Speaking to Automotive News Europe at the recent Paris Motor Show, Ola Kaellenius, who will reportedly succeed current CEO Dieter Zetsche in May next year, said that Level 3, which allows the driver to take his/her eyes off of the road but still requires input when indicated by the vehicle, has always been the target for the W223 set to debut in 2020.
“We are on the verge of jumping to Level 3, which is our target for the next S class. That is something that you can then buy as an option, and you can proliferate it relatively quickly into higher volumes -- especially with a brand like Mercedes,” Kaellenius said.
With chief rival Audi having already made Level 3 available on the new A8 and BMW reportedly only 2021, the S-class will therefore only be the second model to offer “hands-off” autonomous driving despite claims that automakers have become wary in recent months of self-driving vehicles.
Already spotted on a number of occasions testing, the W223 will likely mirror the A8 up front and offer a 48-volt mild-hybrid system on all engine options, with both petrol and diesel motors expected to be of six and eight cylinder configuration. Gone, though, will be the long-serving V12 as Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that the 6.0-litre bi-turbo mill will be phased out when production of the current W222 S-class ends.
STILL IMAGE from WalkoART YouTube page
