Next generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class spotted testing at Death Valley

Mercedes-Benz is testing out a new generation of the S-Class and it was spotted doing the rounds at Death Valley in the USA. This car is expected to be launched in 2020 and will be the most comprehensive update for the sedan.

One of the highest priorities for Mercedes-Benz is to boost the autonomous capabilities of the S-Class range and this vehicle (under all that camouflage) is more than likely holding all this tech inside the body.

Sources suggest that the Mercedes driver assistance systems will be able to handle critical situations, such as urban streets and junctions. The S-Class’s role as the brand’s most luxurious model leaves it as the top candidate to get this tech first.

The next S-Class will have increased use of electrification and enhanced  performance and range offered with the current top hybrid S-Class, the S 560e. That car combines a turbocharged V6 engine and electric motor, offering up to 30 miles of electric range, which is vital in ensuring that the car can be driven in cities that may soon enforce zero emissions.

Trends suggest that an all-electric version of the S-Class is inevitable at some stage, although sources do not think battery technology will be advanced enough to make it viable at the next S-Class’s 2020 launch.