The 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class arrived not just as a new model, but as a bold statement, pushing the boundaries of automotive technology and reaffirming its position as the pinnacle of luxury. Built upon three core engineering pillars – “Intelligent Drive,” “Efficient Technology,” and “Essence of Luxury” – this generation of the S-Class aimed to exceed expectations and solidify its reputation as “the best automobile in the world.” This wasn’t merely about individual aspects like safety or aesthetics; Mercedes-Benz sought to achieve unparalleled excellence across every dimension.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, then Chairman of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, articulated this ambition: “Rather than being about safety or aesthetics, power or efficiency, comfort or dynamism, our aspirations were ‘the best or nothing’ in every respect. No other car stands for the Mercedes-Benz brand promise more than the S-Class.” This philosophy of relentless pursuit of perfection is evident throughout the 2015 S-Class, from the meticulously crafted interior to the groundbreaking safety and driving assistance systems.
The Essence of Luxury: Interior and Craftsmanship
The 2015 S-Class truly embodies “The Essence of Luxury,” with an interior designed to pamper occupants in unparalleled comfort and style. Every detail, from the selection of materials to the placement of controls, reflects a dedication to creating a sanctuary of automotive opulence. Whether it’s the meticulously stitched leather seats, the precisely crafted air conditioning system, or the intuitively designed infotainment system, the S-Class interior is a testament to painstaking realization and the highest perceived quality.
The cabin’s architecture emphasizes visual breadth and a sense of calm solidity. Horizontal lines and elements create a spacious and uncluttered environment, while the seamless integration of high-quality materials and elegant finishes elevates the sense of luxury. Generous use of wood trim, particularly on the dashboard and center console, provides warmth and sophistication. Metallized switch surfaces with pearl-effect paint finishes add a touch of modern elegance, highlighting the exceptional quality inherent in every Mercedes-Benz.
Rear passengers are treated with equal consideration, experiencing first-class comfort and amenities mirroring those in the front. The design and exclusivity of the rear seats, door panels, and controls maintain the same elevated standards. Optional rear seat packages further enhance the experience, offering features like a business center console with additional storage, folding tables, and individually contoured seating, transforming the rear compartment into a mobile office or relaxation lounge.
Intelligent Drive: Merging Comfort and Safety
Mercedes-Benz pioneered the concept of integrated safety with PRE-SAFE® a decade prior, and the 2015 S-Class takes this philosophy to a new dimension with “Intelligent Drive.” This suite of innovative systems seamlessly merges comfort and safety, creating a driving experience that is both relaxing and reassuring. A host of new and enhanced technologies work in concert to make the S-Class even more comfortable and, crucially, safer than ever before.
The foundation of Intelligent Drive lies in advanced sensor technology, including a new stereo camera and multi-stage radar sensors, providing the S-Class with 360-degree all-round vision. This comprehensive sensory input allows the vehicle to perceive its surroundings with exceptional accuracy, detecting potential hazards and anticipating driving situations before they escalate.
Key Intelligent Drive Features:
- DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist: This adaptive cruise control system not only maintains a safe distance from vehicles ahead but also provides steering input to help keep the S-Class centered in its lane, reducing driver workload, especially on long journeys.
- BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist: Building upon Brake Assist, this system utilizes the stereo camera to detect crossing traffic and pedestrians, even at intersections. It can then augment the driver’s braking force to mitigate or prevent potential collisions.
- Active Lane Keeping Assist: This system goes beyond simple lane departure warnings. If lane markings are broken, indicating a potentially occupied adjacent lane, the system can selectively brake individual wheels to gently guide the vehicle back into its lane, minimizing the risk of unintentional lane changes.
- Adaptive Highbeam Assist: Maximizing visibility at night, this system allows the high beams to remain engaged continuously without blinding other drivers. It intelligently masks out oncoming vehicles or vehicles ahead within the beam’s cone of light, ensuring optimal illumination of the road ahead.
- Night View Assist PLUS: Enhanced with a thermal imaging camera, Night View Assist PLUS dramatically improves visibility in low-light conditions. It can detect pedestrians or animals in unlit areas and display a clear night vision image in the instrument cluster, highlighting potential hazards and even using a spotlight function to flash detected pedestrians as a warning.
- ATTENTION ASSIST: This system continuously monitors driver behavior and can detect signs of drowsiness or inattentiveness. It provides warnings and suggests nearby rest areas if fatigue is detected, promoting safer driving habits.
Design Philosophy: Sensual Clarity and Modern Status
The design of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class embodies a “modern sense of status and sensual shapes,” blending contemporary aesthetics with the timeless elegance expected of a flagship sedan. Gorden Wagener, design chief, described the philosophy: “The sophisticated design of the S-Class has always been an expression of luxury and automotive grandeur of its era. And our new S-Class continues this tradition. With its classic architecture and flowing silhouette, it is a modern embodiment of sensual clarity. The design draws a line from the sophisticated, progressive design idiom to the classic elegance of our 1930s cars – intelligence that speaks to the emotions.”
The S-Class silhouette is defined by classic sedan proportions: a long hood, a flowing, domed roofline, and a gently sloping rear end. The radiator grille, now larger and more upright, asserts the car’s presence and ambition to lead. The brand’s signature “Dropping Line” elegantly structures the side profile, adding dynamism even at a standstill. Subtle convex-concave surfacing creates a powerful and elongated body, exuding both excitement and composure.
The rear design is characterized by horizontal lines that emphasize width and elegance. The rear windscreen seamlessly integrates into the C-pillars, lending a coupé-like fluidity. The tail lights, completely encased by the body, feature meticulously crafted inner workings and represent the pinnacle of automotive lighting design.
LED Technology: A Light Bulb-Free Future
The 2015 S-Class marked a significant milestone in automotive lighting: it became the first vehicle in the world to eliminate traditional light bulbs entirely, embracing a full LED lighting system for both interior and exterior illumination. This pioneering move by Mercedes-Benz underscores its leadership in automotive innovation. Nearly 500 LEDs illuminate the road, the vehicle’s interior, and the trunk, offering superior brightness, energy efficiency, and longevity compared to conventional bulbs.
The multi-level functionality of the LED lighting system includes a world-first feature: brake light intensity reduction at night or when stopped at traffic lights, considerate of drivers behind. Adaptive Highbeam Assist and Night View Assist PLUS further enhance visibility, leveraging the power of LED technology to improve safety and driving comfort.
Suspension: MAGIC BODY CONTROL – Eyes on the Road Ahead
The 2015 S-Class introduced another world-first technology: MAGIC BODY CONTROL suspension. This innovative system utilizes ROAD SURFACE SCAN, which employs the stereo camera to detect bumps and undulations in the road surface ahead. Based on this real-time road analysis, MAGIC BODY CONTROL instantaneously adjusts the suspension to proactively counteract unevenness, delivering an incredibly smooth and composed ride.
While MAGIC BODY CONTROL was an optional highlight, the standard suspension system was also highly advanced, featuring continuously operating Adaptive Damping System ADS PLUS and an enhanced AIRMATIC full air suspension system. These systems work together to provide a refined balance of comfort and handling, adapting to driving conditions and driver preferences.
Control and Display Concept: The Elegant Command Center
The interior command center of the 2015 S-Class is defined by two high-resolution 12.3-inch TFT color displays, seamlessly integrated into the dashboard. These displays form the new information hub, replacing traditional analog gauges and controls with a modern and customizable interface. The left-hand display functions as the instrument cluster, presenting essential driving information, while the right-hand display manages infotainment and comfort functions.
The control philosophy emphasizes intuitive operation and ergonomic design. Physical controls are crafted from high-quality materials like metallized switches and solid aluminum, providing tactile feedback and a sense of premium craftsmanship. A touch-sensitive telephone keypad and a favorites function with twelve customizable memory slots enhance usability. Voice control via the Enhanced Voice Control System allows for natural language input of addresses and control of telephone and audio systems.
Climate Control: Personalized Atmosphere
The climate control system in the 2015 S-Class goes beyond basic temperature regulation. The AIR-BALANCE package, a new feature, offers perfume atomization, ionization, and enhanced filtration. The “active perfuming system” allows for manual activation and intensity adjustment of interior fragrances, creating a personalized and refreshing cabin atmosphere. Electric heating for armrests and center consoles further elevates comfort, ensuring a pleasant environment in all conditions.
Seats: Mobile Office and Wellness Retreat
Mercedes-Benz pushed the boundaries of seating comfort in the 2015 S-Class, introducing world-first features like the ENERGIZING massage function based on the hot-stone principle and active seat ventilation with reversing fans. The ENERGIZING massage function utilizes 14 independently actuated air cushions in the backrest and an integrated warming function to offer six massage programs, promoting relaxation and well-being on long drives.
Active seat ventilation employs reversing fans to quickly draw cooler air onto the seat surface, rapidly reducing temperature and enhancing comfort in warm weather. Rear seat options include four variants, with the Executive seat offering a backrest angle adjustable up to 43.5 degrees, creating a supremely comfortable environment for work or relaxation. The Executive Rear Seat Package PLUS adds features like thermo-cup holders and folding tables, further enhancing the rear passenger experience.
Multimedia: Mobile Concert Hall
A completely new generation of multimedia system debuted in the 2015 S-Class, featuring intuitive operation, vivid visualizations, and animations. The multi-user system allows independent access to media sources from any seat, catering to individual passenger preferences. The innovative Frontbass system, standard across audio configurations, utilizes the body structure as a resonance chamber, delivering powerful bass and freeing up door space for mid-range speakers and storage.
Optional Burmester Surround Sound and Burmester High-End 3D-Surround Sound systems transform the S-Class cabin into a mobile concert hall, delivering exceptional audio fidelity and immersive sound experiences. The navigation system features interactive content presentation, including an animated compass and Google Maps integration.
Body: Lightweight Strength and Stability
The bodyshell of the 2015 S-Class represents a third generation of aluminum hybrid construction, prioritizing maximum crash safety, exceptional rigidity for handling, and minimized noise and vibration. The lightweight index improved by 50 percent compared to its predecessor, showcasing advancements in materials and engineering. Over 50 percent of the bodyshell is constructed from aluminum, with high-strength steel used strategically in the safety passenger cell. This advanced construction allowed Mercedes-Benz to maintain or even slightly reduce body weight despite increased safety and comfort requirements.
Extended PRE-SAFE® Protection: Proactive Safety
Building upon the pioneering PRE-SAFE® system, the 2015 S-Class introduced extended PRE-SAFE® functions designed to prevent collisions and mitigate their consequences. PRE-SAFE® Brake can now detect pedestrians and initiate autonomous braking at speeds up to 31 mph. PRE-SAFE® PLUS enhances protection in rear-end collisions, applying brakes to minimize whiplash and secondary accidents. PRE-SAFE® Impulse uses controlled seat belt release to reduce chest and abdominal pressure in frontal impacts.
Setting Rear Seat Safety Standards
Mercedes-Benz further enhanced rear seat safety with innovations like the seat belt buckle extender, beltbag, and cushionbag. The illuminated seat belt buckle extender automatically extends and retracts, reducing belt slack and improving passenger restraint. The beltbag, an inflatable seatbelt strap, reduces ribcage strain in frontal collisions. The cushionbag, standard with Executive Rear Seat Packages, prevents submarining under the seatbelt in reclined seating positions.
2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Model Portfolio and Pricing:
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class lineup offered a range of models to cater to diverse preferences and performance needs:
| Model | MSRP | Engine | Performance | Drive Configuration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S550 | $94,400 | 4.6L V8 Bi-Turbo | 449 hp, 516 lb-ft torque | RWD |
| S550 4MATIC | $97,400 | 4.6L V8 Bi-Turbo | 449 hp, 516 lb-ft torque | AWD |
| S600 | $166,900 | 6.0L V12 Bi-Turbo | 523 hp, 612 lb-ft torque | RWD |
| Mercedes-Maybach S600 | ~$200,000 | 6.0L V12 Bi-Turbo | 523 hp, 612 lb-ft torque | RWD |
| S63 AMG 4MATIC | $141,450 | 5.5L V8 Bi-Turbo AMG | 577 hp, 664 lb-ft torque | AWD |
| S65 AMG | $222,000 | 6.0L V12 Bi-Turbo AMG | 621 hp, 738 lb-ft torque | RWD |
Standard Equipment Highlights (S550):
- COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS
- MAGIC VISION CONTROL
- Burmester Surround Sound System
- LED Ambient Lighting
- Touchpad for COMAND System
- Air Balance Package
Optional Equipment Highlights (S550):
- MAGIC BODY CONTROL Suspension
- ENERGIZING Massage Function
- Rear Seat Package (including seatbelt airbags and PRE-SAFE® Rear)
- Warmth & Comfort Package
- Driver Assistance Package (advanced driver-assistance systems)
- Active Parking Assist
Model Positioning (Mercedes-Benz S550/S600):
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class represented the highest expression of the Mercedes-Benz brand, embodying industry-leading luxury, a refined interior, and groundbreaking innovations in comfort, entertainment, and safety.
Main Competitors:
- BMW 7 Series
- Audi A8
- Lexus LS
Safety Feature Highlights:
- COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS
- ATTENTION ASSIST®
- Surround View Camera
- PARKTRONIC w/Active Parking Assist
- Active Lane Keeping Assist
- DISTRONIC PLUS® with Steering Assist & BAS PLUS® with Cross-Traffic Assist
- PRE-SAFE® and PRE-SAFE® PLUS systems
- Night View Assist PLUS
Conclusion:
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was more than just a car; it was a technological tour de force and a benchmark for automotive luxury. With its “Intelligent Drive,” “Essence of Luxury,” and “Efficient Technology” pillars, it delivered an unparalleled driving and ownership experience. From its groundbreaking safety systems and innovative suspension to its opulent interior and commanding presence, the 2015 S-Class solidified its position as the world’s best automobile, setting a new standard for luxury sedans and paving the way for future automotive advancements.
