2026 Mercedes S-Class Unofficially Shows Classy Styling Ahead of Premiere

So, what are these images that we shared above? Well, they're nothing more than mere renderings that caught our eye. They came courtesy of Digimods Design on YouTube and they show an unrealistic design of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

With an emphasis on the word 'unrealistic,' we will proceed to tell you what's new compared to the outgoing S-Class, starting with the face. The grille was tweaked and has a new pattern, the bumper sports taller side vents and a larger central air intake, and the headlamps are new and feature starry daytime running lights (DRL).

In fact, this is the only thing that is somewhat similar to the updates the three-pointed star brand's flagship sedan will feature, as everything else will look different. That includes the side skirts, door handles, side mirrors, rear bumper, diffuser, taillights, and so on.

From what we can tell, the pixel manipulator went for a more aggressive trim, emphasized by the large front air intakes, sporty rear bumper, and large multi-fin diffuser with cutouts for the exhaust tips. The bi-tone alloys have a multi-spoke pattern, and the car has a gray look with a chrome-delete package that applies to every shiny aspect save for the grille.

Back in the real world, the 2026 Mercedes S-Class will have different lighting at both ends, with the front ones featuring stars. As mentioned in other stories about this model, we think it's a great idea and it should be adopted by other vehicles in the company's portfolio.

But what about the interior? Well, it's not exactly outdated, but it's no longer appealing to tech-savvy customers, as the current S-Class came out four years ago. Chances are the automaker will give it fresh software for the portrait-style infotainment system and tablet-like digital instrument gauges. We also think new features will be added, though don't hold your breath for anything extraordinary, as this is, after all, a facelift and not a new generation.

It is also unknown whether the chassis was retuned. Moreover, details about the powertrain lineup are inexistent, yet it should soldier on with the same engines, some of which could be tweaked.

Mercedes is said to uncover the facelifted S-Class in 2025, so we will see more prototypes testing in the open and additional renderings trying to uncover its design secrets by then. Let's hope the future digital illustrations remain realistic, like the ones the peeps at Kolesa posted last week. So, what's your take on the 2026 S?