Next Mercedes S-Class WON’T be an electric S Class – despite the EQS

The next generation Mercedes S-Class, expected to be revealed in 2020, won’t offer an electric powertrain, despite the reveal of the Mercedes EQS.

We know that the next-generation Jaguar XJ will be an electric XJ, and we assumed Mercedes were planning to at least have the option of an electric powertrain in the next S-Class, especially with the reveal of the Mercedes EQS at this week’s Frankfurt Motor Show. But it seems not.

In fact, the new Mercedes S-Class will arrive, probably next year, with ICE and the option of degrees of electrification. But it won’t offer a BEV powertrain.

It will, however, still sit at the top of the Mercedes range and is expected to be the first production car to come with ‘Level 3’ autonomy, allowing drivers to take their eyes off the road and let the car fully take the strain. But why no electric S-Class?

In fact there will be an electric S-Class but, just as Mercedes has done with the GLC and EQC, it will be a standalone model sold alongside the S-Class and will be a production take on the EQS.

Mercedes clearly feels they need to keep their traditional customers on-side for at least another generation of cars, so the electric models going forward will be ‘sister’ EVs to sit alongside the regular ICE models, albeit ICE models which will increasingly rely on electrification to keep emissions in check.