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Mercedes-Benz Gives The S-Class A Massive Mid-Cycle Overhaul To Keep Its Luxury Flagship On Top
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a deeply updated S-Class, and this is far more than the kind of routine facelift usually expected halfway through a model cycle. The brand says more than 50 percent of the luxury sedan has been newly developed, re-engineered or refined, turning this into one of the most extensive same-generation updates the S-Class has ever received.
That matters because the S-Class is still the car Mercedes uses to define what its flagship should be in the United States: a rolling showcase for luxury, technology, comfort and engineering ambition. With this update, the brand is not simply freshening the look of its full-size sedan. It is reasserting the S-Class as one of the most important luxury cars on the American market at a time when even premium buyers are increasingly pulled toward SUVs.
Mercedes-Benz has given the S-Class one of the most comprehensive same-generation updates in the model’s history.
Mercedes Didn’t Just Refresh The S-Class — It Reworked It
The key to this story is scale.
Mercedes says roughly 2,700 components of the S-Class were newly developed or revised as part of this update, a figure that immediately separates this car from the average mid-cycle refresh. The result is a sedan that gets a more assertive visual presence, a much more advanced digital backbone, new comfort features, refined powertrains and an even stronger emphasis on rear-seat luxury.
From the outside, the most obvious changes include a larger grille with illuminated surround, a new optional illuminated standing hood star, updated DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps with a new twin-star signature and redesigned taillights that make the S-Class look even more dramatic at night. It is a familiar silhouette, but one now designed to project even more presence in the premium segment’s most image-conscious spaces.
The New S-Class Is Also A Much Bigger Technology Story
One of the biggest upgrades sits beneath the surface.
The updated S-Class is now powered by MB.OS, Mercedes-Benz’s new vehicle-wide software architecture and supercomputer system. In practice, that means the sedan becomes a far more integrated digital product, with the ability to handle over-the-air updates across multiple vehicle functions, more advanced driver assistance capability and a new generation of infotainment features built around the latest MBUX ecosystem.
That includes a standard MBUX Superscreen, fourth-generation MBUX infotainment, a new MBUX Virtual Assistant supported by generative AI, navigation based on Google technology and expanded MB.DRIVE assistance systems. Mercedes is also preparing additional functionality to arrive later via software updates, which shows just how central software has become to the S-Class formula.
Mercedes is using the new S-Class to push its latest MB.OS software architecture and a much more advanced in-car digital experience.
Mercedes Wants The S-Class To Feel More Like A Private Lounge — Or A Mobile Office
The S-Class has always been about more than the driver, and this update leans even harder into that identity.
Mercedes is pitching the rear cabin as a true “boardroom on wheels,” with available 13.1-inch rear entertainment displays, new rear MBUX remote controls and integrated video conferencing capability through apps like Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Webex. Up front, the sedan also gains a long list of comfort-focused refinements, including heated front seatbelts, new Digital Vent Control, enhanced air purification and a cabin layout designed to feel even more serene and more premium than before.
This is where the S-Class still plays a different game than most luxury SUVs. It is not trying to mimic a high-riding family hauler with more leather. It is doubling down on the traditional flagship-sedan formula: a car designed to isolate, pamper and impress whether you are in the driver’s seat or being chauffeured in the back.
The Mechanical Updates Matter Too
Mercedes did not stop at screens and lighting.
The new S-Class continues with a range of electrified powertrains, including updated six-cylinder and V8 gasoline engines as well as a plug-in hybrid. The S 580 4MATIC now features a revised V8 with 530 horsepower, while the S 500 4MATIC receives an updated inline-six with higher torque. The S 580e 4MATIC plug-in hybrid also returns with a stronger combined output of 576 horsepower.
Chassis upgrades are just as important. Mercedes says the sedan’s suspension systems now use intelligent damping that can react to road imperfections before the car reaches them, while rear-axle steering remains part of the package to preserve maneuverability in a car of this size. The point is clear: the S-Class is still supposed to be the benchmark for effortless refinement, not just a tech showcase.
The updated S-Class leans even further into rear-seat luxury, productivity and long-distance comfort.
Mercedes Is Making A Statement About What A Flagship Luxury Sedan Should Still Be
There is a bigger message behind this launch.
At a time when many luxury brands are putting more energy into SUVs, electric crossovers and software ecosystems, Mercedes is still investing heavily in the S-Class as a statement product. And not in a symbolic way, either. This is a major engineering and technology push for a model that could easily have been treated as a slower-selling halo sedan.
Instead, Mercedes chose to make the S-Class more digital, more customizable, more comfortable and more sophisticated in almost every direction. The brand is even expanding its MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure program with over 150 exterior colors and 400-plus interior colors, reinforcing the idea that the S-Class remains one of the purest expressions of bespoke luxury in the Mercedes lineup.
The S-Class Still Matters — And Mercedes Knows It
That is why this update matters today.
The new S-Class is not just another luxury sedan refresh. It is Mercedes-Benz making a very deliberate move to keep its flagship relevant in a market that increasingly rewards size, screens, personalization and software-driven features, but still expects the best sedans to deliver a level of comfort and prestige SUVs struggle to match.
Mercedes is using the updated S-Class to reinforce its place at the top of the full-size luxury sedan segment in the U.S.
For American luxury buyers who still want the traditional flagship formula at its highest level, Mercedes is making one thing clear: the S-Class is not fading quietly into the background. It is evolving into an even more connected, more personalized and more ambitious version of the car that has defined the brand’s luxury identity for decades.
Slate has confirmed pricing, improved driving range and new details for its affordable electric pickup ahead of deliveries.
Slate has officially confirmed pricing and new specifications for its highly anticipated electric pickup. Starting at just $26,400 including destination, the Slate electric truck will become one of the most affordable new EVs in the United States when deliveries begin later this year.
The startup also revealed improvements in driving range, payload capacity and charging performance ahead of production.
The Slate electric truck starts at $26,400, making it one of the most affordable EV pickups in the U.S.
Affordable price with extensive customization
The entry-level Blank Slate pickup starts at $26,400, including a $1,450 destination fee.
Customers can also choose two SUV variants:
- Blank Slate Pickup: $26,400
- Squareback SUV: $31,400
- Fastback SUV: $33,400
Slate will sell vehicles directly to customers, with every truck leaving the factory in the same gray finish before receiving one of 100 available vinyl wraps. Around 40 wrap colors cost just $499, while nearly all accessories can be installed later by owners.
Buyers can personalize the Slate with dozens of wraps and accessories after purchase.
More range and better utility
One of the biggest improvements is the adoption of a new 63-kWh LFP battery, increasing estimated driving range from 150 miles to 205 miles.
The rear-wheel-drive electric motor produces 181 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, allowing the truck to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 90 mph.
Charging is handled through a Tesla-compatible NACS connector, supporting DC fast charging up to 120 kW and an 11-kW onboard AC charger capable of fully recharging the battery in about four hours with Level 2 equipment.
Payload capacity has also increased to 1,550 pounds, while towing capacity now reaches 2,000 pounds. Thanks to its electric architecture, the truck also offers a 7-cubic-foot front trunk in addition to its five-foot cargo bed.
The Slate electric truck now offers up to 205 miles of range with its new LFP battery.
Slate says it has already received approximately 180,000 reservations and expects to begin customer deliveries during the fourth quarter of 2026. The company aims to ramp production to 150,000 vehicles annually by late next year, positioning the Slate as one of the most affordable and customizable electric pickups available in the U.S. market.
The affordable Slate electric truck starts at $26,400, but adding accessories can nearly double its final price.
The Slate electric truck has attracted attention with its low starting price, but buyers who customize it heavily could end up paying almost twice as much. After revealing its $1,450 destination fee, the startup’s online configurator shows how quickly the cost can climb with optional accessories.
While the base pickup remains one of the most affordable EVs on the market, personalization comes at a premium.
The Slate electric truck starts at $26,400 before adding optional accessories.
Three body styles and hundreds of customization options
Slate offers the truck in three different configurations:
- Blank Slate Pickup: $26,400
- Squareback SUV: $31,400
- Fastback SUV: $33,400
Customers can personalize nearly every aspect of the vehicle, including custom vinyl wraps, decals, auxiliary lighting, roof racks, grille designs, wider fender flares and 20-inch wheels.
A custom exterior wrap alone adds $1,599.99, while premium wheels increase the price by another $1,399.99.
Buyers can choose from dozens of exterior accessories and custom appearance packages.
Interior upgrades quickly increase the price
The cabin follows the same philosophy, allowing buyers to add features that are absent from the standard truck.
Optional equipment includes a center console, upgraded speakers, storage systems, floor mats, colored interior trim and a dashboard-mounted tablet that serves as the infotainment display.
After selecting nearly every available option on the Fastback SUV, the total reached $47,744.39, and that figure could climb even higher since some accessories still don’t have official pricing.
A fully equipped Slate Fastback SUV can approach $48,000 with optional upgrades.
The Slate electric truck remains one of the most affordable new EVs in the United States, but its highly customizable approach means buyers can easily transform a budget-friendly pickup into a much more expensive vehicle. For customers looking to maximize value, choosing accessories carefully will be key to keeping the final price under control.
A Ford Mustang Mach-E owner claims the automaker should return tariff-related price increases after receiving a federal refund.
Ford is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit after a California customer argued that the automaker should return tariff-related price increases to buyers. The lawsuit comes after the federal government agreed to refund import duties previously collected under tariffs that were later ruled unlawful.
The case centers on the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which is manufactured in Mexico and was affected by higher import costs.
A Ford Mustang Mach-E owner is seeking a refund through a proposed class-action lawsuit.
Customer says Ford should share tariff refund
The lawsuit was filed on July 9 by California resident Jason Bullock, who claims Ford increased prices and destination charges to offset import tariffs on Mexican-built vehicles.
After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs exceeded presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the federal government agreed to refund affected import duties.
Ford has previously estimated it could recover approximately $1.3 billion through those refunds.
The lawsuit argues Ford should return tariff-related costs to affected customers.
The legal battle could affect other major companies
According to the complaint, Ford would receive an unfair financial benefit if it keeps both the government refund and the higher prices previously paid by customers.
The lawsuit argues that buyers who absorbed those additional costs deserve compensation now that the tariffs are being refunded.
Ford is not the only company facing this type of legal challenge. Similar lawsuits have also been filed against Nike, Amazon and Costco, meaning the first case to reach a final ruling could establish an important legal precedent for future consumer claims.
The outcome of the Ford lawsuit could influence similar cases against other major U.S. companies.
Although the case is still in its early stages, it raises important questions about how companies should handle government tariff refunds when previous import costs were passed directly to consumers. The outcome could have broader implications for both automakers and retailers operating in the U.S. market.
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