Mercedes-Benz has announced details of its revised S-Class luxury saloon range which goes on sale in the UK this autumn.

As well as a minor facelift there are a host of engineering changes which are designed to take the battle to BMW’s recently-launched 7 Series.

All of the engines are now more fuel efficient and offer lower CO2 emissions than the units they replace, with the best-selling S320 CDI now superseded by a more economical S350 CDI model which carries the Blue-Efficiency name.

This new engine offers the same power output as before, but fuel economy rises to an average of 37.2mpg from 34.0, while CO2 emissions fall from 220g/km to 199.

On the petrol front, there are six, eight and 12-cylinder versions ranging in power from 272bhp to 612bhp in the AMG sporting flagship.

Also new are a host of intelligent safety systems which have been introduced on the forthcoming E-Class model which goes on sale in the UK in June.

The S-Class will employ adaptive highbeam assist, which automatically reduces high beam when a car approaches, and night view assist, which usesthe centre screen to project thermally-enhanced images of the view ahead and, in particular, pedestrians.

Lane keeping assist emits vibrations through the steering wheel when the car veers out of a lane, while attention assist monitors the driver for signs of nodding-off and sounds an alert.

The facelift amounts to a revised radiator grille, new front bumper and bi-xenon headlights.

Prices for the new range will be announced closer to the model’s on-sale date.