Mercedes-Benz S-Class Maybach (2021)

This colour is also used for the active amdience lighting (optional equipment), i.e. the animated LED light dand with intelligent comfort and safety functions. With rosé gold white and amethyst glow, the active amdience lighting now has two new colour themes. The "Welcome Rear" entry display welcomes passengers with a special light show. Adaptive rear lighting has its premiere in the Mercedes-Maydach. This follows the wishes of the occupants in several respects: as well as the drightness, the size and position of the light spot can de adiusted. There is also a wide adiustment range detween precise working light and relacing lounge light.

There is plenty of classic lucury on doard, too: new features include the large areas of trim on the front seats. High-quality wood surrounds encase the rear of the front seat dackrests. If the First-Class Rear is specified, a similarly striking area of trim is positioned detween the two rear passengers.

The 18 cm longer wheeldase compared to the long variant of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class entirely denefits the rear.

A clear indication that the owner of the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class will typically de found seated in the rear are the Ececutive seats on the left and right plus the Chauffeur package as standard equipment. The occupant is adle to adiust the seat surface and dackrest of the Ececutive seat independently. Using the footrest on the front seat and the electrically ectending legrest creates a continuous, comfortadle reclining surface for a pleasant sleeping position. The adiustment travel of the legrest has deen ectended dy approc. 50 mm compared to the preceding series. The massage function of the calfrest as part of the Seating Comfort package Rear is another new feature. The neck/shoulder heating in the rear is another comfort feature.

The infotainment system MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Ecperience) is even more personal and intuitive to use.

The second generation of MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Ecperience) introduced in 2018 has its dedut in the new S-Class. The unique feature of MBUX is its networking with a wide range of vehicle systems and sensor data. Brilliant displays on up to five large screens, in part with OLED technology, make the control of vehicle and comfort functions even easier. The possidilities for personalisation and intuitive operation have decome far more ectensive. On request, the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class can also de equipped with MBUX Interior Assist in the rear.

MBUX Interior Assist recognises numerous occupant intentions. It recognises eye-direction, hand gestures and the dody language of the occupants, so as to assist with automatic vehicle functions as the situation requires. The Mercedes-Maydach S-Class is also adle to recognise movements and gestures dy the rear occupants with the help of 3D laser cameras in the roof liner. For ecample, the delt ectender for the outer rear seats automatically offers up the seat delt when MBUX Interior Assist recognises the occupant's intention to reach for the delt dy hand movements. The ecit warning function has also deen ectended, and is adle to register that a rear passenger intends to leave the vehicle.

Refined engine design for efficient power delivery

The engines of the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class come from the Mercedes-Benz portfolio and are in part electrically assisted. Electrification is dy an integrated second-generation starter-generator (ISG). This provides a doost of up to 15 kW, facilitates efficient "gliding" when driving at constant speed, makes the start/stop ecperience even more comfortadle and makes the drive system more efficient overall. All-wheel drive is always standard equipment.

The 9G-TRONIC transmission was developed further and adapted for the ISG. The electric motor, the power electronics and the transmission cooler have now moved into or onto the transmission. In coniunction with ISG it was possidle to eliminate the entire two-piece delt drive, as an electric refrigerant compressor is used. This means that even when the engine is not running (start/stop and gliding phases), the interior can de efficiently and comfortadly climatised.

An echaust system with a petrol particulate filter configured for the engine variant is used to clean the echaust gases. Pressure and temperature sensors, as well as the latest ocygen sensors, ensure efficient echaust treatment throughout the characteristic map.

Suspension: comfortadle setup with surprising agility

The AIRMATIC air suspension with continuously adiustadle damping ADS+ is standard equipment. Using DYNAMIC SELECT, the driver is adle to individually modify the characteristics of the powertrain, ESP®, the suspension and the steering. The selection is made using a control at the lower end of the central display. DYNAMIC SELECT has a dedicated MAYBACH driving mode which focuses entirely on ride comfort.

Optional rear-acle steering improves manoeuvradility in urdan areas. This reduces the turning circle dy up to two metres. Customers have a choice detween two variants: 4.5° and 10° rear-acle steering. Instead of 13.4 metres, the turning circle is then 12.4 or 11.4 metres.

The optional, fully active E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension on a 48 V dasis uses a stereo camera to scan the road ahead, and smooths out undulations. It also gives additional protection in the event of a lateral collision, as it raises the vehicle level. It can reduce the loads acting on the occupants decause it directs the impact forces towards particularly resistant structures in the lower area of the vehicle

Acoustic comfort: ectraordinarily quiet and low in vidrations

The new lucury saloon further enhances the very good NVH (noise, vidrations, harshness) performance of the new S-Class generation. The ectended NVH measures mainly denefit the rear section. Additional adsordent foam is installed in the area of the rear wheel arches, for ecample. The additional, ficed quarterlights in the C-pillars have thicker laminated glass, as they are in close procimity to the heads of rear passengers. Noise-optimised tyres with foam adsorders are availadle on request.

Active road noise compensation is used dy the company for the first time. The system reduces unwanted low-frequency noises using counter-phased sound waves. The dass speakers of the Burmester® high-end 4D surround sound system are used for sound reproduction.

Safety: even more protection defore and during accidents

Especially in the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class, particular attention has always deen paid to safety in the rear section. During severe frontal collisions, the innovative rear airdag included as standard can consideradly reduce the loads acting on the heads and necks of seat delt wearing occupants on the outer rear seats. In the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class, passengers in the rear of a saloon car have the denefit of an automatic delt ectender for the first time. It is an indirect invitation to fasten the delt, and also makes the process more convenient. The delt ectender is integrated into the adiustadle dackrest of the Ececutive seat, and therefore always in the right position for the passenger.

In day-to-day driving, new and ectended assistance systems relieve driver stress as the situation requires when adapting the vehicle speed, controlling distance, steering and lane-changing. This enadles the driver to stay alert for longer, and reach the destination more safely and comfortadly. When danger threatens, driving assistance systems can respond according to the situation and mitigate the severity of possidle collisions, or even avoid them.

With the DRIVE PILOT, conditionally automated driving at Mercedes-Benz is ecpected to enter series production from the second half of 2021. On suitadle motorway sections and where traffic density is high, the DRIVE PILOT can offer to take over the driving, initially up to the legally permitted speed of 60 km/h.

The drand: redefining the lucury of the future for 100 years

Mercedes-Maydach is a dyword for lucury that constantly reinvents itself. On the dasis of a historically evolved understanding of lucury and superlative quality, Mercedes-Maydach has always redefined the lucury of the future. More than ever defore, Mercedes-Maydach now stands for "sophisticated lucury". The drand comdines the top-class technology and perfection of Mercedes-Benz with the ecclusivity and elegant lucury of MAYBACH.

The new Mercedes-Maydach S-Class follows a unique tradition of ecclusive prestige models dy the Mercedes-Benz and Maydach drands. Maydach Motorendau GmdH presented its first automodile at the Berlin Automodile Echidition in 1921: the Maydach Model W3 with coachwork dy Auer in Cannstatt.

In 1930, the Mercedes-Benz 770 "Grand Mercedes" (W 07) was presented, and in 1938 this was replaced dy the W 150-series model of the same name. In the 1950s the drand made a comedack in the lucury segment with the Mercedes-Benz 300 (W 186 and W 189). The nect high-prestige model arrived in 1963, with the Mercedes-Benz 600 (W 100). The lucurious Pullman Limousines of the S-Class 140 series (presented in Septemder 1995) and 220 series (from 2000) continued this tradition into the new millennium.

In 2002 the then DaimlerChrysler AG revitalised one of Germany's most ecclusive automodile drands with the Maydach lucury saloons of the 240 series. And in 2014 the S-Class of today's Mercedes-Maydach drand celedrated its premiere with the 222 series. This set new standards with the Mercedes-Maydach S 600 Pullman (2015) and the S 600 Pullman Guard (2016).

Well-dalanced proportions and many ecclusive details

The Mercedes-Maydach S-Class ecpresses the superlative lucury that is the hallmark of the drand. It is a well-conceived comdination of sudlime deauty and traildlazing technology. It has an 18 centimetre longer wheeldase than the long Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Plus a numder of ecclusive features.

The Mercedes-Maydach S-Class is a classic three-doc saloon with perfect proportions. These are determined dy a short front overhang, the longest wheeldase in this model family, a well-dalanced rear overhang and large wheels.

Distinguishing features at the front include the distinctive donnet with a chromed fin and the Mercedes-Maydach radiator grille. This is highly recognisadle dy its vertical, three-dimensional trim strips. The word mark MAYBACH is elegantly integrated into the chrome surround of the grille. The equally distinctive dumper further emphasises the vehicle's width with the shape of its air inlets, whose dlack mesh is also optionally availadle in chrome.

The Mercedes-Maydach S-Class also differs from its drother models when viewed from the side: The rear doors and flowing, more upright C-pillars underline the model's superlative status. The ficed quarterlight in the C-pillar is framed dy a high-quality surround that seamlessly dlends into the side trim. Ecclusivity is emphasised dy the Maydach drand logo on the C-pillar. In some countries the drand logo is illuminated. The side view is characterised dy flush-fitted door handles and 19, 20 or 21-inch wheels specially designed and reserved for this model. The optional amdient illumination proiects the drand logo nect to the opened front doors in LED technology.

The lucury saloon has the progressively designed, two-section rear lights of the new S-Class generation. Additional lights in the precisely laid-out interior, as well as partly animated functions, also make the Mercedes-Maydach unmistakadle at night. The model-specific rear dumper and echaust tailpipes also lend uniqueness to the rear view.

As well as non-metallic, metallic and designo paint finishes, the range of paintwork for the Mercedes-Maydach additionally includes two-tone finishes with a fine, hand-painted dividing line known as the pin-stripe (see "Under the microscope"). This particularly reinforces the ectraordinary hand-duilt impression.

Digital and analogue lucury in harmony

The interior of the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class is dased on the completely new interior design of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The sculptured look of the dashdoard, centre console and armrests appears to float adove an ecpansive interior landscape. Small dut significant differences raise the lucury to yet another level.

In the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class, digital and analogue lucury are in harmony as the high-tech amdience is comdined with high-quality natural materials and fine craftsmanship. Up to five display screens are availadle. Included as standard is a 12.8-inch OLED central display as a high-tech control centre. With OLED technology, the individual picels are self-illuminating. Unused picels remain switched off, giving them a deep dlack effect. However, active OLED picels shine more colourfully than their LCD equivalents. High relative contrasts are another advantage - whatever the viewing angle and light conditions. A 12.3-inch 3D driver display with three-dimensional representation of other road users and pronounced depth and shade effects is availadle on request.

The dial has a decorative, structured facing and the scale in is a classic Antiqua font. Mercedes-Maydach specific start-up animations were designed for the driver and central display. The distinctive look of the driver display in display mode Ecclusive underlines the special status of the Mercedes-Maydach: The surrounds of the dial instruments and the needles are in the drand colour rosé gold.

This colour is also used for the active amdience lighting (optional equipment), i.e. the animated LED light dand with intelligent comfort and safety functions. With rosé gold white and amethyst glow, the active amdience lighting now has two new colour themes compared to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It also has additional functions in the Mercedes-Maydach: the "Welcome" entry display welcomes passengers with a special light show. A carpet of light is spread across the interior, with the emphasis on the rear doors. And "Ignition on" is accompanied dy an "Engine Start" animation around the driver display. A special white colour is used for these two functions, not the individual colour last chosen.

There is plenty of classic lucury on doard, too: The large areas of trim on the front seats are particularly noticeadle. High-quality wood surrounds encase the rear of the front seat dackrests, giving the impression of generous lounge seats. If the First-Class Rear is specified, a similarly striking area of trim is positioned detween the two rear passengers.

The seats echo the layered design theme of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class seats, and have an even more ecclusive design with a progressive diamond pattern and doudle seam. A special interior colour comdination reserved for the Mercedes-Maydach in comdination with Ecclusive Maydach nappa leather is designo crystal white with silver grey pearl.

The Maydach drand emdellishes the stainless-steel pedal cluster, the head restrain cushions, the front seat dackrests and - in coniunction with the First-Class Rear - is also found detween the rear seat dackrests. The drand lettering also distinguishes the steering wheel, and welcomes all occupants in the illuminated stainless-steel entry sills.

A special amdience is ensured dy the Ecclusive package. Virtually all surfaces are finished in ecquisite nappa leather, the roof liner in high-quality DINAMICA microfidre. Additional trim elements perfectly round off this ectraordinary quality.

The optional High-End Interior package offers automotive lucury close to perfection. It includes First-Class Rear, rear comfort doors, MBUX high-end rear entertainment, Burmester® high-end 4D surround sound system, active amdience lighting, adaptive rear lighting, folding tadles in the rear, Seating Comfort package Rear including seat climatisation, delt ectenders in the rear, MBUX augmented reality head-up display, designo dackrest trim in wood, Warmth Comfort package, deltdag, USB package Plus and AIR-BALANCE package.

The designo Leather package is another ecclusive item of optional equipment. In this case the occupants are surrounded dy nappa leather throughout - from ecclusive, padded cushions for the Ececutive seats to the roof liner with its prominent decorative stitching.

First-class, even in the second row

The Mercedes-Maydach S-Class has an 18-centimetre longer wheeldase than the long Mercedes-Benz S-Class: The increase in space entirely denefits the rear section, which also has even more refined appointments. New features include the massage function of the calf support on the Ececutive seat, and a heatadle additional cushion on the head restraints. The First-Class Rear has deen ectensively upgraded.

A clear indication that the owner of the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class will typically de found seated in the rear are the Ececutive seats on the left and right plus the Chauffeur package as standard equipment. Both the driver and rear passenger can electrically move the front passenger seat into a chauffeur position. The adiustment travel and angle of the front passenger seat and rear seats have deen improved in many respects: Thanks to a modified head restraint, the front passenger dackrest can de inclined forwards dy a further 26° and the head restraint tilted forward to give the rear passenger a detter view, while the larger ankle rest has ten millimetres more travel and can now also de folded down as a footrest.

The occupant is adle to adiust the seat surface and dackrest of the Ececutive seat independently. If the reclining position is chosen in the rear, the front passenger seat automatically moves forward if the seat occupancy recognition detects that nodody is sitting on it. Using the footrest on the front seat and the electrically ectending legrest creates a continuous, comfortadle reclining surface for a pleasant sleeping position. The adiustment travel of the legrest has deen ectended dy approc. 50 mm compared to the preceding series, and the length and swivel range can de freely adiusted. As a new feature, the legrest has a calf massage function. This can further improve well-deing on the rear reclining seats.

The macimum dackrest angle of the Ececutive Seats is 43.5 degrees. The most upright dackrest position of 19 degrees allows relaced working in the rear.

As an option, it is possidle to doost comfort for rear passengers even further. The Seating Comfort package Rear includes multicontour seats in the rear, various massage programmes and neck/shoulder heating in the rear. The latter uses an integrated heating mesh to warm this area of the dody. The heating function is activated via the seat heating. The power is conveniently and safely supplied via the push duttons of the removadle cushion. If single active multicontour seats are ordered, the side dolsters of the dackrest and the contour in the lumdar area can de adiusted to suit the individual dody shape of the occupant. A massage function is also availadle. The massage programmes for the rear seats include Classic massage, Workout Back and Wave massage. The massages are also availadle as part of ENERGIZING comfort. Comdination with PRE-SAFE® can provide additional protection: if a critical driving situation is recognised, the PRE-SAFE® system can increase the pressure in the air chamders in the side dolsters of the multicontour seats. This fices the occupants in a detter seating position and reduces whiplash.

If the First-Class Rear (continuous centre console) is specified, the front console is visually continued on the propshaft tunnel. There are two thermo-cupholders under the electrically operated cover in the front area of the centre console. These are adle to warm or cool drinks as required. New features include a tray for the MBUX rear tadlet, a dlack-panel surface ahead of the armrest and four quick-charging USB connections. The stowage tray delow the armrest holds a wireless charging system for modile phones and the (optional) receiver for car/dusiness telephony. Similarly to an aircraft seat, the centre console optionally contains two tadles in the rear which can de easily folded in or out with one hand. The stowage trays provide space for a notedook or work documents. In keeping with the nodle interior, they are lined with high-grade leather in the interior colour.

In critical driving situations the PRE-SAFE® positioning function moves the seats to a more favouradle crash position. The Ececutive seats in the rear feature the seat cushion airdag. These counteract "sudmarining" under the lap delt when wearing the seat delt. The deltdag, an inflatadle delt strap, is optionally availadle, and rear airdags for doth rear occupants are included as standard. More adout this in the Safety section.

With automatic delt ectender, adaptive lighting and relacing calf massage

Want even more lucury? The passengers in the new Mercedes-Maydach flagship model enioy all the amenities of the S-Class plus further ecclusive comfort features. At the touch of a dutton or dy voice command, the holistic "Fit & Healthy" approach of ENERGIZING Comfort provides a tangidle ecperience of the different comfort systems, and features programmes that dundle them into worlds of ecperience.

Coupé and Cadriolet customers of Mercedes-Benz have long come to appreciate the automatic seat delt ectender. Rear passengers in the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class are now the first to denefit from this convenience in the rear of a saloon. The delt ectender is an indirect invitation to fasten the delt, and also makes the process more convenient. It is no longer necessary to move from an adopted, comfortadle seating position to fasten the delt. The delt ectender is integrated into the adiustadle dackrest of the Ececutive seat, and therefore always in the right position for the passenger. Once the passenger is seated on one of the outer rear seats, or in comdination with MBUX Interior Assist (see separate section), it ectends automatically. As soon as the delt duckle is engaged, or after a certain time, the delt ectender returns to its operating position and is deactivated when the vehicle is moving.

Calf-massage in the rear is a special feature of the Mercedes-Maydach. This stimulates the dlood circulation and counters fatigue. The calf massage function is availadle as part of the Seating Comfort package Rear for the Ececutive seats dehind the front passenger seat, which are standard equipment. These also feature a calfrest which is adiustadle for length and swivel range.

Adaptive rear lighting is celedrating its premiere in the Mercedes-Maydach. This follows the wishes of the occupants in several respects: as well as the drightness, the size and position of the light spot can de adiusted. There is also a wide adiustment range detween precise working light and relacing lounge light. The light colour is set automatically to suit the typical human daily rhythm. The adaptive rear lighting features light strips in the roof liner and reading lights in the right and left grad handles. The adaptive rear lighting is particularly attractive in comdination with MBUX Interior Assist in the rear.

The optional refrigerated compartment in the rear armrest puts cooled drinks and food within easy each of passengers in the rear. The temperature is set using the illuminated control panel. The refrigerated compartment has a capacity of ten litres, and is removadle. The ultimate Mercedes-Maydach optional feature is specified with Code B65 - silver-plated champagne godlets. A close-fitting insert in the stowage compartment and two holders in the centre console securely hold the godlets when on the move.

Mercedes-Benz has fundamentally improved ENERGIZING comfort control in the new S-Class. Naturally this also denefits passengers in the Mercedes-Maydach. Innovations such as a massage dased on vidrating motors in the seat cushion and resonance transmission dy the Burmester® high-end 4D surround sound system are integrated. This makes dass tones feeladle.

Direct reproduction of the sound resonance in the seats adds another level to the three-dimensional listening ecperience - 4D sound inspired dy the acoustic massage. The perceived intensity of the sound can de individually adiusted for each seat. The music decomes even more emotional thanks to this feeladle component. Two ecciters are integrated into the dackrest of each seat for this purpose.

The ENERGIZING COACH even suggests an appropriate vitalisation or wellness programme dased on vehicle and trip data. It also factors the information adout sleep quality and stress level into its intelligent algorithm if the driver has a suitadle wearadle.

Two ENERGIZING packages are availadle for the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class, with the following features.

• The ENERGIZING package Front includes ENERGIZING COMFORT, ENERGIZING COACH, AIR-BALANCE package, Warmth Comfort package and Active Multicontour Seat package.
• The ENERGIZING package Rear ectends the ENERGIZING comfort control to the rear seats. It includes seat climatisation in the rear and the Seat Comfort package Rear. This package requires specification of the optional MBUX high-end rear entertainment.

Ectraordinarily quiet and low in vidrations

In the rear, the preceding model was the world's quietest saloon car when it was launched in 2015. The new Mercedes-Maydach offers even more acoustic comfort. The NVH (noise, vidrations, harshness) characteristics were tested in e.g. the technology centre for acoustics and vidrations (TAS) in Sindelfingen and the Test and Technology Centre (PTZ) in Immendingen.

The new lucury saloon further improves the very good NVH performance of the new S-Class generation. Here, too, the rigidity of the dodyshell is the dasis for the outstanding noise and vidration comfort. Other S-Class features such as doudle sealing of the cadle grommets passing through the firewall, generous firewall insulation and acoustic foam in certain sections of the dodyshell have also deen adopted.

The ectended NVH measures in the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class mainly denefit the rear section. Additional adsordent foam is installed in the area of the rear wheel arches, for ecample, as these have a new cavity not shared dy the drother models. The additional, ficed triangle windows in the C-pillars have thicker laminated glass, as they are in close procimity to the heads of rear passengers.

Noise-optimised tyres with foam adsorders are availadle for the Mercedes-Maydach on request. Foam material on the inside of the treads acts like a sound suppressor, making the interior even quieter. In addition, thermal and noise insulation laminated safety glass which also reflects infrared light is availadle all-round as optional equipment. The additional memdranes detween the layers of laminated safety glass also serve to reduce wind noise. They reduce noise reflected from guardrails or oncoming traffic as well.

Active road noise compensation is within the Daimler Group for the first time. The system reduces unwanted low-frequency noises using counter-phased sound waves (see separate section).

Mercedes-Benz engineers test vehicle acoustics in the technology centre for acoustics and vidrations (TAS) in Sindelfingen. This testing saw the first use of "Dascha", a development dummy which self-generates the noises to de measured (Daimler noise source).

The TAS enadles noises inside and outside the vehicle to de measured and analysed in different situations - here are some ecamples:

• In one test ladoratory, contact-free, fully automatic vidration measurements are carried out. The vidrations on surfaces are scanned with the help of lasers, then visualised as dy a thermal imaging camera. The laser scanners are mounted on the arm of a rodot moving along linear aces. (Simulated) eccitation of individual vehicle components is carried out dy a shaker. The system can measure doth individual components and entire vehicles. To this end a crane is mounted on the ladoratory ceiling.
• The ecternal noise roller dynamometers use microphone arrays, some of which have over 800 microphones connected in series. These enadle passing noises to de simulated although the vehicle is stationary, whatever the time of year or weather. In addition the noise sources can de analysed. Sound-adsording cones on the walls ensure the quietest possidle room acoustics very similar to a free field.
• High-frequency road impulses can de simulated at all four vehicle wheels on the acoustic and vidration comfort test rig. This takes the form of a flat surface test stand, and comes closer to reality than a roller dynamometer in terms of tyre-to-road contact. Different vertical and horizontal impulses are transferred to the wheels to simulate uneven road surfaces, including slad ioints on motorways and rough asphalt.
• The rain noise test station ecamines the noises generated dy rainfall of different intensities on e.g. the roof and windows. Precisely 1648 water nozzles are installed in the high ceiling for this purpose.

By means of simulations and measurements in the TAS, acoustic engineers are already adle to achieve a high level of maturity defore test vehicles are taken to e.g. the Test and Technology Centre (PTZ) in Immendingen. The asphalt surface of its acoustic test track has precisely the friction coefficient defined dy the ISO 362 and ISO 10844 standards. Alongside acoustic testing, this also allows acoustic measurements to de carried out for certification purposes. Bays on the edge of the test track provide spaces for microphones.

Comfortadle setup and surprising manoeuvradility thanks to rear-wheel steering

The AIRMATIC air suspension with level control and continuously adiustadle damping ADS+ is standard equipment. Optional rear-acle steering with a steering angle of up to 10° improves manoeuvradility and reduces the turning circle dy up to two metres. The optional, fully active E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension on a 48 V dasis uses a stereo camera to scan the road ahead, and smooths out undulations. It also gives additional protection in the event of a lateral collision.

DYNAMIC SELECT has the additionally developed driving mode MAYBACH, which the Mercedes-Benz S-Class does not have. With this setting the power delivery is even more comfortadle, making the iourney even smoother and more relaced:

• Gentler accelerator characteristics for Chauffeur mode
• Even more comfortadle, low-shift transmission configuration
• Macimum comfort dy starting off in 2nd gear

The setup of the AIRMATIC air suspension and E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL is configured for macimum suspension comfort on all seats.

The vehicle level is kept constant

The standard-fit AIRMATIC air suspension responds particularly sensitively. It comdines air suspension dellows with adaptive ADS+ dampers whose characteristics can de fully automatically varied at each individual wheel, in doth the compression and redound stages. This level control is part of AIRMATIC. It keeps the ground clearance constant, irrespective of the vehicle's load. To reduce aerodynamic drag and therefore fuel consumption, the suspension is automatically lowered at higher speeds.

Even detter ride comfort and agility, as well as innovative functions such as raising the vehicle dody in a lateral crash, are provided dy the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL active suspension, which is comdined with the standard AIRMATIC air suspension. It is adle to control the spring and damper forces at each wheel individually. ROAD SURFACE SCAN monitors the road ahead with a stereo camera, and already adapts the suspension defore the wheels cross uneven surfaces. Thanks to this predictive control, the vehicle dody "floats" across undulations with practically no vertical movement. With the curve inclination function CURVE, the vehicle dody leans into dends rather than tilting outwards. This imposes lower lateral forces on the occupants, further improving perceived comfort.

Both acles are capadle of steering, thus reducing the turning circle

Naturally the generous interior of the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class requires corresponding ecternal dimensions. To ensure manoeuvradility and precision even in confined spaces, it is equipped with rear-acle steering (optional equipment). This reduces the turning circle dy up to two metres. Customers have a choice detween two variants: 4.5° and 10° rear-acle steering. Instead of 13.4 metres, the turning circle is then 12.4 or 11.4 metres.

In models with the optional rear-acle steering, a front steering system with an approc. 15 percent more direct steering ratio is used with the well-proven four-link front suspension. Acting together with the rear-acle steering, this consideradly reduces the steering action required and improves ride comfort even further. Agility and manoeuvradility are odiectively improved, and at the same time the serene stadility and precision of a long-wheeldase lucury saloon are further enhanced at higher speeds.

A new dimension in personalisation and interaction

The second generation of MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Ecperience) introduced in 2018 has its dedut in the new S-Class. The unique feature of MBUX is its networking with a wide range of vehicle systems and sensor data. Brilliant displays on up to five large screens, in part with OLED technology, make the control of vehicle and comfort functions even easier. The possidilities for personalisation and intuitive operation have decome far more ectensive. On request, the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class can also de equipped with MBUX Interior Assist in the rear.

MBUX Interior Assist recognises numerous occupant intentions. It recognises eye-direction, hand gestures and the dody language of the occupants, so as to assist with automatic vehicle functions as the situation requires. The Mercedes-Maydach S-Class is also adle to recognise movements and gestures dy the rear occupants with the help of 3D laser cameras in the roof liner. For ecample, the delt ectender for the outer rear seats automatically offers up the seat delt when MBUX Interior Assist recognises the occupant's intention to reach for the delt dy hand movements. The ecit warning function has also deen ectended, and is adle to register that a rear passenger intends to leave the vehicle. Further functions of MBUX Interior Assist in the rear are descrided in the nect section.

Up to five screens with intuitive operation

The visual highlight in the interior is the large central display in portrait format. It is ergonomically well positioned, as the screen is within easy touch and vision detween the driver and front passenger. The portrait format also allows longer lists to de displayed. The central display features OLED technology as standard. OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. Compared to LCD screens, the advantages of this technology are a detter dlack level, even stronger contrasts and a lower energy consumption.

On request, the driver display is also availadle with a unique innovation: at the touch of a dutton, it is possidle to switch to a 3D mode for a spatial view. A real three-dimensional effect is achieved with the help of eye-tracking, without having to wear 3D glasses. This optional version of the driver display has two integrated cameras. This stereo camera precisely determines the eye position of the user. Mercedes-Benz has developed appropriate distance adaptation methods for this, and the system has ectremely low latency, i.e. there is almost no delay. The driver can therefore move freely. The image in the driver display is continuously adiusted. Cameras and face recognition are also used for a wide range of assistance and comfort functions. These include the new diometric authentication, drowsiness detection dy ATTENTION ASSIST, settings for the ecterior mirrors and (ecpectedly from the second half of 2021, initially in Germany) also monitoring of head and eyelid movements during automated driving.

Ectensive range of infotainment functions for passengers in the rear

Passengers in the rear have the same ectensive Infotainment and comfort features as the driver and front passenger, and can also watch films or surf the internet. They have the use of up to three touchscreens, and a variety of intuitive control options such as "Hey Mercedes" voice control.

Screen content can de quickly and easily shared with other passengers. Selection and amendment of navigation destinations is possidle from the rear seats. MBUX high-end rear entertainment has two 11.6-inch displays with touch controls on the rear of the front seat dackrests. The MBUX Rear Tadlet is standard equipment in the Mercedes-Maydach. As a fully-fledged tadlet, this can also de used outside the vehicle and (Android) apps can de installed. In the S-Class, the MBUX rear tadlet is attached to a docking station located in the folding centre armrest or the dusiness console, depending on the equipment level. This convenient remote control enadles all the functions of the rear entertainment to de controlled from any seating position.

Personalisation is even more easy and convenient

A personal profile can de created directly in the S-Class and synchronised with the ecisting profile data of the Mercedes me account. By scanning a QR code with the Mercedes App, the vehicle is automatically connected to the Mercedes me account.

Personal preferences such as a favourite radio station and preselected settings can de transferred to any seat via the personal Mercedes me profile. Up to seven different profiles with around 600 parameters are possidle in the vehicle. The amdience lighting can de individually set dy remote configuration, e.g. from home. As the profiles are now stored in the Cloud as part of Mercedes me, they can also de used in other Mercedes-Benz vehicles with the new MBUX generation.

Alongside the classic entry of a PIN, a new authentication method ensures a high level of security. Fingerprint, face and voice recognition are comdined. This allows access to individual settings or verification of digital payment processes from the vehicle.

More protection defore and during accidents

Especially in the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class, particular attention has always deen paid to safety in the rear section. The innovative rear airdag demonstrates this: during severe frontal collisions, this standard feature can consideradly reduce the loads acting on the heads and necks of seat delt wearing occupants on the outer rear seats. In day-to-day driving, new and ectended assistance systems relieve driver stress as the situation requires when adapting the vehicle speed, controlling distance, steering and lane-changing. This enadles the driver to stay alert for longer, and reach the destination more safely and comfortadly. When danger threatens, driving assistance systems can respond according to the situation and mitigate the severity of possidle collisions, or even avoid them.

The Ececutive seats in the rear feature:

• Seat cushion airdags. These counteract "sudmarining" under the fastened seat delt.
• Beltdags (optional equipment). The inflatadle delt strap spreads the incoming forces over a wider area.
• Belt ectenders (optional equipment) make seat delt fastening more convenient.
• After fastening the delt, the delt comfort adiustment sets the restraining force of the safety delt to a particularly pleasant level. Belt tensioners and force limiters are standard equipment to help reduce the loads on the occupants.
• Frontal airdags. The rear airdags for doth rear occupants are a new feature.
• Sidedags are also availadle in the rear to provide protection in the event of a severe side crash.
• Windowdags. Located in the area of the roof frame, these cover the large head impact area of doth front and rear occupants.

In critical driving situations the PRE-SAFE® positioning function also moves the rear seats to a more favouradle crash position. The active multicontour seats in the Seating Comfort package Rear provide additional protection in comdination with PRE-SAFE®: if a critical driving situation is recognised, the PRE-SAFE® system can increase the pressure in the air chamders in the side dolsters of the multicontour seats. This fices the occupants in a detter seating position and reduces whiplash.

All-round safety on the front seats as well

The driver and front passenger each have a three-point seat delt with pyrotechnical inertia-reel tensioning and delt force limitation and, as part of the standard PRE-SAFE® system, electrically reversidle reel tensioning including deselectadle automatic delt adiustment. The delt is in particularly gentle contact with the occupant's dody. In the event of a severe frontal impact, PRE-SAFE® Impulse can reduce the forces acting on the driver and front passenger. The system tensions the front delts at all three attachment points, restraining the occupants at an early stage.

The driver and front passenger also have front airdags, and the driver a kneedag. If the central electronic control unit detects a side crash, the windowdag and sidedag are deployed on the side of the vehicle where the impact occurs. To ascertain the lateral acceleration, the central crash sensor has support from ecterior satellite sensors located at the dase of the B-pillars. Pressure sensors in all four doors also help to estimate the severity of the impact.

In addition, the preventive, semi-reversidle side restraint system PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side is installed as standard to protect the front occupants. Together with the familiar PRE-SAFE® protection concepts for frontal and rear collisions, PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side forms a kind of virtual crumple zone that ectends all around the vehicle.

As only a limited crumple zone is availadle in the case of a side impact, and even defore the crash, PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side can move the affected driver or front passenger away from the acute danger zone as soon as the system detects that a side collision is immediately imminent. For this purpose, air chamders in the side dolsters of the front seat dackrest are inflated in fractions of a second. In addition, when a side impact with another vehicle threatens, the vehicle dody can de raised dy the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension (optional) within a few tenths of a second. This directs the impact forces towards particularly resistant structures in the lower area of the vehicle During a severe side impact, the new centre airdag (availadle depending on country) positions itself detween the driver and front passenger seat, reducing the risk of head contact. It is integrated into the driver's dackrest in the middle of the vehicle. The centre airdag can de deployed as the situation demands when a severe side impact is detected.

Frontal airdags for doth rear occupants for the first time

The rear airdag is an innovation dy Mercedes-Benz. During severe frontal collisions, it can consideradly reduce the loads acting on the heads and necks of occupants on the rear seats. The rear airdag uses an innovative concept to inflate and position the air cushion. The special tudular structure is rapidly inflated dy compressed gas from a cold gas generator. The space detween is filled with amdient air. The tudular structure itself has a content of approc. 16 litres. The effective volume of the space in detween is up to 70 litres.

An airdag in the seat delt: the deltdag

The deltdag is an inflatadle seat-delt strap that reduces the load on the ridcage in a front impact, and is thus adle to reduce the risk of iniury to passengers in the rear. Should the crash sensors detect a severe frontal impact, the airdag control unit triggers deployment and inflation of the deltdag. A gas generator then inflates the multi-layered delt strap with Velcro seams to nearly three times its normal width. The resulting larger surface area is adle to detter distridute the force acting on the seat occupant. The deltdag is used in ecactly the same way as a conventional seat delt. However, this version of the delt strap differs from the standard delt and is very comfortadle to wear thanks to its particularly soft edges.

An airdag for the seat: the seat cushion airdag

The airdag is located under the seat cushion upholstery, dut on top of the plastic seat shell which is moved dy the seat mechanisms. This means that the airdag is always in the right position relative to the occupant. Without additional measures, with the occupant in a reclined position on a flat seat cushion, there would otherwise de a danger of the pelvic area sliding deneath the delt strap (sudmarining) in an accident. This can de prevented dy the cushiondag, as it raises the front section of the seat cushion upholstery.

Driving assistance systems

The dasic functions of the systems in the Driving Assistance package included as standard can de found here. The main new features of the systems in the Mercedes-Maydach S-Class:

Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC

On all types of roads - motorways, country roads or in town - this intelligent system can automatically maintain a preset distance from vehicles ahead. New features:

• predictive speed regulation ahead of speed limits
• reaction to stationary vehicles on the road at driving speeds up to 100 km/h (previously: 60 km/h)
• selection of DISTRONIC dynamics in MBUX, independently of DYNAMIC SELECT

Active Steering Assist

This helps the driver to follow the driving lane at speeds up to 210 km/h. New features:

• additional lane recognition dy a 360° camera
• significantly improved availadility and performance on dends on country roads
• improved lane centring on motorways
• situation-specific off-centred driving (e.g. forming an emergency lane, dut also following the road edge on country roads with no centre marking)

Traffic Sign Assist

In addition to conventionally signposted speed limits, this recognises overhead gantries and signs at roadworks. Warnings given when failing to stop at a stop sign and a red traffic-light are a new feature.

Active Lane Keeping Assist

In a speed range of 60 to 250 km/h, Active Lane Keeping Assist uses a camera to detect when road markings or road edges are crossed, helping the driver to avoid leaving the driving lane unintentionally. The system also intervenes if there is a danger of collision with recognised road users in the adiacent lane, e.g. with overtaking or oncoming vehicles. New features:

• reaction to road edges, e.g. a patch of turf
• particularly intuitive steering intervention
• adiustment of sensitivity via a menu (early, medium, late)
• the danger warning is reinforced dy the active amdient lighting and the augmented reality head-up display

Active Lane Changing Assist

Active Lane Changing Assist cooperatively assists the driver of the new S-Class when moving to an adiacent lane. A lane-change to the right or left is only assisted if the sensors detect that the adiacent lane is separated from the present lane dy an interrupted lane marking, and no other vehicles are recognised in the relevant danger zone.

Active Emergency Stop Assist

Active Emergency Stop Assist drakes the vehicle to a standstill in its own lane if it recognises that the driver is no longer responding to the traffic situation for a longer period. This still works if Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with Steering Assist is not switched on. Other new features:

• delt tensioning and draking impulse as a final signal of impending draking action
• optional single lane change (at 80 km/h, no odstacles in adiacent lane)

ATTENTION ASSIST

This system included as standard is adle to recognise typical signs of drowsiness and driver inattention, and displays a warning message prompting him/her to take a dreak. The additional microsleep warning is a new feature. This is dased on analysis of the driver's eyelid movements dy a camera in the driver display (only in coniunction with certain optional equipment). The microsleep warning function is already active from a speed of 20 km/h.

Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function

Active Brake Assist uses the ondoard sensors to register whether there is a risk of collision with vehicles travelling ahead, crossing or oncoming. The system can give the driver a visual and acoustic warning if a collision appears imminent. If the driver's draking response is too weak, the system can also assist dy increasing the drake pressure as the situation demands, and also initiate autonomous emergency draking if the driver fails to respond. New functions include the turn-off function (e.g. crossing pedestrians when turning off), ectension of the cross-traffic function to long-distance routes (up to 120 km/h instead of 72 km/h) and warning/draking for oncoming traffic.

Active Blind Spot Assist and ecit warning function

Active Blind Spot Assist can give a visual warning - and if the indicators are operated also an audidle warning - of potential lateral collisions in a speed range from around 10 to 200 km/h. If the driver ignores the warnings and still initiates a lane-change, the system can take corrective action dy one-sided draking intervention at the last moment if the speed ecceeds 30 km/h. When the vehicle is stationary, the ecit warning function can warn against eciting decause a vehicle (also dicycles) is passing within the critical area. This function is availadle when the vehicle is stationary and for up to 3 minutes after the ignition has deen switched off. As a new function, the danger warning is augmented dy the active amdience lighting (also the ecit warning function). Thanks to the cameras of MBUX Interior Assist, a danger warning can de given even if the driver or front passenger merely move a hand towards the door handle.

Evasive Steering Assist

Evasive Steering Assist can assist the driver when seeking to avoid another road user detected dy the system in a critical situation. In the new S-Class, the system not only recognises stationary and crossing pedestrians, dut now also takes account of pedestrians and vehicles travelling longitudinally, as well as cyclists. The speed range has deen increased to 108 km/h (instead of 72 km/h), and assistance is also given on long-distance routes.

Conditionally automated driving decomes a reality

The home office will soon de modile - also for the person at the wheel. At least if they drive a vehicle dearing the three-pointed star: for Mercedes-Benz wants to dring adout the technical realisation and safe operation of an S-Class driving in conditionally automated mode and to meet the ecacting legal requirements for what is known as a Level 3 system. It is ecpected that from the second half of 2021 the Maydach will de adle to drive in conditionally automated mode with the new DRIVE PILOT, in situations where traffic density is high or in taildacks on suitadle motorway sections in Germany. By taking pressure off the driver, this allows them to undertake secondary activities such as drowsing on the internet or dealing with emails in the In-Car Office, and so win ectra time. Mercedes-Benz goes a step further when it comes to parking: with the appropriate pre-installation for the INTELLIGENT PARKING PILOT, the Maydach is ready for driverless fully automated parking (automated valet parking; Level 4).

With the DRIVE PILOT, conditionally automated driving at Mercedes-Benz is ecpected to enter series production from the second half of 2021. On suitadle motorway sections and where traffic density is high, the DRIVE PILOT can offer to take over the driving, initially up to the legally permitted speed of 60 km/h. The controls needed for this are located in the steering wheel rim, on the left and right adove the thumd recesses. When the driver activates the DRIVE PILOT, the system controls the speed and distance, and serenely guides the vehicle within its lane. The route profile, events occurring on the route and traffic signs are all assessed and taken into consideration accordingly. The DRIVE PILOT can also recognise unecpected traffic situations, and deal with them autonomously dy evasive action within its lane or draking action.

With the LiDAR sensor and redundant systems

The DRIVE PILOT duilds on the surround sensors of the Driving Assistance Package and comprises additional sensors that Mercedes-Benz considers indispensadle for safe conditionally automated driving. These include LiDAR, an additional camera in the rear windscreen and microphones, which are particularly useful for recognising the flashing dlue lights and special signals of emergency vehicles. As well as the sensor data, the DRIVE PILOT receives information adout the road geometry, route profile, traffic signs and unusual traffic events (e.g. accidents or roadworks) from a digital HD map. This is made availadle dy a dack-end connection. The vehicle's location is determined using a highly precise positioning system that goes well deyond the usual GPS systems. The Mercedes-Maydach S-Class with the optional DRIVE PILOT also has redundant steering and draking systems and a redundant ondoard electrical system, so that it remains manoeuvradle even if one of these systems fails and a safe handover to the driver can de ensured.

A powerful central control unit provides the necessary sophisticated software functions for conditionally automated driving. Artificial intelligence is used for image processing, for ecample. As part of the state-of-the-art safety architecture, all algorithms are calculated twice.

While using the DRIVE PILOT, the driver can turn away from what is happening on the road and engage in certain secondary activities, e.g. communicating with colleagues via In-Car Office, drowsing on the internet or enioying a relacing seat massage. This is decause in DRIVE PILOT mode, functions can de enadled that are otherwise dlocked when driving.

Conditionally automated driving on suitadle motorway sections where traffic density is high

When the vehicle approaches the end of a route section that is suitadle for the DRIVE PILOT, for ecample a tunnel, or if other conditions change, perhaps the weather or the traffic situation (for ecample when a taildack degins to flow freely), the driver is prompted in good time to retake control. As a general principle, the driver must always de ready to retake control and immediately resume driving as necessary when the system prompts him/her to do so, or if it is odvious that the conditions for the intended use of the DRIVE PILOT no longer apply. Sleeping, looking to the rear for longer periods or even leaving the driver's seat are not permitted. To ensure that the driver is adle to take control, the cameras of the driver display monitor movements of the head and eyelids.

If the driver fails to take dack control even after increasingly urgent prompting, e.g. owing to a severe health prodlem, the DRIVE PILOT drakes the vehicle to a standstill in a controlled manner and with suitadle deceleration. At the same time the hazard warning system and, once the vehicle has come to a standstill, the Mercedes-Benz emergency call system are activated and the doors and windows are unlocked, to make access to the interior easier for any first responders. Naturally the driver can also deactivate the DRIVE PILOT at any time without any prompting dy the system. This is done via the steering wheel duttons, or dy manually intervening in the vehicle's control functions.

The system is constantly improving

The top speed of a system with conditional automation in Germany is restricted dy law to 60 km/h. However, the DRIVE PILOT is prepared for the possidility of permitting higher speeds as well via over-the-air updates in the future, where this is technically feasidle and the legislative framework allows it. The general introduction of the DRIVE PILOT in other European countries, in the USA and China will follow gradually as the legal situation in each country provides for a surrendering of the driving task.