Mercedes-Benz S-Class Facelift India Launch Set For June 15

Mercedes-Benz will launch the 2026 S-Class facelift in India on June 15. The flagship sedan arrives with an evolutionary design over a substantially new underpinning, with up to 90 per cent of the car claimed as entirely new. Pricing is expected to start upwards of Rs 2 crore.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift debuts as the first plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz launched in India outside the AMG range. Badged S 450e with EQ Hybrid Technology, it pairs a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six with a 120kW electric motor for 435hp and 680Nm. A 22kWh battery delivers up to 100km of claimed pure-electric range, with a 0-100kmph time of 5.7 seconds.

The S 450e is rear-wheel drive only and gets a ZF nine-speed automatic as standard across all variants. The standard S 450 petrol and diesel-powered S 350d are expected to continue in the lineup, though both will arrive at a later date.

Up front, the grille of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift has grown by 20 per cent with an illuminated surround and miniature chrome stars in the slats. The hood ornament is now lit, and larger headlamps use micro-LED Digital Light technology with individual three-pointed star DRLs. Illumination efficiency improves by 40 per cent with reduced weight and energy use.

The side profile of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift retains the familiar silhouette with its large front overhang and stubby rear end, while new 50-spoke alloy wheels produced via high-pressure casting update the look. The Manufaktur customisation division expands the paint catalogue with additional premium shades. At the rear, slimmer taillights feature three-pointed star LED motifs.

The ADAS capability of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift is bolstered by an expanded sensor array comprising 10 cameras, five radar units, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. The new MB OS system acts as a centralised computing unit managing the powertrain, suspension, lighting, and cameras, with over-the-air update capability built into the software-defined architecture.

The cabin replaces the previous dashboard with a gloss-black Superscreen panel housing 12.3-inch driver and passenger displays plus a 14.4-inch central touchscreen. AI features include a digital assistant linked to ChatGPT, Gemini, and Bing, alongside Google Maps and V2X communication. Facial recognition via a dashboard camera replaces the outgoing fingerprint scanner.