SPIED: FIRST Spy Shots Of The Newly REFRESHED 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class INSIDE and OUT!

Although the current-gen Mercedes-Benz S-Class is still wreaking havoc on all of its competition, the all-new BMW 7-Series certainly is a reality check for the three-pointed star. As evidenced in the previous thread, the all-new 7 is bringing some attitude to the party.

Having said that, it should be considered a no brainer that Mercedes will not be resting on its laurels. The S-Class is due for a refresh for the 2018 model year.

**Please note: Yes, we are using a file photo for this story.

And you get to see it, first.

Undergoing developmental testing, the newly refreshed S was nabbed INSIDE and OUT. Though the vehicle has camouflage in certain strategic regions, these first pics give us a good idea of what to expect.

First things first, on the outside you can see a new front grille, headlights and what may be a new front clip design.

The real news though is on the inside. That's because this prototype S was spotted with some interesting changes. Lifted from the all-new E-Class that debuted at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) were touch-sensitive controls mounted on the steering wheel. In addition, scope out the new displays that are larger and better integrated in the instrument panel, and the new touchpad on the center console. When the S first debuted in this generation, it had a COMAND rotary dial. Then, it switched to a rotary dial and a touchpad after the C-Class first debuted it. Now we've got this.

All that said, are you liking what you're seeing so far? Let us know in the comments.

**To see the FULL collection of spy shots, click "Read Article"

**Please note: Yes, we are using a file photo for this story.

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MDarringer - 2/13/2016 10:31:56 AM

+6 Boost

The BMW cheerleading is ridiculous. The 7 Series is in NO WAY a reality check for Mercedes. The S Class outsells the 7 Series by more than 2:1. If anything, the fact that Mercedes is doing an update should be a wake-up call to BMW to do an emergency reskin of the 7 Series so that it actually looks new.

GermanNut - 2/13/2016 12:03:23 PM

+5 Boost

I agree. It's hilarious watching Autospies trying to create a rivalry between the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the BMW 7-Series. In reality there never has been a sales rivalry because the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has outsold the BMW 7-Series by a more than 2 to 1 margin and is STILL continuing to do so despite BMW's brand-new 7-Series.

JRobUSC - 2/13/2016 12:15:33 PM

+5 Boost

it's almost as hilarious as watching the paid Audi mouthpiece try to belittle BMW because he can't talk up Audi in the midst of the VW scandal. How are A8 sales compared to the 7-Series and S-class, by the way? Or, any Audi model save the Q5 versus every competitor model from BMW and Benz?

Right.

MDarringer - 2/13/2016 12:38:51 PM

0 Boost

@GermanNut and @JRobUSC what I find amusing is how the lackluster Hyundai Equus sold nearly as well as the Jaguar XJ. I really think the Genesis G90 has the capacity--if marketed and promoted well--to steal sales from the XJ, A8, and 7 Series. Is it competition for Mercedes? Nope! But it will be more successful than people think I predict.

GermanNut - 2/13/2016 10:34:07 PM

+1 Boost

Again, JRob, you are making yourself look extremely uninformed. Audi's head of design before this new model onslaught was Wolfgang Egger who has since been replaced by Marc Lichte. Lichte has promised a radical change in design for the entire Audi brand and more differentiation between models.

BMW, despite having so more models than Audi, still can't outsell it. BMW's struggles are real and growing louder by the day. The 7-Series is no match for the S-Class and will struggle even more when the new Audi A8 comes to market with its bold and drastic new design. In China, BMW still can't touch Audi and Mercedes-Benz is growing significantly faster than BMW in that very important market.

GermanNut - 2/13/2016 2:06:52 PM

-1 Boost

JRob, you're looking so desperate. Audi outsold BMW globally by 10,000 units in January despite not even having the new Q7 available in all markets. Don't forget the new A4 isn't on sale either. In the U.S. BMW couldn't even manage to increase sales year over year and blamed it on the snowstorms. What a pathetic excuse and it makes BMW look even worse considering Audi and Mercedes-Benz both managed increases in the U.S.

The Audi A8 is coming along with Audi's new SUV model onslaught. Make no mistake Lichte will radically change the designs from what you presently see.

Do some research before you write because you look extremely uninformed.

JRobUSC - 2/13/2016 3:12:33 PM

+4 Boost

You said the same thing last year. And the year before. And the year before. Audi is always some new release away from beating the world. Audi definitely isn't getting their money worth with you, buckaroo. That's the only change they need to make -- get rid of you moronic guerilla bloggers. They have the opposite of the intended effect.

MDarringer - 2/13/2016 4:54:03 PM

+1 Boost

@GermanNut with emphasis on "nut"...you do realize Audi would need another 50% of its volume to be on par with what Mercedes currently sells (Sprinter excluded) in the US and Canada right?

cidflekken - 2/13/2016 3:14:19 PM

+5 Boost

"Reality check"? Of course. Mercedes realized that they built a superior car 3 YEARS AGO compared to the just-released 7 Series. And they also realized that with this upcoming refresh, that they will, again, further distance the S-Class from the 7 Series.

DOCSOUT - 2/14/2016 5:39:01 PM

-1 Boost

Triple lamp turn signals.
Reverse light bar at base of bumper.
Different head light lights.
New steering wheel.
Touch pad over mouse.
I don't know if this is enough for me to trade up from my '15 S Class.

gkearns56 - 2/14/2016 6:22:55 PM

-2 Boost

Gosh - According to the article, they made this ugly ass screen even LARGER. Good golly - it was awful before and now looks like some "smaller windshield" behind the steering wheel. Well at least the got rid of that ugly looking Buick reminder steering wheel they have in the current model.
MS are super nice cars, but someone please call their interior design people and ask them if they are blind. I'm wondering if that is the reason for the big ass screen/dash inside there.