SPIED: W222 Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift in M’sia

SPIED: W222 Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift in M’sia

Well, what do we have here? Reader Soon Aik Seng has spotted the facelifted Mercedes-Benz S-Class making the rounds here in Malaysia ahead of its debut soon. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) promised to bring the refreshed luxo-barge here in the middle of the year, so it’s right on the money, I suppose.

This example you see here is dressed to the nines with the AMG Line package, Multibeam LED headlights (with Ultra Range high beam) and snazzy 20-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels. As the previous S 400 h came here pretty much fully specced up, expect the new model to come with most of the technological bells and whistles introduced on the facelift.

These include touch-sensitive steering wheel controls, front and rear wireless smartphone charging and the new Energizing comfort control system that adjusts the climate control, air fragrance and the seat heating, ventilation and massage features according to your moods and needs.

SPIED: W222 Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift in M’sia

Driver assistance features have also been given an upgrade, with the Distronic adaptive cruise control now able to slow down for curves and junctions, and is operable at speeds of up to 210 km/h. There’s also Active Steering Assist with Active Lane Changing Assist and Active Emergency Stop Assist, plus Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic and congestion emergency braking functions as well as Evasive Steering Assist.

As for variants, the S 400 h is no more, so the meat and potatoes of the range will instead be the new S 450. According to an MBM price list that has since been taken down from its website, the locally-assembled (CKD) model will be priced at S 450 will be priced at RM699,888 on-the-road without insurance, making it around RM100,000 more expensive than the S 400 h.

That is to be expected, as the latter comes with duty exemptions owing to it being a hybrid that accounts for the price difference, although it should be pointed out that the S 450 is also a more powerful car. That’s due to the new 3.0 litre turbocharged petrol straight-six, which comes with a 48-volt integral starter/alternator (ISG) providing a 21 hp/250 Nm electric boost when needed – effectively turning it into a mild hybrid.

Outputs are rated at 362 hp and 500 Nm of torque, all sent to the rear wheels through a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission. There’s also a possibility that we’ll get the older 3.0 litre turbo V6 unit from the outgoing regular S 400 first, with the same outputs as above, minus the 48-volt ISG motor. We’ll know for sure when the time comes.

The discontinuation of the S 400 h, meanwhile, leaves the door open for the introduction of the S 560 e plug-in hybrid that will likely continue to receive tax breaks. That one gets a 3.0 litre turbo petrol V6 making 362 hp and 500 Nm, paired to 121 hp/440 Nm electric motor and a 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery to provide a combined fuel consumption figure of 2.1 litres per 100 km and a 50 km all-electric range.

GALLERY: W222 Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

Certified Pre-Owned - 1 Year Warranty

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Way To Go on May 30, 2018 at 6:55 pm

    S400h now is so yesterday

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
  • John Ohwai Mental Asylum on May 30, 2018 at 7:56 pm

    Silly to raise the prices by RM100k. Why don’t you bring down the S300L? Now grey importers bringing in many S300L. Smaller CC, smaller road tax, smaller excise duty and tax……so laku……cheaper than S400h even

    Infact, you can even price the S300L at RM500k. Verygreedy MBM

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 14
    • Digidigi on May 31, 2018 at 9:34 am

      Grey import means secondhand car la

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • S400 can reached RM800k if no hybrid. So S400h far more reasonable than a gas guzzler S300.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • Japan on May 30, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    that rims just spoil the whole car…prefer the pre facelift rims…looks more elegance

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Great innovations! on May 30, 2018 at 9:04 pm

    The steering wheel! What a beauty!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • Silver 66 on May 30, 2018 at 9:13 pm

    PT,
    This is NOT a mule

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Azraii Lim on May 30, 2018 at 9:13 pm

    I just saw facelift maybach s650 mercedes showroom in klang valley (with photo)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4
    • Can I have yr social media? I also saw M760Li in Shah Alam on the road but I missed to takes that photo.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Nowadays most rich prefer premium seven seats SUV and MPV compare to this yesterday design saloon body ‘S’ class.

    It is a worldwide market trend now for premium SUV & MPV. Hope the Germans are not throwing this no more LAKU obsolete sedan body to please our intelligent buyers here as dumping ground.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
  • Mikey on May 31, 2018 at 9:27 am

    Make way C-class(private)/E-class(corporal), your Big brother S-class(Sargent) is coming. Very SOON.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 9
  • default car for politicians are vellfires

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4
    • During BN time only not necessary now.

      Plenty to choose from nowadays .

      Could be premium seven seater SUV too can be new government default choice..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Afeeq Hasan the MalaysianAmericano on May 31, 2018 at 2:26 pm

    What about V8 and V12 versions? Lucky that this is AT LEAST a 6 cylinder, 4 cylinder engines are an abomination for such a high end car.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
    • Small country like does not need a six cylinder motor . Fourxyclinder will do the job and cheaper to maintain too.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
      • Afeeq Hasan the MalaysianAmericano on May 31, 2018 at 6:05 pm

        If you have to worry about paying maintenance and insrurance (for big engine) then you shouldn’t be buying this car in the first place.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
        • Bobby on May 31, 2018 at 9:42 pm

          Nowadays interest in owning a sedan shape S class is dwindling.

          Only a very small sample is interested to buy whereby vast majority prefer to buy premium SUV and MPV .

          C & C is having hard time selling the S class to make good profits. Profits mostly from A ,B & C class models are very thin. that is why operating profits for C&C is very low or may lose despite high volume sales as reported.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
 

Add a comment

required

required