70 years of Mercedes-Benz S-Class - the one that gave the world a limousine

The legendary Mercedes-Benz S-Class is one of those cars that needs no introduction. For several decades, it has been a constant technological leader not only in the range of the German company, but also among other brands. In the seventh generation of the model (W223) there will be innovations in design and equipment. From what we've seen so far, we can say with confidence that the luxury car will keep the palm in the championship for modern technology and new developments.

In anticipation of the car, let's remember what each generation of the Mercedes-Benz flagship has given the world. Innovative systems debuted such as ABS, ESP, ACC, Airbag and hybrid drive, among others.

1951-1954 – Mercedes-Benz 220 (W187)

Except for pre-World War II models, the first modern predecessor of the S-Class was the Mercedes-Benz 220. The car debuted at the 1951 Frankfurt Motor Show, at the time it was one of the most luxurious, fastest and largest production cars in Germany.

The company compensates for the use of an outdated design with quality, reliability and rich equipment. This is the first Mercedes-Benz model that relies solely on safety. And among the innovations in it are front drum brakes with two hydraulic cylinders and an amplifier.

1954-1959 – Mercedes-Benz Pontoon (W105, W128, W180)

The predecessor of the S-class is also the 1954 model, which received the nickname Mercedes-Benz Ponton due to its design. The sedan has a more modern design, as the main role is played by the branded chrome grille, which houses the emblem with the legendary three-pointed star. It was this model that laid the foundations for the styling for the following Mercedes cars, produced before 1972.

1959-1972 - Mercedes-Benz Fintail (W108, W109, W111, W112)

The third and last predecessor of the S-Class is the 1959 model, which, due to the specific shape of the rear end, was nicknamed the Heckflosse (literally - “tail stabilizer” or “fin”). The car with elongated vertical headlights is offered as a sedan, coupe and convertible, and becomes a real technological breakthrough for the brand.

In this model, for the first time appear: a protected "cage" with crumple zones in front and rear, disc brakes (in the top version of the model), three-point seat belts (developed by Volvo), a four-speed automatic transmission and air suspension elements. The sedan is also available in an extended version.

1972-1980 – Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W116)

The first large three-spoke sedan, officially called the S-Class (Sonderklasse - "upper class" or "extra class"), debuted in 1972. He also introduced a number of new solutions - both in design and technology, a market sensation and a nightmare for competitors.

The flagship with the W116 index boasts large horizontal rectangular headlights, ABS as standard and for the first time with a turbodiesel. For the safety of the driver and passengers, the reinforced tank was moved above the rear axle and separated from the passenger compartment.

It's also the first S-Class to get Mercedes' biggest post-World War II engine, the 6,9-liter V8. Each engine is assembled by hand and before being installed in the car, it is tested on the stand for 265 minutes (of which 40 are at maximum load). A total of 7380 450 SEL 6.9 sedans were produced.

1979-1991 – Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W126)

Soon after the first S-class, a second one appeared with the index W126, it is also large, angular and with rectangular optics, but it has much better aerodynamic characteristics - Cx = 0,36. It also received a number of safety innovations, becoming the first production sedan in the world to pass the frontal displacement crash test.

In the arsenal of the model there are airbags for the driver (since 1981) and for the passenger next to him (since 1995). Mercedes-Benz was one of the first manufacturers to equip its models with an airbag and seat belt. At the time, the two security systems were alternatives to each other in most other companies. The Mercedes flagship gets 4 seat belts first, with three-point seat belts in the second row of seats.

This is the best-selling S-class - 892 units, including 213 from the coupe version.

1991-1998 – Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W140)

In the early 1990s, the battle in the executive sedan segment became increasingly fierce, with Audi joining in and BMW launching the successful 7-series (E32). The debut of the Lexus LS also intervened in the fight (in the US market), which began to disturb the German trinity.

Serious competition is forcing Mercedes-Benz to make the sedan (W140) even more technological and perfect. The model was born in 1991 with ESP, adaptive suspension, parking sensors and double-glazed windows. This generation is also the first S-Class (since 1994) with a V12 engine.

1998-2005 – Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W220)

To avoid looking old-fashioned at the turn of the new millennium, Mercedes-Benz is fundamentally changing its approach to creating the new S-Class. The sedan gets keyless access, an electric drive for opening and closing the trunk, a TV, Airmatic air suspension, a function for disabling part of the cylinders and 4Matic all-wheel drive (since 2002).

There is also adaptive cruise control, which at that time also appeared in production models of Mitsubishi and Toyota. In Japanese vehicles, the system used lidar, while the Germans relied on more accurate radar sensors.

2005-2013 – Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W221)

The previous generation of the S-Class, launched in 2005, is gaining a reputation for not being a very reliable car, its biggest problem being the capricious electronics. However, there are also positive aspects here. For example, this is the first Mercedes with a hybrid powertrain, but that doesn't bring it much fuel economy.

The S400 Hybrid sedan has a 0,8 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 20 hp electric motor that is integrated into the gearbox. Thus, it only helps a heavy vehicle from time to time by charging the battery while driving.

2013-2020 – Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222)

The current sedan is much smarter and more capable of its predecessor, having received the function of semi-autonomous movement, which allows the car to independently maintain a given course and distance from other road users for a certain period of time. The system can even change lanes.

The modern S-Class has an active suspension that changes its settings in real time, using information from a stereo camera scanning the road, as well as a large number of sensors. This system will be improved with a new generation, which is also preparing a huge amount of new technologies.