Mercedes-Benz, a name synonymous with automotive excellence, redefined luxury and innovation with the 2015 S-Class Sedan. Embodying the core engineering principles of “Intelligent Drive,” “Efficient Technology,” and the “Essence of Luxury,” this model year pushed technological boundaries and solidified its position as a benchmark in the automotive industry. The 2015 Mercedes S-Class wasn’t just a step forward for Mercedes-Benz; it was a leap for automotive development as a whole, setting new standards expected of the world’s finest automobiles.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, then Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, articulated the ambition behind this flagship model perfectly: “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 bold statement encapsulates the relentless pursuit of perfection that defines the 2015 S-Class.
The Essence of Luxury: Interior and Comfort
The “Essence of Luxury” philosophy is palpable in every detail of the 2015 S-Class interior. From meticulously crafted seats to an advanced climate control system, every element is designed to elevate the passenger experience. The controls, the overall design aesthetic, the state-of-the-art infotainment system, and the overarching comfort and safety features all showcase new concepts realized with painstaking precision and exceptional perceived quality. This commitment to excellence underscores the high standards Mercedes-Benz engineers set for their flagship model – and for themselves.
Intelligent Drive: Merging Comfort and Safety
Building upon a decade of pioneering safety innovations like PRE-SAFE® and DISTRONIC PLUS, the 2015 S-Class introduced “Intelligent Drive,” a revolutionary concept merging comfort and safety into a seamless driving experience. This wasn’t merely about individual safety systems; it was about creating a holistic ecosystem of technologies working in harmony to make driving more relaxing and secure. A suite of new and enhanced systems ensured the 2015 S-Class was not only more comfortable but also significantly safer than its predecessors.
Design: A Modern Statement of Status
The design of a Mercedes-Benz is instantly recognizable worldwide, a legacy built upon the brand’s iconic face that has evolved through generations. Gorden Wagener, the design chief, described the 2015 S-Class design 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. Stylish sportiness and sensual forms in synthesis with timeless clarity and effortless superiority make the S-Class a true design icon.”
To project an image of effortless leadership, the 2015 S-Class features a larger, more upright, and distinctly three-dimensional radiator grille. The classic sedan proportions are maintained with a long hood, a flowing, domed roofline, and a gently sloping rear end. This design language conveys prestige and presence, while the powerful roofline hints at a sporty, coupé-like dynamism.
The signature “Dropping Line,” a character line that gracefully descends from front to rear, elegantly sculpts the side profile, adding dynamism even at a standstill. The subtle interplay of convex and concave surfaces creates a powerful and elongated body, exuding both excitement and composure. The pronounced shoulder line above the rear wheel further emphasizes the vehicle’s athletic stance.
The rear design seamlessly integrates with the flowing lines of the side profile, creating a harmonious and elegant aesthetic. The slightly slanted rear form not only enhances the visual appeal but also contributes to aerodynamic efficiency. Horizontal lines stretching from the trunk lid to the bumper accentuate the car’s width, while the rear windscreen, cutting into the C-pillars with a rounded upper area, adds a touch of coupé-like sophistication. The taillights, completely encased by the body and featuring meticulously crafted internal elements, are a design highlight, demonstrating attention to detail down to the last element.
LED Technology: A Bulb-Free Future
Marking a century since electric lighting debuted in automobiles, the 2015 S-Class made a groundbreaking shift to full LED technology. It became the world’s first vehicle to eliminate traditional light bulbs entirely, solidifying Mercedes-Benz’s pioneering role in automotive lighting. This wasn’t just about aesthetics; LED technology offered superior energy efficiency, longevity, and design flexibility. The multi-level functionality of the lighting system was another world-first, including intelligent features like reduced brake light intensity at night or in traffic to minimize glare for drivers behind. Nearly 500 LEDs illuminated the road, the vehicle’s exterior, interior, and trunk, depending on the equipment level.
This comprehensive LED implementation included:
- Headlamps: Up to 56 LEDs per headlamp for exceptional illumination.
- Tail lights: Up to 35 LEDs per tail light, plus 4 additional LEDs for the rear fog lamp, ensuring high visibility and distinctive styling.
- Interior Lighting: Approximately 300 LEDs for ambient lighting and functional illumination throughout the cabin, creating a luxurious and comfortable environment.
Visibility was further enhanced by advancements in Adaptive Highbeam Assist and Night View Assist PLUS. Utilizing a new stereo camera and multi-stage radar sensors, the 2015 S-Class achieved 360-degree all-around vision, improving hazard detection on the road.
Suspension: Eyes on the Road Ahead with MAGIC BODY CONTROL
The 2015 S-Class introduced another world-first innovation: ROAD SURFACE SCAN in conjunction with MAGIC BODY CONTROL suspension. This groundbreaking system utilized a stereo camera to “see” the road surface ahead, detecting bumps and imperfections before the car reached them. Based on this information, MAGIC BODY CONTROL instantaneously adjusted the suspension to proactively counteract road irregularities, providing an unprecedented level of ride comfort. While MAGIC BODY CONTROL was optional, the standard suspension system was also highly advanced, featuring continuously operating Adaptive Damping System ADS PLUS and an enhanced AIRMATIC full air suspension system.
Interior Architecture: Visual Harmony and Solid Elegance
The interior design of the 2015 S-Class embodied a classic yet cutting-edge saloon aesthetic, characterized by clear architecture and superior materials. The expressive interior style was defined by fluid, sensuously elegant lines. Horizontal elements and lines created a sense of visual spaciousness and calm solidity. The harmonious blend of high quality, elegance, clarity, and functionality defined the interior, achieving the highest standards of ride comfort, spaciousness, and user-friendliness.
The seamless integration of materials and colors resulted in an exclusive interior that appeared to be sculpted from a single piece. Generous use of wood trim, particularly on the dashboard and center console, added warmth and sophistication. Metallized switch surfaces with pearl-effect paint finishes, available in three shades to complement the interior color schemes, highlighted the exceptional quality of the materials and craftsmanship.
Rear passengers were treated to a first-class experience, with seat design, door panels, and controls mirroring the high standards of the front cabin. Rear seat packages offered further individualization, including a Business center console that combined personal comfort with practical features like additional storage, a folding table, and two-place seating configuration.
Control and Display Concept: A New Command Center
The 2015 S-Class featured a revolutionary control and display concept centered around two high-resolution 12.3-inch TFT color displays in an 8:3 format. These displays formed a seamless information center, replacing the traditional instrument cluster with a customizable digital interface. The left-hand display served as the instrument cluster, providing all essential driving information, while the right-hand display controlled infotainment and comfort functions.
This dual-screen setup represented a significant evolution in automotive interface design, addressing the increasing complexity of vehicle functions while prioritizing ergonomics, user-friendliness, safety, attractiveness, and aesthetics. The physical controls were also meticulously crafted, featuring metallized switch surfaces and solid aluminum elements. Fine structuring on the metal surfaces provided tactile feedback and a sense of quality synonymous with the Mercedes-Benz brand.
New control features included a touch-sensitive telephone keypad and an expanded favorites function with twelve customizable memory presets. The central control element remained the rotary pushbutton, complemented by direct access keys in the center console for frequently used functions and a dedicated toolbar for driving assistance systems.
Voice control was enhanced with the Enhanced Voice Control System, allowing for complete address input in a single command (one-shot input). Telephone and audio systems could also be voice-controlled, and a new feature enabled text messages (SMS) or emails to be read aloud.
Climate Control: Personalized Atmosphere
The climate control system in the 2015 S-Class was comprehensively refined, focusing on performance, air quality, precise temperature regulation, noise reduction, and efficiency. The AIR-BALANCE package, a new option, included perfume atomization, ionization, and an enhanced filtration system compared to the standard model. Rear automatic climate control featured two additional zones for improved thermal comfort. A completely new feature was electric heating for the armrests and center consoles, extending personalized comfort to touchpoints throughout the cabin.
A world-first feature, the “active perfuming system,” was part of the AIR-BALANCE package. This system allowed drivers to manually switch perfume atomization on or off and adjust the intensity, subtly scenting the interior without permanently altering the cabin smell or depositing perfume molecules on surfaces.
Seats: Mobile Office and Wellness Oasis
Mercedes-Benz elevated seating comfort in the 2015 S-Class to new heights with world-first features like the ENERGIZING massage function based on the hot-stone principle and active seat ventilation with reversing fans. Rear seat comfort was a particular focus, with four different rear seat variants available, including an Executive seat with a backrest adjustable up to 43.5 degrees.
The ENERGIZING massage function, a world-first, utilized 14 independently actuated air cushions in the backrest, combined with an integrated warming function, to simulate a hot-stone massage. Six massage programs were available, two of which incorporated the warming function, and the feature was also available for the rear seats.
Active seat ventilation employed reversing fans for the first time in the automotive industry. Upon activation, the system initially drew cooler ambient air onto the seat surface, rapidly reducing the temperature of a heated seat. After four minutes, the fans automatically switched to blower mode to minimize drafts.
Four seat variants offered customization for the S-Class. Luxury and reclining seat variants featured revised adjustment kinematics, with separate backrest adjustment to maintain legroom and seat reference point. The cushion angle and horizontal position could also be adjusted independently. The Executive Rear Seat Package (reclining seat) offered a maximum backrest angle of 43.5 degrees, the largest in the luxury segment. Combined with a calf support and a heel rest on the front passenger seat, this created a reclined position setting new benchmarks for sleeping and resting comfort in a car.
The Executive Rear Seat Package PLUS (with rear center console) extended the front console visually to the rear and included innovative thermo-cup holders using Peltier technology to cool or warm drinks. Aircraft-style folding tables integrated into the center console added further convenience.
Multimedia Features: A Concert Hall on Wheels
A completely new generation of multimedia systems debuted in the 2015 S-Class, featuring intuitive operation, enhanced visualization, and animations. The multi-user system allowed independent access to media sources from any seat.
The innovative Frontbass system, a Mercedes-Benz sedan first, was standard across all audio systems. Woofers were integrated into the firewall, utilizing the large space in the cross-member and side member as a resonance chamber, eliminating the need for woofers in the doors and improving sound quality. Mid-range speakers were relocated upwards in the doors, enhancing the soundstage and freeing up door pocket space.
Two high-end audio systems developed with Burmester, a renowned audio specialist, were available: the Burmester® Surround Sound system and the Burmester® High-End 3D-Surround Sound system, transforming the cabin into a mobile concert hall.
The navigation function featured interactive content presentation, including an animated compass, a “Driveshow” for passenger information reminiscent of aircraft in-flight entertainment, and Google Maps integration on both front and rear displays. Traffic information was displayed with hatched lines for improved clarity.
Body: Strength and Lightweight Engineering
The bodyshell of the 2015 S-Class was engineered for maximum crash safety, exceptional rigidity for superior handling, and minimal noise and vibration levels. This was achieved through a third-generation aluminum hybrid bodyshell. The lightweight index, measuring torsional stiffness relative to weight and vehicle size, improved by 50 percent compared to the previous model.
Building on hybrid lightweight construction principles pioneered in the 1990s with the 220 model series, the 2015 S-Class increased the aluminum content to over 50 percent. This allowed for maintaining virtually the same body weight as previous generations, despite increased comfort and safety requirements and added features. Structural foams were strategically used in node areas, and the entire outer skin, including the roof and front section, was made of aluminum. High-strength steel was extensively used in the safety passenger cell.
Intelligent Drive: Networked Senses for Enhanced Safety
Mercedes-Benz’s “Real Life Safety” philosophy, focusing on accident avoidance and consequence mitigation, was central to the development of the 2015 S-Class. Numerous new and enhanced assistance systems, grouped under the “Intelligent Drive” umbrella, relied on a shared sensor system comprising a new stereo camera and multi-stage radar sensors.
Professor Thomas Weber, Member of the Daimler Board of Management responsible for Group Research and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, explained: “Intelligent assistance systems analyze complex situations and better recognize potential dangers out on the road with the aid of improved environment sensor systems. Figuratively speaking, the new S-Class doesn’t just have eyes at the front, it has 360-degree all-round vision.” This “sensor fusion,” the networking of all systems, aimed to provide comprehensive protection for vehicle occupants and other road users.
The Intelligent Drive system offered a range of support functions, from driver assistance and comfort enhancement to visual, acoustic, and tactile warnings, and even autonomous corrective actions in emergencies, such as automatic braking to prevent or mitigate accidents.
Key Intelligent Drive features included:
- DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist: Provided steering input to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane.
- BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist: Utilized the stereo camera to detect crossing traffic and pedestrians, enhancing braking power applied by the driver.
- Active Lane Keeping Assist: Could detect occupied adjacent lanes, especially by oncoming traffic, and reduce the risk of unintentional lane departure by applying brakes on one side.
- Adaptive Highbeam Assist: Allowed for permanent high-beam usage without dazzling other drivers by selectively masking out portions of the beam.
- Night View Assist PLUS: Enhanced with a thermal imaging camera, could alert drivers to potential dangers from pedestrians or animals in unlit areas by displaying a night vision image and highlighting hazards. A spotlight function could flash detected pedestrians to alert both the driver and the pedestrian.
- ATTENTION ASSIST: Monitored driver behavior to detect inattentiveness and drowsiness, providing warnings and suggesting nearby service areas for breaks.
Extended PRE-SAFE® Protection: Proactive Safety Measures
Building on a decade of PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection system advancements, the 2015 S-Class further enhanced preventative safety. New PRE-SAFE® functions aimed to prevent collisions with pedestrians and vehicles in city traffic, mitigate dangers from rear-end collisions, and improve seat belt protection.
Enhanced PRE-SAFE® features included:
- PRE-SAFE® Brake: Could detect pedestrians and initiate autonomous braking at speeds up to 31 mph to avoid collisions.
- PRE-SAFE® PLUS: Could recognize imminent rear-end collisions and, if a collision was unavoidable, firmly apply the vehicle’s brakes to minimize whiplash injuries and reduce the risk of secondary accidents. Reversible belt tensioners were deployed immediately before impact.
- PRE-SAFE® Impulse: Controlled release of seat belts during a frontal collision to reduce pressure on the body and minimize injury severity.
Rear Seat Safety Leadership
Mercedes-Benz extended its safety leadership to rear seat passengers with features like the seat belt buckle extender, beltbag, and cushionbag, some of which were included in the Rear Seat Package. The illuminated seat belt buckle extender automatically extended and retracted the belt buckle, reducing belt slack and ensuring a more secure fit. The beltbag, an inflatable seatbelt strap, reduced ribcage injury risk in frontal collisions. The cushionbag, standard with Executive Rear Seat Packages, prevented submarining (sliding under the seat belt) in reclined seat positions during accidents.
2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan Portfolio & Pricing:
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan lineup offered a range of models to suit diverse preferences and performance needs:
- MY2015 S550: $94,400
- MY2015 S550 4MATIC: $97,400
- MY2015 S600: $166,900
- MY2015 S63 AMG 4MATIC: $141,450
- MY2015 S65 AMG: $222,000
- MY2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 Sedan: “around $200,000” (Spring 2015 Launch)
Standard and Optional Equipment Highlights (S550 as Example):
Standard Highlights:
- COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS
- MAGIC VISION CONTROL
- Burmester Surround Sound System
- LED Ambient Lighting (7 colors, 5 dimming levels, 4 zones)
- Touchpad for COMAND System
- Air Balance Package (fragrance, ionization, filtration)
Optional Highlights:
- MAGIC BODY CONTROL Suspension
- ENERGIZING Massage Function
- Rear Seat Package (various comfort and safety features)
- Warmth & Comfort Package (heated elements)
- New Generation Driver Assistance Package (advanced driving aids)
- New Generation Active Parking Assist
Model Positioning and Competition:
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class, particularly the S550 and S600 models, was positioned as the pinnacle of the Mercedes-Benz brand, representing industry-leading refinement, luxurious interiors, and groundbreaking innovations in comfort, entertainment, and safety. It targeted discerning buyers seeking the ultimate in automotive luxury and technology.
Main Competitors:
- BMW 7 Series
- Audi A8
- Lexus LS
Key Safety Features Highlights:
The 2015 S-Class was equipped with an extensive suite of safety features:
- 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
- Rear seatbelt airbags and PRE-SAFE rear active belt buckles
- PRE-SAFE Impulse
- Night View Assist PLUS
- PRE-SAFE PLUS® for rear-end collision
- PRE-SAFE Brake® with Pedestrian Recognition
2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan: At a Glance
| Feature | S550 | S550 4MATIC | S600 | Mercedes-Maybach S600 | S63 AMG 4MATIC | S65 AMG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $94,400 | $97,400 | $166,900 | “around $200k” | $141,450 | $222,000 |
| Fuel Economy (city/hwy/comb) | 17/26/20 mpg | 16/26/19 mpg | 12/21/15 mpg | TBD | 15/23/18 mpg | 13/20/15 mpg |
| Engine | 4.6L V8 Bi-Turbo | 4.6L V8 Bi-Turbo | 6.0L V12 Bi-Turbo | 6.0L V12 Bi-Turbo | 5.5L V8 Bi-Turbo | 6.0L V12 Bi-turbo |
| Performance | 449 hp / 516 lb-ft torque | 449 hp / 516 lb-ft torque | 523 hp / 612 lb-ft torque | 523 hp / 612 lb-ft torque | 577 hp / 664 lb-ft torque | 621 hp / 738 lb-ft torque |
| 0-60 mph | 4.8 sec | 4.8 sec | 4.5 sec | 5.0 sec | 3.9 sec | 4.2 sec |
| Drive Configuration | RWD | All-Wheel Drive | RWD | RWD | All-Wheel Drive | RWD |
| Transmission | 7-Speed Automatic | 7-Speed Automatic | 7-Speed Automatic | 7-Speed Automatic | AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-Speed | AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7-SPD |
| Dimensions (L/W/H – inches) | 206.5/83.86/58.7 | 206.5/83.86/58.7 | 206.5/83.86/58.7 | TBA | 206.5/83.86/58.7 | TBA |
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan was more than just a car; it was a statement of intent, a showcase of automotive innovation, and a testament to Mercedes-Benz’s unwavering commitment to “the best or nothing.” It redefined the luxury sedan segment and continues to be a sought-after vehicle for those who appreciate the pinnacle of automotive engineering and opulent comfort.
