Mercedes-Benz S-Class Facelift Coming to Malaysia Soon — Massive Grille, Superscreen & Enhanced S580e PHEV

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has dropped a nostalgic yet exciting teaser on its official Facebook page, featuring the legendary W108 S-Class alongside a silhouetted newcomer. Car enthusiasts immediately recognised those signature star-shaped DRLs — they belong to the 2026 W223 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Facelift, which made its global debut earlier this year. The Malaysian launch is expected as early as the end of May.

Exterior: Bigger, Bolder, and More Luxurious

This facelift is far more extensive than a typical update, with Mercedes-Benz claiming that over 50% of the components have been replaced.

The most noticeable change is at the front, where the signature grille has grown by 20%. It is now filled with intricate star patterns and features an illuminated surround. Even the iconic Mercedes hood ornament lights up — perfect for Malaysia's status-conscious buyers.

At the rear, the taillights adopt a new triple star-shaped LED design, echoing the W214 E-Class for even greater road presence.

Interior: Goodbye Portrait Screen, Hello Superscreen 

The cabin receives a major upgrade. The previous portrait-style touchscreen is replaced by the MBUX Superscreen, a seamless glass panel that stretches across the dashboard. It includes a 14.4-inch central display and a 12.3-inch passenger screen.

The system now supports Google Maps natively and features Generative AI (powered by ChatGPT and Google Gemini), enabling more natural, multi-turn conversations with the voice assistant.

Powertrain: S580e PHEV Expected to Lead

Given Malaysia's tax structure, MBM is likely to continue offering the locally assembled S580e Plug-in Hybrid (currently priced at RM739k). While it retains the 3.0L turbo straight-six engine, the updated version brings stronger performance:

• Engine: 381 PS / 560 Nm (up from 367 PS / 500 Nm)
• Electric Motor: 163 PS (up from 150 PS)
• Combined Output: 585 PS / 750 Nm

Despite the added power, the 28.6 kWh battery still delivers approximately 100 km of pure electric range — ideal for KL's daily commute. As for the highly-anticipated V8, that will likely be reserved for the AMG S63 E Performance.

Editor's Note

The S-Class continues to set the benchmark in the luxury segment, and this facelift elevates the tech and presence to an even higher level. Features like the latest Airmatic suspension with "crowdsourced road data" could prove especially useful on Malaysia's imperfect roads.

While official pricing has yet to be announced, a slight increase is expected.

Bosses, is your chequebook ready?