2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Facelift – Launching in India on June 15

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class facelift will officially launch in India on June 15, 2026. For the first time ever, Mercedes-Benz is introducing a plug-in hybrid powertrain to its flagship luxury limousine lineup in the Indian market. The initial launch will focus on the new hybrid variant. Traditional petrol and diesel options are expected to follow or launch alongside it later. The expected price is estimated between ₹2.0 crore and ₹2.4 crore, ex-showroom. If you want the ultimate luxury sedan with the option of electric-only driving, the new S-Class is for you.

The plug-in hybrid variant is called the S 450e. It combines a 3.0-litre inline-six turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor. The combined output is 435 horsepower and 680 Nm of torque. The car has a 22 kWh battery pack that offers up to 100 kilometres of zero-emission, pure-electric driving in ideal conditions. This means you can drive silently on electric power alone for your daily commute. Unlike standard variants, the PHEV model sends power exclusively to the rear wheels. Despite its heavy weight of 2,465 kg, it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds.

The interior has been completely overhauled. The old floating touchscreen layout is replaced by the massive MBUX Superscreen setup. This integrates a 14.4-inch central touchscreen flanked by two 12.3-inch displays. One is for the driver, and one is for the front passenger. The system runs on the next-generation MB.OS operating system. It is powered by a water-cooled supercomputer for lightning-fast speeds, cloud connectivity, and integrated Google Maps. The car replaces the older fingerprint scanner with a facial recognition camera mounted on the dashboard. The rear lounge comfort features dual 13.1-inch entertainment screens, up to 43 degrees of seat recline, and smartphone-like touch controllers to manage massage and climate features.

The exterior has also been refreshed. The front grille has grown by 20 percent. It features chrome three-pointed stars embedded into the slats with an illuminated frame. Both the headlamps and wraparound tail-lights receive distinct three-pointed star light designs. The car employs new micro-LED Digital Light technology, which increases night-time illumination by 40 percent. The sensor suite has been upgraded with 5 radars, 10 cameras, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. This massively improves its advanced driver assistance systems suite.

If you are thinking of buying the new S-Class, you should do so if you want the ultimate luxury sedan with the latest technology. You want the option of plug-in hybrid power with up to 100 km of electric range. You want the massive Superscreen interior with three displays and a facial recognition camera. You want the illuminated grille with three-pointed stars. You have a very high budget of ₹2 to ₹2.4 crore. You can wait until June 15 for the launch.

You should consider the BMW 7 Series if you want a rival luxury sedan with a similar plug-in hybrid option. You should consider the Audi A8 L if you want a more understated luxury sedan. But if you want the best-selling luxury sedan in India with the prestige of the three-pointed star, the S-Class is the king.