Mercedes-Benz is giving the current S-Class a serious mid-cycle refresh for 2027, and the wild part is you might not fully notice it until the sun goes down. The sheetmetal largely carries over, but Mercedes says more than half of the car’s components are new or revised, which makes this feel a lot closer to a ground-up rethink than a casual facelift.
At night, the updated S-Class basically becomes a rolling brand statement. The headlights and taillights now use three-pointed-star lighting elements, there’s an illuminated grille that’s noticeably larger than before, and you can even spec an optional glowing hood ornament that’s designed so the driver cannot see it from behind the wheel. Ultra Range high beams add some extra trickery up front, and new puddle lamps project “Mercedes-Benz” on the pavement like the sedan is arriving at its own premiere.
Inside is where the refresh really flexes. Mercedes is finally bringing its full Hyperscreen layout to the S-Class, with a dash-wide glass panel that integrates a 12.3-inch driver display, a 14.4-inch central touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch passenger display. The latest MBUX setup folds in Google-powered automotive AI, and Mercedes is leaning into the “assistant with personality” idea with animated helper options, including the quirky “LittleBenz” avatar.
Rear-seat passengers get some meaningful upgrades, too. The available rear screens grow to 13.1 inches, and built-in cameras enable video conferencing, which feels like a feature designed for anyone who treats the back seat like a rolling office suite. Mercedes also ditches the old center rear tablet in favor of remote controls, while premium audio buyers can chase a system that supports Dolby Atmos.
Then there are the small-but-important quality-of-life fixes that S-Class owners actually notice every day. Mercedes adds digital vent control that can be saved to memory settings, a revised center console with dual phone charging pads, and a redesigned steering wheel that brings back more physical controls in place of some of the touch-sensitive fussiness. The comfort list gets even more over-the-top with heated front seatbelts, which is one of those “of course they did” luxury moves that you will never want to give up once you have it.
Powertrains also get attention, and the headline is the V8. The S500 continues with a turbocharged and electrically assisted inline-six rated at 429 hp and 443 lb-ft, plus an overboost torque bump for short bursts. The S580 steps up with a revised twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that now uses a flat-plane crankshaft and lands at 530 hp, with torque figures reported around the mid-500 lb-ft range depending on market and how the system output is quoted.
If you want the electrified flex, the S580e plug-in hybrid returns with a combined 576 hp, while the outgoing model’s EPA-rated electric range sat at 48 miles, and Mercedes has not yet posted an official updated EPA number for the new one. Chassis tech takes a step forward as well, with 4.5-degree rear-wheel steering now standard, an optional 10-degree setup still on the menu, and new predictive iDamping that uses shared road-condition data to pre-adjust the suspension before you hit ugly pavement. Expect the refreshed S500, S580, and S580e to arrive in the second half of 2026, with pricing to be announced closer to launch.
Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate enthusiast with over 15 years of experience immersed in the world of cars. Whether it’s exploring the latest advancements in automotive technology or keeping a close pulse on breaking industry news, Lloyd brings a sharp perspective and a deep appreciation for all things automotive. His writing blends technical insight with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions both informative and engaging for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or under the hood, Lloyd enjoys test driving the newest models and staying ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive landscape.
