The New AMG S-Class Is Hiding More Than Just A Fresh Set Of Lights

Facelifted Mercedes-AMG S-class gets the star-shaped DRL treatment and should retain plug-in hybrid V8 power

                                        https://www.carscoops.com/author/chris-chilton-cc/                                    

Mercedes is giving almost its entire lineup the star treatment, and the very same update is being rolled out to the equivalent AMG models. We’re talking about the star-pattern DRLs, which can be seen on this S63 AMG prototype our spy photo team has caught in the wild for the very first time.

Like its Mercedes-branded, non-performance brother, the S63 gets two star-shaped DRLS in each of its four light units front and rear. Some new Benz models, such as the CLA, only get a single star per light cluster, but then the S-class is much bigger in both size and price. The current AMG S63 measures over 210.1 inches (5,340 mm) in length and costs almost $190,000.

Related: AMG’s New V8 Isn’t Just Coming Back, It’s Coming For Everything

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The lower bumper, which has angrier-looking side air intakes than you get on a stock S-class, doesn’t look any different to the one of the 2025 S63. But we’re expecting to see some noticeable grille tweaks when the camouflage comes off and the hot sedan gets its official debut, probably in early 2026 (the regular S-class has to debut first).

Intel suggests the Panamericana vertical grille itself will look similar to the one on today’s S63, but the facelifted car’s grille will have a dark surround like the one on the smaller E53 AMG that will stand out on cars ordered in white, silver or other light-colored paints.

New Tech Behind the Panels

One other detail noticeable on this prototype is a small camera mounted high up in the front fender, just below the base of the A-pillar. It’s a feature we’ve seen on some, but not all of the previous facelifted S-class test cars we’ve comes across, and must be part of a new advanced ADAS suite.

The S-class is already available with Lidar tech that makes it one of the few production cars in the world to offer true hands-off, eyes-off Level 3 autonomous driving, but this prototype doesn’t have a visible Lidar unit mounted on the roof.

Under the hood? AMG only relatively recently (for 2024) dropped a new plug-in powertrain into the S63 so it could be carried over largely unchanged. An electrically assisted version of AMG’s 4.0-liter turbo V8, it makes 791 hp (802 PS) and a thumping 1,055 lb-ft (1,430 Nm).

What might – and hopefully will – get an upgrade is the battery and charging side of the equation. The current S63 has a tiny 10.4 kWh battery that delivers a poor 16 miles (26 km) of EPA range and can only handle 3.7 kW of charge. Those numbers are all way off the pace of other modern PHEVs and may well be improved when the new car goes on sale in 2026.

Separately, we hear that AMG is also deep into development of a new flat-plane crank V8 with 48-volt hybrid assistance, though that engine is reportedly earmarked for different vehicles at this stage, including the first ever CLE 63 AMG coupe and convertible models, as well as the GT 4-Door Coupe. Whether it also makes its appearance in the performance S-Class remains to be seen.

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