New article is out on car and driver. According to it:

For the EQS, in a few months, 2025 models will be announced with a few minor changes like the stand up star grill, 118kwh battery from the EQS SUV, and further updated rear seats.

2026 model year will be a full proper facelift, and the highlight will be a full update of the electric drive system. 800 volt battery, new in house designed motors, new cell chemistry, and a two speed transmission. And for 2028 or 2029 model year, the new V580 second gen will launch and will be much more normal in design and spacious inside.

As for the S Class, it will carry on for two facelifts as the current W223. The 2025 model year will not be a facelift (though mercedesmax has suggested they may update the ordering system so AMG can be had with fancy rear seats, rear wheel steering can be had without, etc. I really hope so). 2026 will be the facelift, and apparently it will be quite large with not just new bumpers and lights but with a new interior (probably super screen from the E), but they’ve also said far more physical buttons and a steering wheel with thumb wheels and real clicks, which are some really positive changes. Fingers crossed.

Second (possibly more minor) facelift will be for the 2029 or 2030 model year, and W223 could stay in production through the 2033 model year.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a6...ss-eqs-future/

 

I want Mercedes to make a G-Class sedan.

 

I’m sure they already have such a design, along with a G Class “coupe” and cabriolet models. MB doesn’t let grass grow under their feet

 

Well, not a G-Class sedan but a Maybach SUV sedan, yes you heard that right but they of course scrapped the idea. https://www.motor1.com/news/710393/m...v-axed-report/

 

They need to continue scrapping ideas and focus on fixing what they already have. In another thread here, someone reported their intention to drop the A & B model lines. I feel that would be a giant step in the right direction. I’d actually like to see them go one step further and drop the C Class as well, but I guess the C Class vehicles could be the perfect “entry level” MB. At any rate, I’ll believe all of this when I see it.

 

Agreed : )

 

100% agree on dropping the A and B class.... but those are money makes for Mbenz as I believe the sell more entry level cars than they sell S-class and luxury vehicles. It's a matter of luxury reputation or money making. I guess Mbenz cares more about making more money even if it hurts their image when offering plastic-like interiors with the A and B class vehicles. I don't see anyway why anyone would get the A or B class over a Toyota that is in the same price range. Mbenz couldn't even make the right A or B class a good competitive option as an entry level. C-class is the only entry level they should offer.

 

SixT gave me whatever they call the little A class sedan a couple years ago and it wasn't terrible. I was curious what they were going for, looked it up, and when I saw the price made me ask a question: What would make someone buy that car, at that price, in light of the competition? I kept coming back to that star. Love it or not, it moves metal, there is no doubt in my mind about that. You can't blame them for prostituting it out and watching the dough roll in.

Where I'm heading here is that in my mind they can sell those cars without tainting the cars that made that star move that metal. S Class should be that, S Class. There should be nothing in the car that doesn't match what up to a high expectation. On another thread we were comparing how this car gets basic functions, the housekeeping of driving, wrong. The comparison on that thread was to a Mazda less than half the price of an S Class. The Mazda isn't alone, you expect cars to get the basics like wiping the windows right, the ACC should not appear to be doing everything in its power to run you into the car in front of you, etc.

Their icon isn't meeting par for the R Class. Yes, R class is Rental Class. Imagine it this way: Take the S Class and remove the nice leather and so on and put the materials from the Mazda in it. Drive both. The Merc is going to have suspension that crashes on some bumps, the trans will bang going up low speed hills when it downshifts, sometimes the door handles refuse to cooperate, the ACC is trash, the auto-wipers aren't so great, the headlights aren't so great, On and on; does that sound like a car you want to buy? Get in the Mazda, you don't have any of those problems. No suspension crashing, the trans can negotiate a hill, the doors open when you grab the handle, the ACC isn't trying to kill someone, the wipers pretty much work, etc.

It's not just Mazda, Toyota, whatever, you name it, these cars are meeting par. Nothing great, no bullet points, just getting the basics right. The S-Class does not, and they are failing at the very core of the driving experience. They need to fix that.

The second thing they need to do is stop saving too manyy pennies on the cars that made that star shine brightly enough to lure buyers into cars that aren't competitive when taken on the merits like that A Class I had. The bean counters are usually right but not always and this in my mind is one of those cases. Tarnish that star enough and you stop selling those Mc A-Classes and then nobody wins.

 

I want to comment because I driven many A-Class as loaners when we had our MBs being serviced at MB dealerships, since forum members are talking about Mazdas here I would want to comment on that too. A friend have a 2023 Mazda 3 as a snow beater I can't believe how well made that thing is (for the price point) what caught me in surprise mainly was the sound insulation was way better than any A-class sedan or hatchback I driven. Oh and the wipers don't skip or chatter.

 

Yes, exactly. I have a need to take myself to the airport and the only solution I have when I'm up at the house is to rent a car one way. I've rented cars uncounted at this point. Usually nothing expensive because I'm just driving two hours and turning it in. The fundamentals work in those cars, in many cases better than they did in my S Class. As a luxury manufacturer, you've got a problem when your cars compare unfavorably to the cheap seats in the rental fleet.

We're not talking out of being beat for best in class, we're talking about failing to meet the industry standard, in one of the least expensive and lowest segments in the industry, at core driving necessities. Think about that.

 

Yes, I used to think about that as I was TRYING to open the door to get into my S580 and the door handle would not present itself--usually as a guy in a BMW was impatiently waiting for my parking space.

 

You're going to like the digital key +; no more fobs to worry about. Although you do need a newer Apple or high-end android device because it relies on uwb.

I thought the S Class handles were cool, but the implementation needed work. You had to make sure you set them up for success, locking it when you got out, keeping the fob out of contact so they didn't time out and block the extension when you approached. To me that you could make them work doesn't excuse the fact that you shouldn't have to; door handles should just work. Don't get me wrong: Cool is always good, I love tech and gadgets, but the handles required intervention and didn't do anything meaningful; a bottom line that encapsulates it all is that I don't miss them.

I miss that stereo though, by far the thing I miss the most about the 580.

 

My Mazda cx-90 that I bought 2 weeks ago is absolutely awesome. No issues with anything. Everything links up with the MMI, ACC works great, and I couldn't be happier with it as I use it on my weekly work rounds. I travel at least 750 miles per week.

 

That's a lot of time on the road!

 

Yeah, I’m not into “cool.” For the most part, when I hear “new & improved,” I cringe. If the W223 door handles worked flawlessly, I still wouldn’t have wanted them. They had perfect door handles, which were relatively simple and replaced them with overly complicated Rube Goldberg machinery. The steering wheel in pre-MY21 MB vehicles was also perfect. Very simple to use controls, the ones most often needed were easily operated by touch, never distracting the driver. When I use one of the two little “roller” knobs to adjust the volume in my S560, it is damn near a joyous occasion, compared to fighting with the cheap, crappy controls in my S580.

I miss the 4D Audio, the ultra quiet cabin and the much better ground clearance of my S580. NOTHING else was better and much was inferior to the way my S560 operates. So often these days in general and with MB in particular, “new & improved” isn’t.

 

Im new to MB World & have no clue how to use it. I know this thread is about the newer S class but I came here for some opinions. One of my dream cars was also 2011-2013 w221 Mercedes S550. Currently looking at one with 106k miles, 2 owners. First owner was a 3 year lease second owner drover about 8k miles/year. Regular maintenance/ service history at least once/year from a Mercedes dealership. Car looks in great shape like it was taken well care of. Should I take a gamble on this car? I know I will have to shell some money out on repairs but Would this be a good daily driver or will the car be stuck in the shop constantly? Thank you for any replies.

 

I loved my 2013 S550, but only had it about two years. If I were you, I would talk to the folks in the W221 forum. I believe most everything about the W221’s was rock solid, but you should go over there and check. Best of luck to you.

 

Fair enough. I'm not entirely sanguine about your chances for getting the S Class you want in the future, but I am sincere when I say I'm rooting for you.

I'm looking forward to your impressions of the 7 after you've had a little time with it.

 

Oh wow, that is a lot of miles per week.

Thanks for sharing your experience, I now learned that Mazdas are good second cars or even first cars in the family.

I did hear quality issues with the CX 90 when it first came out, glitches and bugs, so basically first model year issues, did you get the inline 6 version?

I did hear the main complaint is the way they designed how when you use the shift lever, the end goes to reverse instead of park.
https://www.mazdausa.com/static/manu...hece01-002.png
https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploa...n/IMG_4383.jpg

Weird design choices for sure.

 

I guess you will never ever use it but it is good to have something when you need it than need something and don't have it (I guess? ) : BMW also have the reverse assistant, the display key as an option and the option to control the vehicle, driving it in a parking spot with a smartphone.

 

Yes. I've only had it 3 weeks and it already has 2200 miles on it. Next week I'm on vacation.

 

The W221 is a very good car. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it for a daily driver.

 

Yes, I got the inline 6. Yes it takes a few days to get used to the shifter but I don't have an issue with it. Also, the only thing that mechanics are griping about is the location of the timing chain. It is at the rear of the engine and to change it , you have to lift the engine out! However, it has a lifetime drivetrain warranty, even if it is traded off to other owners. I drive a lot of highway miles so I'm getting 28-31 mpg. I'm still very impressed with this vehicle.

 

Glad you are enjoying it. Lifetime drivetrain warranty? Wow, now that's a brand that is proud of their products and trust their own products' reliability.

 

Mercedes take note when you release the g-class sedan.

Go back to the agricultural style of building products.