There’s good news for traditionalists: the upcoming Mercedes S-Class will continue to offer its Mercedes engine options well beyond 2030.
In 2026, Mercedes-Benz plans to launch a facelift for the current W223-generation S-Class, which originally debuted in 2020. Earlier this year, CEO Ola Källenius revealed that the company invested more in updating the Mercedes engine version of the S-Class than it typically spends on an entirely new generation. For those who prefer conventional powertrains, the next iteration of the luxury flagship will still feature a traditional Mercedes engine under the hood.
In a discussion with Autocar about the dual nature of the S-Class—offering both petrol and electric models—the CEO confirmed that an electric version of the S-Class is in development to replace the Mercedes EQS, a model with polarizing looks and underwhelming global sales.
However, the petrol-powered Mercedes engine version of the full-size S-Class sedan is here to stay, built on a platform designed specifically for combustion engines. Even though the electric and petrol models will share the same name, they won’t be the same vehicle. The electric version will sit on a separate, dedicated EV architecture.
According to the CEO, the S-Class remains “the best car in the world,” and combining the Mercedes engine with an electric platform would be a compromise Mercedes is unwilling to make. Adding a petrol engine to the electric version would reduce cabin space, something luxury buyers expect in abundance. On the other hand, adapting the electric model to accommodate the Mercedes engine would require design trade-offs that engineers would prefer to avoid.
Källenius acknowledged that producing multiple versions of the S-Class will be costly, but Mercedes intends to keep additional investments manageable by sharing components between the petrol and electric models, helping to reduce development expenses. Notably, rival BMW has adopted a different strategy, with both the 7 Series and i7 models sharing the same CLAR platform.
Looking ahead, Mercedes-Benz has already ensured its internal combustion engines, including the Mercedes engine, will meet the upcoming Euro 7 regulations. Additionally, Mercedes is one of the few manufacturers still offering a V12 engine, a feature no longer available from competitors like BMW, Bentley, or Audi. Even Rolls-Royce, which is under BMW’s umbrella, plans to retire the V12 engine by the end of the decade.
Since the current S-Class is scheduled for a major facelift in two years, the W223-generation and its Mercedes engine will likely remain in production until the end of the decade. This also suggests that the future W224 generation with petrol (and potentially diesel) engines could last into the late 2030s.
This combination of combustion engines and electric powertrains has prompted Källenius to declare that “the next decade will be the best for Mercedes customers.” Similarly, BMW has no plans to phase out its petrol-powered 7 Series, which will continue to coexist with the i7. While Mercedes initially aimed for full electrification by 2030, BMW has taken a more moderate approach, targeting 50% electric vehicles by the end of the decade, depending on consumer demand.
