Mercedes S 2014

Mercedes-Benz must believe there's more to the interior of its 2014 S-class sedan than can be expressed in a breathless press release -- more than can even be shown in a handful of shadowy teaser photos. Because there's no other way to explain how we found ourselves in a darkened room somewhere outside of Stuttgart, listening to Diana Krall on a crisp sound system while getting a “hot stone massage” alongside a handful of fellow journalists -- except that we did it all without leaving the very comfortable seats of a long-wheelbase 2014 S-class sedan sporting a camouflaged exterior. According to Dr. Goetz Renner, head of the M-B customer research center, the upcoming S-class will strive to offer “active luxury” features rather than simply reducing environmental discomforts. So this “car-as-spa” concept that we got a taste of makes a certain sort of sense, especially as Mercedes-Benz works to replace the discontinued Maybach marque and go head-to-head with other luxury heavy hitters.