Next generation of Mercedes S-Class luxury saloon will continue to offer plug-in hybrid power.
Expected to be revealed in full by the end of 2020 and go on sale at some point in 2021, the next-generation Mercedes S-Class has been spotted testing under camouflage by spy photographers.
The manufacturer will continue to offer its flagship model as a plug-in hybrid, while a pure-electric model – badged EQS – will appear for the first time.
The new S-Class will be larger than its already very generously proportioned predecessor, with the aim of even more interior space than before. Big developments are also expected in the area of driver assistance, with near-fully-autonomous driving capability similar to that offered as an option on Tesla models expected.
The current S-Class is available an S 560 e plug-in hybrid and petrol-electric hybrid technology will continue to be used in the 2021 model. An increase on the existing car’s circa-40km electric range is likely.
BMW recently announced that the next-generation 7 Series saloon – a key S-Class rival – will be available with a choice of petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid or pure electric power. However, unlike Mercedes, BMW is moving away from the strategy of having a standalone electric-car brand identity, instead integrating electric models more closely with the rest of its range.
Elsewhere, another S-Class rival, the Jaguar XJ, will be adopting fully electric power for its next generation, and prototypes of that car have also been spotted testing on public roads.
We’ll have more information about the latest S-Class closer to the car’s launch towards the end of 2020.