550 a long time. One reason I bought a low mileage older one is I just personally like these cars better. I think the older ones were built a little better. I see no reason not to keep this car for over 100k Mike’s and it’s only got 17k miles on it now. I don’t car for that Tesla big center screen look at all myself and I like outward curve in the center part of the dash. To me it just looks elegant. Beautiful interior and nice ext lines.

 

Thanks!, and again as I mentioned sorry of that sounded aggressive, maybe i got a little sensitive due to our previous discussion but I apologize if I said something wrong. As I mentioned, I just wanted to bring the point that I believe launch date was from the beginning scheduled to be sometime after may but not before. After all, it's doesn't matter, seems like am keeping my W222 for 1-2 years as am planning to renew another vehicle instead of the MB for now ( Unless the new W223 will come very convincing !!! but it doesn't seem like it!)

 

Agreed with everything you said and I share the same view

 

Problem is that the choice of words set the stage and ultimately dilute the conversation. I have always said that I post information as I receive them, most of which sources I will happily share and some I will not. If that is considered by others as not real, that is fine by me.
The majority of information will be in German (as I am German) but Google translate is your friend. But as we are discussing upcoming models, there will just be very little to no public official disclosure.
The schedule I mentioned and had posted a good while ago, however, is public and can be easily found. I had only received it a day or two before it was posted elsewhere last year. I'll try to find it again...

 

True, thank you!

 

Appreciate the comment!
In the end, we are all brand enthusiasts. The difficulty these days with any projected information is that things are more rapidly changing in the automative industry. Looking at the EQ series launch, plans are constantly made to be changed. Uncharacteristically un-German

 

i just sent you a private message 😂 there is more behind it

 

I am very happy to see that things are now patched up.

 

I don't think I ever claimed the Audi looks aesthetically beautiful. I mean, from certain angles, like the rear with the OLED tail lights it looks very chic, but from the side and/or the front, it looks boring, but I am not implying that to be a bad thing. It works for me, and every A8 before that has basically looked boring too.

The existing W222 is striking, handsome, and imposing. I love that about the W222. I love looking at the W222, but for many reasons I've already discussed, it ended up not being the right car, for me. It doesn't also appeal to what I look for in a very large German luxury vehicle. The W222 turns heads, and I don't want people to turn their heads as I drive by.

What's curious to me is the evolution of very large German cars. The Bentleys, the RR, and the like are developing very large head turners, and to me, it's weird the W223 is now trying to slide under the radar. I much prefer it to remain a stand-out car, because that's what the S classes have always been about.

Want a luxury stealth-mobile? Buy an A8. Want something that just screams class, wealth, and opulence? Buy an S class (because let's be blunt, a RR, Bentley and the like are outside the affordability index for many many people). Seeing as the W223 is upping the blandness just makes me sad because while I don't own one, I still do love Mercedes, as a brand, and the S class, as a car.

Not too long ago I found myself at a red light and a Q7 was behind me. Husband and wife. I could tell the exact moment the husband (driving) pointed out to his wife that that's the new A8, and he gawked for a solid 2 minutes while we were at the red light. I cannot tell you how uncomfortable I felt. Yes, FWP, but it's one reason I don't like standout cars. That said, I gawk myself when I see an S class, to this day, even if it's a W220!! (actually, probably more so than a 221 because here a rust free 220 is incredibly rare).

 

I agree with you regarding the A8 vs S-class comparison. The only reason why I've never considered A8 (although I considered other S-class competitors like BMW 7 series) is that the front of the A8 looks very simple and somehow outdated... maybe it's just me I don't know, but the front is boring. I think I'll consider the new RS7 one day based on the current new design they have for 2020-2021, but in the next year or 2, upgrading my W222 to W223 seems to be the most convincing upgrade so far based on what BMW 7-series and Audi A8 are offering today. Hopefully, the new S-class will be as sharp as the W221 and W223 had been (but am scared of the straight line rear headlights as they might be boring).

 

soooo - annyyyywaaaaaay - back to our regularly-scheduled programming ,,,

 

I like both inside and outside. Inside tablet type screen (IMHO) looks tasteful. Just my 2 cents. Are these just photo shopped or are they from a reliable source? I love my '19 W222 S63 so I would want to see/feel the whole package as I believe the w221 and w222 were great looking cars. I assume in the flesh that the w223 will be great as well but we will see.

 

I like the exterior, but I hope that is not an actual photo of the finished interior. The center screen looks like a step up from the “tablet” type of things in the C Class models. It looks like it was an afterthought and does not appear to be fully integrated into the design of the dash/center stack area. What’s in the cavity behind it? A cubbyhole? And that tiny, center HVAC register looks like it’s glued on. Surely they can do better than this. PLEASE do better than this??? This MUST be a photo shopped rendition.

 

The dashboard looks photo shopped to me as does the center console screen.

 

Agreed. Also there are some photos already leaked for the steering which don't match that photo. I think the overall look is close enough but the details such as dashboard, AC vents, doors and steering may not be even close to the real W223.

 

I don't know why people get so worked up over a rendering lol. Of course that isn't the real thing regarding the interior.

M

 

I'd never be able to get one of those 223's. The first time I pulled my wheelchair over the center console I'd leave a gash across the center screen. Don't like it anyhow. I'll keep driving my 222.

 

The exterior looks pretty accurate.