Around the second half of next year, Mercedes-Benz will be launching the replacement for its flagship line, the type W222 S-Class. As we have come to expect, this premiere vehicle will feature a slew of new technologies, like LED lighting for the headlights (as well as all other lights), a night vision system, pedestrian awareness systems and a stereo camera that provides, among other things, input for control of the active suspension system.

All nice and welcome, but the heart of any car is the powerplant, and once again, Mercedes engineers don’t disappoint. As expected, we will have an S600, with S63 and S65 AMG versions. And at the other end of the scale, there is the 4-cylinder M274 that will power the S300 BlueEFFICIENCY with its 250 horsepower output.

Executives will appreciate the quietness and efficiency of the new S-Class hybrids, which, in S500 HYBRID guise, will feature a V6 with plug-in capability. So apart from regenerative braking technology, the hybrid S-Class can also be charged from an ordinary charging outlet. On its electric motor alone, the S500 HYBRID will have a range of 50 kilometers. As a result, urban dwellers can take comfort in contributing negligible emissions from their decidedly ostentatious luxury rides.