The world of luxury saloons is amongst the most demanding segments when it comes to high-end cars that have high-end clients. From the pinnacle of latest technology to setting the benchmark in comfort
and performance, these luxurious cars often set the stage for what technology will trickle down into mass-market cars over the course of time. One such flagship is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which has just been updated for 2026 and incorporates 140 years of innovation from the carmaker.
The new S-Class represents one of the most comprehensive updates to the 53-year-old model line. Over 50 percent of the car is newly-developed and represents the S-Class's first-step into the era of supercomputers and AI integration. The hood ornament or 'star' placed on the bonnet is now illuminated, it also gets an illuminated grille that is 20 percent larger than before and the new set of DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps come with micro-LED technology, giving the driver 40 percent more visibility of up to 600 metres.
The new S-Class also incorporates the MB.OS water-cooled supercomputer, which connects all essential vehicle systems into an intelligent ecosystem. The Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud enables over-the -air (OTA) updates for numerous vehicle functions that make the saloon future-ready as well. Interaction with all this tech is enabled via the new MBUX Superscreen that has been launched with the new S-Class. It integrates a 14.4-inch infotainment display along with a 12.3-inch passenger screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster to give class-leading digital real estate. These are further complemented by the two 13.1-inch entertainment screens in the backrest and two screens to operate functions, making up for a 7-screen layout within the new S-Class.
However, for all its supercomputers and AI-powered technological might, the new S-Class has still not forgotten its core customers. That is because it is still being offered with only a six-cylinder petrol engine and a six-cylinder diesel engine option in India. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version is reserved for global markets for now.
New S-Class S 450 4MATIC Petrol Performance (India-Spec):
The 3.0-litre, six-cylinder, mild-hybrid petrol engine produces 404 hp of combined power and 500 Nm of torque output. It is mated to the latest 9-speed automatic transmission from Mercedes-Benz. The drivetrain powers all four wheels and gives the saloon a top-speed of 250 kmph along with a 0-100 kmph time of just 5 seconds for the 2.8 tonne vehicle.
In terms of pricing, the 2026 S-Class (Petrol) has an ex-showroom starting price of Rs 1.79 crore in India.
New S-Class S350D Diesel Performance (India-Spec):
For customers of the diesel S-Class, Mercedes-Benz is again offering a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder, mild-hybrid motor that produces a combined power output of 336 hp and 650 Nm of torque. It gets the 9-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive configuration, giving the diesel S-Class a 0-100 kmph time of 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 250 kmph.
Prices for the 2026 S-Class (Diesel) start from Rs 1.77 crore ex-showroom, making the petrol version premium by a few lakh and keeping the margin between the two engine options at a minimum.




/images/ppid_59c68470-image-176962256831947410.webp)
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-176960842899665480.webp)



/images/ppid_59c68470-image-176950753854047232.webp)

