- 2027 S-Class gets 2,700 new or revised components in facelift.
- Flat-plane M177 Evo V8 debuts with 530 hp and fewer emissions.
- Engine is smoother, more efficient, and tuned for better response.
The S-Class has long been Mercedes-Benz’s standard-bearer, a car that sets trends rather than follows them. For more than a year, we’ve known that a facelift was in development. Mercedes confirmed changes were coming to both the exterior and interior, but until now, many questions remained about what upgrades might be hiding beneath the surface. Some of those details have finally come into focus.
Read: The 2027 Mercedes S-Class Hides Its Biggest Change In Plain Sight
Mercedes recently invited select media outlets to Germany to preview the 2027 S-Class in person. Although officially just a facelift, the changes are far from minor. According to the automaker, around 2,700 parts have been either re-engineered or completely redesigned. Chief among them is the all-new version of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, dubbed the M177 Evo.
A Major Overhaul in Disguise
The M177 isn’t a new name. Mercedes has been using the hot-vee twin-turbo V8 for over ten years. But the latest evolution gets a major internal shift: a flat-plane crankshaft replaces the traditional cross-plane layout. Mercedes says this switch not only improves throttle response and smoothness, but also helps reduce emissions, an increasingly important box to tick, even in the luxury segment.
This redesigned V8 will first appear in the upcoming S580 mild-hybrid, where it produces 530 horsepower. That’s a noticeable jump from the current model’s 496 hp, and it gives the facelifted S-Class more punch without straying from its refined character.
Car Magazine reports that the engine feels more responsive and smoother in operation, qualities that align well with the S-Class ethos. While the S580 will be first to feature the M177 Evo, Mercedes-AMG has confirmed this engine will also power other models. The updated S63 is next in line, and it’s likely we’ll also see the flat-plane V8 under the hood of the new CLE 63.
What Else Can We Expect?
Design-wise, the updated S-Class won’t break from its current silhouette. The familiar profile will remain intact, but Mercedes is updating the lighting elements with new headlights and taillights featuring star-pattern LED signatures.
The bigger change comes inside. The glamorous dashboard of the current model with the four rectangular central air vents and the floating portrait-oriented infotainment screen will be ditched in favor of a design much more similar to the all-electric EQS. We remain unconvinced this will feel like an upgrade, but we reserve judgment until Mercedes lifts the covers on the new car.
