U Spy U.S.-Spec 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class In California

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the all-new 2021 S-Class flagship luxury sedan in early September, but has yet to release photos of the U.S.-spec model.

Until that happens, you can take an early look at the 2021 S-Class in U.S. specification in these photos taken by CarScoops reader Gor, who spotted the new luxury sedan in the parking lot of the Irvine Spectrum Center mall in Irvine, California.

As you can see, the luxury saloon features the side marker lights mandatory in the United States; at the front, they are placed above the wheels, while at the back they are integrated into the taillights. Other than that, the U.S.-spec S-Class looks just like the model sold in Europe and other markets.

It’s also worth noting that this particular car features manufacturer license plates issued by the state of Michigan, which means it’s owned by Mercedes-Benz and most likely used for pre-launch testing.

Initially, Mercedes will offer the new S-Class in the States with two engines. The base S500 4MATIC model features a 3.0-liter inline-six delivering 429 HP at 5,500 – 6,100 rpm and 384 lb-ft (520 Nm) of torque from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm, while the S580 4MATIC is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 making 496 HP at 5,500 rpm and 516 lb-ft (699 Nm) of torque at 2,000-4,000 rpm.

Both engines are equipped with an integrated starter-generator (ISG) and 48-volt onboard electrical system under the EQ Boost banner, delivering an additional 21 HP and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque when needed. Moreover, they come as standard with the 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic transmission and 4MATIC all-wheel drive.

The revamped Mercedes-Benz S-Class will arrive in U.S. dealerships in the first half of 2021, with pricing to be announced closer to launch.

H/T/ to Gor!