Mercedes-Benz S-Class images leaked

The development of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class has been an open secret thanks to the work of spies and even Mercedes' own revelations. Now we get a completely undisguised look at the upcoming luxury sedan just days ahead of its official reveal in Hamburg, Germany, this Wednesday.

These brochure scans, which were first posted on enthusiast site GermanCarForum, reveal not only the exterior and interior designs but also some of the technical specifications. Some of the specs listed include those of the S350 Bluetec, S400 Hybrid and S500 models.

The new S350 Bluetec is said to maintain the current model's 3.0-litre V-6 turbodiesel, with an output of 190 kilowatts. The new S400 also maintains the current model's 3.5-litre V-6 and electric motor combination, and level of 225 kilowatts.

Finally, a new S500 sticks with a twin-turbocharged 4.7-litre V-8 but has output bumped up to 335 kilowatts, a gain of 15 kilowatts. It should be noted that the brochure is for a European-spec 2014 S Class, so some of the features mentioned may differ for versions of the car sold in Australia.

The S Class is arguably the most important model for Mercedes-Benz as it traditionally represents the pinnacle in engineering and technological know-how of the German automaker. This ‘W222’ generation of the car is also particularly important as it will be doing double duty as the flagship for the entire Daimler group now that the Maybach brand has been disbanded.

LED daytime running lights and turn indicators, a larger, reshaped grille, the sculpted, angular front end aerodynamics, and large alloy wheels are the dominant features in the leaked images. The styling is conservative, though it helps form some familiarity across the Mercedes-Benz lineup which in turn should help new additions like the upcoming CLA and GLA models.

Inside, the 2014 S Class has already shown itself to be another masterwork in the luxury sedan class, with a new twin-spoke steering wheel, quilted leather upholstery, and individual seating for four (at least in one configuration).

Sales of the 2014 S Class will commence in the second half of the year. Coupe, Cabriolet and even an extra-long ’Pullman’ model are in the works and expected to be released over the next 12-18 months.

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