Mercedes-Benz S-Class Facelift Global Reveal Soon; India Launch This Year

The W222 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is one of the finest luxury saloons that money can buy and has always set the benchmark in the segment. Introduced in 2013, the current generation S-Class is due for a facelift this year and we can now tell you that the Mercedes-Benz has scheduled the global reveal of its flagship saloon in May 2017. In addition to cosmetic tweaks, the 2017 Mercedes S-Class will receive a host of feature upgrades, most prominent of which is the new semi-autonomous driving tech.

Going by the previous spy shots, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift will feature a new headlamp, tweaked grille along with subtle tweaks to the bodywork. Inside, the facelifted S-Class will also receive subtle modifications to the cabin. We also expect the very fancy chauffeur package that was seen on the new generation E-Class recently also make it to the new S-Class.

The S-Class facelift will run on Mercedes' 4.5 generation tech

More comprehensive changes will include the new safety and assistance systems that made its debut on the new generation E-Class. In fact, the E-Class runs the company's 4th generation tech, but the new S-Class will upgrade to 4.5 generation technology, which adds some new advanced features to the flagship saloon.

In addition, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift will also get a new inline-six OM 656 turbodiesel engine. The new oil burner is touted to be the most powerful passenger-car diesel engine in the automaker's history. The unit will have two-stage exhaust turbocharging and is expected to pump out in excess of 309 bhp of power, a significant increase from the 254 bhp OM 642 engine. The new diesel engine will also see a decrease in fuel consumption by 7 per cent.

Changes to the bodywork will be subtle over the 2013 version

There will also be the new 4.0 litre Biturbo V8 M 176 petrol engine making it to the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift and will push out 469 bhp and around 700 Nm of torque. The motor will be 10 per cent more fuel efficient as well with cylinder deactivation technology that will cut down four cylinders out of eight; when speeds are low. The new engines will also come with new particulate filters in order to reduce emissions.

The W222 Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift will be heading to India later this year. India has turned out to be one of the more important markets for the automaker and the new model is likely to make it here around the festive season or a little later. Like the current version, the S-Class facelift will also be assembled in India. Expect Mercedes to drop teasers for the S-Class facelift soon building up the hype for the global unveil in the following weeks.