German automaker Mercedes-Benz will soon unveil a refreshed S-Class and, in tandem, roll out an upgrade to its partially autonomous Drive Pilot. The current speed cap of the system stands at 95 km/h, while the new version will raise that ceiling to a maximum of 110 km/h.

As it stands, the system is offered as an optional extra and meets the SAE Level 3 standard for conditional automation.

The planned Drive Pilot update is set to deliver not only the higher speed threshold but also a notable step up in the performance of its sensors, cameras, radars, and lidars. The result should be a further boost in safety and efficiency, particularly on long highway runs or roads with higher speed limits—precisely the kind of scenarios where such tech feels most natural.

However, the upgrade will not initially extend to older Mercedes-Benz S-Class models. All previously produced vehicles will stay capped at 95 km/h and will not receive hardware changes. New versions will also require additional approvals from regulators before they can be cleared for use. For current owners, that stance may feel like a missed opportunity, yet it does help keep the hardware baseline consistent for the rollout.