Bolder, or Blander? Upcoming Mercedes-Benz S-Class Apparently Spied

A Spanish Instagram account seemingly leaked photos of an uncovered next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class late Tuesday, showing off the flagship’s new face and caboose and revealing something far more noteworthy: a screen-heavy cockpit that throws tradition to the wind.

Not that the previous S-Class’ cabin was overly festooned with traditional buttons or dials. Still, the new layout takes cockpit digitization to the next level, placing a massive touchscreen where the center stack should be, and adding an expansive digital gauge display ahead of the steering wheel. It’s this feature (which is paired with a secondary screen further up the dash) that comes across as awkward, given that the screen stands alone, rather than ensconcing itself in a traditional housing.

Unlike the Widescreen Cockpit of the new A-Class, the separate screens seen here provide less of a cohesive look. Aside from that, the dash itself aims for futuristic and minimalist. Compare with the current-gen S-Class below:

Moving back outside, the front fascia of the W223 is blunter, more upright than the angled front ends of current and past S-Classes. Lower air openings grow in size, as does, seemingly, the grille. Some online pundits pointed out the fascia’s vague resemblance to the pre-refresh Genesis G90 — a connection this writer couldn’t help but notice, either.

Out back, the taillights move to a horizontal alignment, adopting a pinched design reminiscent of the CLS-Class (and, to some eyes, the Lexus ES). Details about the car’s bodyside sculpting will have to wait.

Expected to debut officially late this year, going on sale as a 2021 or 2022 model, the next-generation S-Class is believed to source its power from a mild-hybrid inline-six or an obligatory V8.

[Images: CocheSpias/Instagram, Daimler AG]