Mercedes-Benz Confirms V12 Will Live On In Next-Gen S-Class

Daimler has confirmed that the next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be offered with a V12 engine, dispelling rumors that the car manufacturer was preparing to ditch its largest powertrain.

During a recent interview with GTspirit at the Guangzhou Auto Show, Daimler chief executive Ola Kallenius said that despite the new Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 featuring a V8 as opposed to a V12, the next-generation S-Class with still be offered with a big twelve-cylinder powertrain.

Unfortunately, Kallenius failed to offer many details about the exact V12 that will be featured in the new S-Class, expected to be introduced in 2021. It is understood that it will be a tweaked version of the engine currently used by the S600 and Mercedes-Maybach S600, albeit updated to comply with strict new emissions regulations.

Also Read: Mercedes Has Built 500,000 Current-Generation S-Class Sedans, One In Three Went To China

Only last week, Carscoops published a series of spy shots previewing the new-age S-Class. Like previous images, these spy shots revealed that the new flagship sedan will have a similar profile to the outgoing model but be refreshed with a series of new parts, including headlights and taillights inspired by the latest CLS. Another interesting part of the sedan’s design will be the presence of door handles that sit flush with the bodywork and likely pop out when drivers and passengers approach the vehicle.

Inside, the changes will continue and there will be a redesigned center console made up almost entirely by a portrait-oriented infotainment screen akin to what Tesla uses in the Model S and Model X. Among the powertrain options set to be made available, alongside the aforementioned V12, are various straight-six petrol and diesel units as well as a range of plug-in hybrids.