Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2021) Arrives In Ireland

Mercedes-Benz Ireland has confirmed that the new generation of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has arrived in Ireland. It will go on sale priced from €121,865, and is available in standard and long wheelbase versions.

Like its predecessors, the flagship German saloon showcases technology that, in time, will likely appear in future Mercedes-Benz vehicles – previous examples debuted by the S-Class include ABS in 1978, airbag in 1981 and ESP in 1995.

The brand says the new S-Class comes with an even higher level of standard specification including AMG Design Line, rear Thermatronic Climate Control, Nappa leather upholstery and trim, heated rear seats, metallic paint and OLED touchscreen with augmented reality.

Space has been improved inside this German luxury liner with driver and rear passenger elbowroom increased by 38 mm and 23 mm, with 16 mm more rear headroom. The 550 litre boot is increased by 20 litres.

Mercedes-Benz says the ambience inside the new S-Class is quieter and more comfortable thanks to improved acoustics and additional air and hydraulic features that adjust suspension and dampen body movement to enhance ride comfort.

The driver experience is dominated by the second-generation Mercedes-Benz MBUX User Experience with 3D display and 50 percent better computing power. Its features include eye-tracking spatial perception using cameras and algorithms that anticipate occupant wishes and interpret body language, head and hand movements to manage functions. The ‘Hey Mercedes’ function is now available to every seat occupant, and recognises speech and voice commands in twenty-seven languages. A ‘learning feature’ helps it recognise buzzwords and vary its voice output beyond stereotypical answers.

The door handles retract flush with the body when not in use or travelling and extend automatically when the driver approaches or touches their outer surface.

Other enhancements include measures to protect the vehicle against vandalism, improved driver assistance packages, an active body control feature, which raises the vehicle up to 8 centimetres when a side impact threatens, new headlamp technology, which projects warning symbols onto the road ahead, a multi-speaker 4D sound system with enhanced personalisation functions, and a new ‘over-the-air’ system that automatically updates software for more than 50 components.

Engines for the new 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class include two petrol and three diesels from launch, with a plug-in hybrid to follow. All have V8, 6-cylinder in-line engines and 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission.

Petrol models include an S450 and S500, which both use a 3.0-litre engine and have 4-MATIC all-wheel drive.

Diesels are a S350d, S350d 4MATIC and S400d 4MATIC.