The all-new 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class officially debuted on September 2nd, 2020. This is always a big deal in the automotive world. The saying goes that whatever technology debuts on the latest S-Class will often be standard on most vehicles five years down the line. It’s become a preview for the potential future of the automotive technology and safety landscape. With that, let’s dive into the most impressive features the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has to offer.
Starting with the interior, the 2021 S-Class has five digital screens on-board. All-new for 2021 is a 3D driver display with a real 3D effect that uses eye-tracking to animate turn-off arrows in the road lane. This will feel familiar if you’ve ever played a racing game like Forza or Gran Turismo; it’s arrows telling you where to drive using GPS. Voice commands are managed using ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assistant which is fluent in 27 languages.
What really drew our attention was the optional rear-airbag located behind the front seats. In the event of a severe frontal collision, the rear airbag can, according to Mercedes-Benz, reduce the impact on the head and neck of rear seating passengers – with the aid of a seat-belt, of course. Another optional, innovative safety feature is E-Active Body Control. In the event of a side collision, the S-Class can raise its body by three-inches within a few tenths of a second. Thus reducing the impact to passengers as the force of the impact is absorbed in the vehicle’s lower area. As if the car is putting up its shoulder to take the hit for you.
The 2021 S-Class is a big sedan, so Mercedes also offers optional rear-axle steering to improve maneuverability in tight parking lots or downtown settings. With rear-axle steering, the S-Class turning radius is reduced by up to six feet. There are two engines available, as of right now, in the U.S. on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. A 3.0-liter straight six producing 429 horsepower and a 4.0-liter V8 making 496 horsepower. The S-Class is one, if not the best luxury sedan in the world. It sets the bar in luxury and safety for the next several years. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is scheduled to be available in early 2021.