Lot of very cool details here. When you look at it close up on an 80" TV it becomes clear that the shape and detailing is sublime. For those who don't see it, wait till you see it in person.

 

Any update on when the S63 is being released?

 

Eager to see the US release date as well as the new S will be readily available in Europe (it can already be ordered in September). I believe it will be Q1 2021 as a 2022 model year over here.
The 580e is slated for summer 21 and the S63e for late 21 in Europe but those should follow quickly in the US.

Given what I am seeing on the new S I am hopeful for the upcoming EQS as that will on our list.

 

In the US it's a 2021 model coming in the first half of 2021, see here.

 

I don't think this has been posted yet?...

 

Typical marketing department news release. There is no way a car in Q2 will get the prior years model designation. Mercedes has a track record of skipping model years so my assumption is that this will be the situation here.

 

Previous post was a 3 minute trailer...here is a 23 min. video:

 

The quick reference guides are usually accurate. The CLA 45 AMG came out in Q2 this year and it was still branded a 2020.

 

Since some folks seemed to like the porcelain interior, here are a few more shots:

 

You know, I AM going to take just a bit of credit for the interior appearance. About three years ago, I attended one of those super secret auto seminars. You had to take your shoes off and go through a metal detector before you could gain entrance. Extremely tight security. It was at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA. I actually did two of these, a few months apart. The W223 that we have seen today, was shown THEN, and as memory serves me, the exterior is pretty much EXACTLY the same. The tail lights, the sort of “added on/extended” front grille snout, the retracting door handles, etc. The interior had the huge center screen, but was not nearly as finished as the exterior. They had an EQS there as well.

Anyway, I was selected, both times, to participate in a round table discussion afterwards and when it came to the Interior, I LAUNCHED into my “half black” rant. I told them how cheap it looked to have half of the interior elements black, pretty much no matter what interior “color” was selected. I compared MB to Porsche & Bentley and to earlier MB models. When others at the table pushed back, saying it was not cheap, I gave them my bit on how much money MB saved, by making a whole bunch of interior bits ONLY in black, etc. I went on and on (you guys know me) on interior colors. I asked how in the world they could not offer a beautiful saddle leather color, amongst others. Most everyone around the table agreed that saddle would be a welcomed addition.

As you might imagine, I also REALLY bit their head off over no spare and told them the Panorama Roof should be optional. Unfortunately, I don’t think I scored any points on those topics.

Anyway, I thought I’d tell that story. Think of me when you first see those luscious saddle leather seats in person.

 

Mercedes has a recent bad habit of releasing models this way. The 2020 GLS was released this way with first deliveries in Jan 2020 as a MY20.

 

@Streamliner What do you think of the car overall?

M

 

Looks like the moderators will soon have to start another Topic (not sure if that's what they're called) for the W223.

 

Not quite. I was driving the new GLS in September 2019 and the car was available that fall.
There were manufacturing/qualities issues that delayed deliveries and the later availability of the GLS580 but that is different than a model launch.

 

AMG models have nothing to do with a new model launch. They are simply a model variant.

The new S-Class will only be launched once. Then other models will be introduced whenever they are ready like the S580e, S63e, S73e, Maybach.

 

Agreed

 

Base Drivetrain: 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6, 48-volt mild hybrid, 9-speed automatic, AWD

Wait a sec... No RWD this time?

 

I'm gonna miss the IWC clock....

 

Wolfman, I too am most eager for the EQS but....., what do you know of the availability of charging stations and any info on time to charge. Right now, it takes 90 seconds to fill at petro station. Recharging infrastructure is definitely lacking in my area except at the MB dealership. Just asking, not being a nay sayer.

 

Well done. This half black interior trend also pisses me off. It is blatant cost cutting and they try to convince us it is premium. It looks rubbish. Porsche has even done it in the Taycan Turbo S with the mostly black doors on a red interior. They pull this on a $200k car.

Look what Mercedes did to the AMG version of the GLE:



Glad you talked them out of it on the S-Class.

Can you tell us anything about the EQS?

 

I just don't see where this criticism comes from. My 2015 is in designo Deep Sea Blue; I'm been away from the car for awhile, but the only bits I can remember that are black are the touch controller and some of the buttons (I've always thought the ones to left of the steering column to be terribly cheapass plastic). That's a 2015. I think in a 2020 the same is true...designo or not on the configurator, there are choices that have little black except for those items.

 

Like diamonds under the lights in a Tiffany’s showcase, these elaborate videos certainly show the car as gorgeous and extremely desirable. I’m still somewhat leery of the touch screen based controls replacing so many physical buttons, etc., but I am starting to feel that MB has worked through any potential issues with it. If everything works as advertised, looks like a home run to me.

 

Here are the available/planned engine configs for the car (Euro HP listed)

• S 350d (W/V223) 286 PS und 600 NM (OM656)
• S 350d 4matic (W/V223) 286 PS und 600 NM (OM656)
• S 400d 4matic (W/V223) 330 PS und 700 NM (OM656)
• S 450 4matic (W/V223) 367+22 PS und 500 NM (M256)
• S 500 4matic (W/V223) 435 +22 PS und 520 NM (M256)
• S 580 4matic (W/V223) 503 +22 PS (M176 V8-BiTurbo)
• S 580e (223) 367 + 150 PS (M256) Plug-in-Hybrid (Summer 2021)
• S 580e 4matic (223) 367 + 150 PS (M256) Plug-in-Hybrid (Summer 2021)
• AMG S 63e EQ Power+ 4matic+ 612 + 204 PS P3-Plug-in-Hybrid (End of 2021)
• Mercedes-Maybach S 680 4matic (X223) 630 PS +21 PS (M279)

They could have additional RWD but there is a trend to push more AWD as the new 4matic is lighter...

 

We'll have to see what MB is offering for access to charge infrastructure in the US. In Europe they will be using the ionity charging system. We would plan to only use that car in town and charge either at home or at the office.

The EQS uses the lates 350KW system, so a 60 mile charge will only take 3 minutes. Range of the car is listed at 700km (435 miles) based on the more generous WLTP standard. This will be less under EPA rules unless MB is gaming the system like Tesla (there was an interesting article in Car & Driver https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...range-numbers/)

That said, I am a bit hesitant when looking at the camouflaged EQS models. Unlike the S-Class, the car looks more like a Model S hatchback. I hope it will look close to the EQS Vision. We'll have to see...

 

My wife will be pissed when she learns there are no mirrors for the backseat in the headlining anymore...