2020 Mercedes S-Class Spied Again, Offers First Look At New Grille

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been spotted again and this time we get a first peek at the grille. While the shape appears to remain unchanged, there are now more horizontal slats than before. We don’t know what to make of the door handles, though. In the previous sighting, the S-Class featured pop-out handles while here the luxury sedan has body-colored traditional handles. Here’s hoping they’re just decoys. (Update 4/12/2019)

We’ve seen many spy photos of the all-new 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class so far and most of our attention focused on the interior — for obvious reasons. Now it’s time to take a closer look at the exterior design of the new German flagship as test prototypes have shed the padded camouflage, revealing a sleek and elegant silhouette befitting of a luxury sedan like the S-Class.

An almost coupe-like silhouette

While most plastic parts under the camouflage foil are gone, there are still some minor ones left in several areas such as over the grille. Even so, the lines and shapes of the new S-Class are now clearer than ever and we have to say the luxury sedan is shaping up quite nicely.

The proportions are harmonious and the flowing lines make the luxury sedan look sleeker than ever — almost like a four-door coupe. At the front, it gains full matrix LED headlights, while at the rear the LED taillights reveal a similar shape to those of the latest CLS. The taillamps will also feature dynamic turn signals like on most high-end Audi models.

These spy shots reveal yet another design feature of the 2020 S-Class, the pop-out door handles that are flush with the doors, giving the sedan a more aerodynamic and high-tech appearance.

What about inside?

As we’ve seen in previous spy photos, the interior will be dominated by two massive screens. The biggest one has a portrait orientation and is placed on the center console (or, better said, IS the center console) while the smaller one comes in a landscape format and assumes the role of the instrument panel. The huge central display will control most car functions though essential functions can also be accessed via integrated buttons at the base of the screen.

As always, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be a technological tour-de-force. When it enters production next year the new flagship will pack Level 3 semi-autonomous driving tech as well as a hybrid-only engine lineup using the latest 3.0-liter and 2.9-liter straight-six gasoline and diesel engines. The PHEV versions are expected to offer all-electric driving ranges of up to 62 miles (100 km).

Based on an updated MRA platform, the all-new S-Class could also debut a new 4Matic AWD system with fully variable torque split between the axles, as well as an active suspension integrated with a 48-volt system and a stereo camera scanning the road ahead.

Mercedes-Benz will also bring an all-electric S-Class that will be a distinct model with a different name — the EQS based on a new MEA platform.