Mercedez Benz News Rumorpile: Next-Generation S-Class To Become Electrified

[William Maley]

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class is expected to arrive very soon, with sales beginning sometime next year for Europe. But we don't know much about it, until now.

Autocar recently published a report proving some interesting details about the next S-Class. The big news is that Mercedes will only be offering electrified powertrains for the S, including mild (using an electric motor mounted in the gearbox) and plug-in versions. Engines are said to be variants of Mercedes' new inline-six in gas and diesel flavors, and the AMG-developed 4.0L V8.

For the design, recent spy photos reveal that Mercedes will be implementing a new grille, tri-band LED multibeam headlights, and door handles that retract into the bodywork to improve overall aero. One change that may surprise buyers in Europe is Mercedes' decision to drop the standard wheelbase model and only offer the long-wheelbase variant. According to Autocar, the reason is due to the new E-Class coming close in size to the standard-wheelbase S-Class (193.7-inches for the E-Class vs. 201.7-inches for the S-Class). 

Source: Autocar

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[A Horse With No Name]

Awesome.  And back to a bit of ford disgust...hopefully they leave Lincoln in the dust. 

i can only be nice so long....

[smk4565]

They left Lincoln in the dust decades ago.  I do think dropping the short wheel base version makes sense, just build one wheelbase.

The inline six mild hybrid is already in the European market S-class, no doubt that continues.  They need to add that to the V8 and a plug-in hybrid V8 with 800 hp has been rumored for the S73.  This upcoming generation might be the last with gas power, the next one would arrive around 2028 and I could see the S-class being only electric then.

[A Horse With No Name]

1 hour ago, smk4565 said:

They left Lincoln in the dust decades ago.  I do think dropping the short wheel base version makes sense, just build one wheelbase.

The inline six mild hybrid is already in the European market S-class, no doubt that continues.  They need to add that to the V8 and a plug-in hybrid V8 with 800 hp has been rumored for the S73.  This upcoming generation might be the last with gas power, the next one would arrive around 2028 and I could see the S-class being only electric then.

Time wil tell. Benz products are really starting to grow on me, actually. You are kind of really starting to open my mind in that direction. 

[balthazar]

wait.
I read on these pages that the V-12 S650 (or whatever the alpha-numeric) was there to sell CLAs and C-classes?? How is MB going to sell 1. ANY of ANY other models lines without the V-12, and 2. Are they truly ready for a 95% drop in sales of the s-class?

[smk4565]

3 hours ago, balthazar said:

wait.
I read on these pages that the V-12 S650 (or whatever the alpha-numeric) was there to sell CLAs and C-classes?? How is MB going to sell 1. ANY of ANY other models lines without the V-12, and 2. Are they truly ready for a 95% drop in sales of the s-class?

The V12 was the halo product and what made the S-class the automotive industry flagship of the 90s and 2000s and 2010s even.  But times change and new technology comes along.  They are supposed to retire the V12 with this generation.  The plug-in hybrid V8 will take its place, no one is doing a plug-in hybrid V8, that will become the new standard of power an efficiency.  

They are building an all new factory to build the next S-class and the S-class will be the first to have every car drive itself off the assembly line.  This is said to be the most advanced auto manufacturing plant in the world, which makes sense for the best car in the world.  Audi and BMW don't stand a chance.

[balthazar]

Plug in hybrids are a decaying segment. Esp as a V8. It's another stop gap when their BEV should already be at the top of the ladder, but they have none. They have pissed away valuable years in market presence to Tesla.

[smk4565]

11 hours ago, balthazar said:

Plug in hybrids are a decaying segment. Esp as a V8. It's another stop gap when their BEV should already be at the top of the ladder, but they have none. They have pissed away valuable years in market presence to Tesla.

They have lost opportunities that Tesla capitalized on.  But in 2022 Mercedes will have more electric cars than Tesla, they will close the gap fast.  And they are realizing a full EV sedan at the same time as the new S-class (on a different platform), so any powertrain in the S-class isn't a stop gap it is one option.  The consumer will have choice of hybrid gas or full battery.

[Robert Hall]

It is interesting that none of the regular companies have been able to capitalize on EVs the way Tesla has.  I assume Tesla's singular focus and not having to support or develop legacy product gave them an early mover advantage.  

[smk4565]

51 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

It is interesting that none of the regular companies have been able to capitalize on EVs the way Tesla has.  I assume Tesla's singular focus and not having to support or develop legacy product gave them an early mover advantage.  

Conventional auto companies also make decisions on dollars and cents, and they saw rehashing a 2.4 liter 4 into a new crossover as easy profit.  Bean counters run a lot of their decisions, where Elon Musk runs Tesla's decision making with no regard to cost or profitability analysis.  He's a dreamer and knows he can market and sell those dreams to other people and he is a gambler because his previous gambles have made him super rich.  He knows even if he misses on a few of these dreams, when he hits it is worth billions of dollars.

[Suaviloquent]

That's it. How does Toyota make an electric Corolla, and not raise the price by $10000?

These companies are stuck in their old ways. Telsa may not have build quality or reliability down but even their innovative approach to have a flat pancake battery down low is what every electric car or hybrid make will do to package it without intrusion into the passenger room.

[Cmicasa the Great]

Wouldn't it be funny as FUKK.. if Cadillac killed the CT6 only to, adhere to GM's EV Plans by releasing the Escala as the CT8 in EV form , with only a Black-Wing Edition to appease the OCNBlu types? 

Edited January 5, 2019 by Cmicasa the Great

[riviera74]

2 hours ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

Wouldn't it be funny as FUKK.. if Cadillac killed the CT6 only to, adhere to GM's EV Plans by releasing the Escala as the CT8 in EV form , with only a Black-Wing Edition to appease the OCNBlu types? 

Now THAT would be really SWEET.  Funny too, but really sweet.

[oldshurst442]

5 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

It is interesting that none of the regular companies have been able to capitalize on EVs the way Tesla has.  I assume Tesla's singular focus and not having to support or develop legacy product gave them an early mover advantage.  

Well, no other traditional automaker has actually done a full, pure, 100% battery only electric car to be honest.   

There is GM, BMW, Nissan.  Mercedes too. 

The Toyota Prius family...all those are hybrids right?   So Toyota is not one of the companies to get on the 100% full EV bandwagon, right?

The Mercedes SLS Electric was one expensive motherfu .  I do not know how many were produced and sold, but Im willing to bet it wasnt that many.  And I think these were limited editions anyway, so moot point about sales...

 

Porsche and Mercedes Benz are gonna play in the Tesla Model S territory.

Porsche and Mercedes Benz better have their A++++ game in the electronic gadgets inside the car  as Tesla is second to none there. 

Tesla's screen that does everything, the download-ability  that updates the systems...are all like Microsoft, Apple, Android smooth.  THAT is the thing, we all say that Tesla is like Apple...well, they are because Tesla's electronic gadgets act and react EXACTLY how PCs, laptops, tablets and smart phones behave. Maybe even better...and THAT is what the consumer of Tesla cars EXPECTS of their cars nowadays. 

We've all been spoiled by our smart phones.  And then tablets. And THAT is how we want our electronic doodads to be like.  And Tesla does that better than anybody!  

Talk all you want about leather seating, soft touch dashboards or center consoles  that cools or heats our drinks...what the modern buyer of cars, especially EVs want, is that their car's connectivity to the internet via that touch screen, be even better than what they are used to with their Samsung's Galaxy  and iPhone and tablets...

If Mercedes and Porsche want to steal consumers from Tesla, THAT is where the battleground will be fought at...

 

Oh...did I forget to mention the charging network?

 

Oh...and Tesla's motor is a gem too...

We will see if Porsche will be able to duplicate Ludicrous...

Tesla has NOTHING to lose. 

If Porsche beats it...hey its Porsche. Its a speed company. And a new speed war has began.  And then we wait and see what Tesla does next...

If Porsche does not...Porsche hangs their head in shame and only benefits Tesla even more...

 

 

 

Edited January 5, 2019 by oldshurst442

[balthazar]

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

Well, no other traditional automaker has actually done a full, pure, 100% battery only electric car to be honest.   

There is GM, BMW, Nissan.  Mercedes too. The Toyota Prius family...all those are hybrids right?

100% battery, or 'BEVs' (Battery Electric Vehicles) :
All Teslas
Chevy Bolt
Nissan Leaf
Fiat 500e
VW e-Golf
Smart ED
Kia Soul EV
Honda Clarity BEV
Ford Focus Electric
Hyundai Ioniq
Jag i-Pace
MB B250e

So, there's a good double-handful so far... but the only ones that sell moderately well are the Teslas, the Bolt & the Leaf. Fiat 500e is next on the list but only moved 2250 units last year & all the others are far lower in sales.

Edited January 6, 2019 by balthazar

[oldshurst442]

1 hour ago, balthazar said:

100% battery, or 'BEVs' (Battery Electric Vehicles) :
All Teslas
Chevy Bolt
Nissan Leaf
Fiat 500e
VW e-Golf
Smart ED
Kia Soul EV
Honda Clarity BEV
Ford Focus Electric
Hyundai Ioniq
Jag i-Pace
MB B250e

So, there's a good double-handful so far... but the only ones that sell moderately well are the Teslas, the Bolt & the Leaf. Fiat 500e is next on the list but only moved 2250 units last year & all the others are far lower in sales.

I forgot about...well, all that I did not mention. And I was too lazy to Google.  And...not to make excuses for myself, but I had a looooong day at work making my brain turn to mush as soon as I got home.   

But thanx for the info.  ?

But let us be honest here, some of those vehicles mentioned are piss poor attempts. (MB250e)

And some of those lack ANY cool factor that they try too hard to be cool which, as it turned out, did not impress the masses much. (Kia Soul EV)  The Kia Soul actually tried too hard to be a hip car even as a gasoline powered vehicle. I like it personally.  But it is weird looking.

And then some of them are quite good attempts, but waaaay too much coin to spend on them as their gasoline (or diesel) powered siblings are cheaper in price, get good mileage anyway as fossil fuel burners.  (VW e-Golf)

I wonder how the Jag iPace compares to the Tesla Model X.  Forget it. I do not care. I hate the whole crossover/SUV scene  regardless of what powers them...

But I know one thing, none of those electric machines even comes close to the cool factor the Teslas have. 

Nor do the electric doodads.  

And THAT is how Tesla is still Tesla around the world...

 

PS:  Does anybody else hate the acronym  "BEVs"?  Not very appealing. I do not mind CUV or SUV, but BEVs...

YUCK!!!

 

Edited January 6, 2019 by oldshurst442

[Robert Hall]

I don't think I'd seen BEV before, but it makes sense to avoid confusion with EEEV, PHEV, PZEV, HEV, UEV, and ZEV...

[smk4565]

5 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

Well, no other traditional automaker has actually done a full, pure, 100% battery only electric car to be honest.   

There is GM, BMW, Nissan.  Mercedes too. 

The Toyota Prius family...all those are hybrids right?   So Toyota is not one of the companies to get on the 100% full EV bandwagon, right?

The Mercedes SLS Electric was one expensive motherfu .  I do not know how many were produced and sold, but Im willing to bet it wasnt that many.  And I think these were limited editions anyway, so moot point about sales...

 

Porsche and Mercedes Benz are gonna play in the Tesla Model S territory.

Porsche and Mercedes Benz better have their A++++ game in the electronic gadgets inside the car  as Tesla is second to none there. 

Tesla's screen that does everything, the download-ability  that updates the systems...are all like Microsoft, Apple, Android smooth.  THAT is the thing, we all say that Tesla is like Apple...well, they are because Tesla's electronic gadgets act and react EXACTLY how PCs, laptops, tablets and smart phones behave. Maybe even better...and THAT is what the consumer of Tesla cars EXPECTS of their cars nowadays. 

We've all been spoiled by our smart phones.  And then tablets. And THAT is how we want our electronic doodads to be like.  And Tesla does that better than anybody!  

Talk all you want about leather seating, soft touch dashboards or center consoles  that cools or heats our drinks...what the modern buyer of cars, especially EVs want, is that their car's connectivity to the internet via that touch screen, be even better than what they are used to with their Samsung's Galaxy  and iPhone and tablets...

If Mercedes and Porsche want to steal consumers from Tesla, THAT is where the battleground will be fought at...

 

Oh...did I forget to mention the charging network?

 

Oh...and Tesla's motor is a gem too...

We will see if Porsche will be able to duplicate Ludicrous...

Tesla has NOTHING to lose. 

If Porsche beats it...hey its Porsche. Its a speed company. And a new speed war has began.  And then we wait and see what Tesla does next...

If Porsche does not...Porsche hangs their head in shame and only benefits Tesla even more...

 

 

 

The Germans will bring the challenge to Tesla, we’ll see how it plays out.  The Mercedes EQ C motors spin at a Tesla like 13,000 rpm.  But the AMG One electric motors from the F1 car spin at 50,000 rpm.  If they can spread that to the EQ sedan look out.

[balthazar]

OMG- electric motor RPM is irrelevant; a Dyson vacuum V10 motor does 125,000 RPM.

[A Horse With No Name]

14 hours ago, balthazar said:

OMG- electric motor RPM is irrelevant; a Dyson vacuum V10 motor does 125,000 RPM.

Wow...would love to know how they keep bearings in that...