MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS - A CAR EXCEEDING THE COMFORT ZONE
MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS - A CAR EXCEEDING THE COMFORT ZONE
INTRODUCTION
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class, formerly known as Sonderklasse (German for "special class", abbreviated as "S-Klasse"), is a series of full-size luxury sedans, limousines, and armored sedans produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz, a division of German company Daimler AG. The S-Class is the designation for top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz models and was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116, and has remained in use ever since. The S-Class is the flagship vehicle for Mercedes-Benz.
The S-Class has debuted many of the company's latest innovations, including drivetrain technologies, interior features, and safety systems (such as the first seatbelt pretensioners). The S-Class has ranked as the world's best-selling luxury sedan. In automotive terms, Sonderklasse refers to "a specially outfitted car." Although used colloquially for decades, following its official application in 1972, six generations of officially named S-Klasse sedans have been produced.
In 1981, the two-door, four-seat S-Class, designated as SEC, was introduced, sharing the petrol V8 engines with its four-door version, W126. After the introduction of the new nomeculate scheme, SEC was simply renamed as S-Class Coupé. For the 1996 model year, the coupé was separated from the S-Class line and named as the new CL-Class (in line with other two-door models: CLK, SL, and SLK); however, the CL-Class was reintegrated into the S-Class model line. The first-ever S-Class convertible since 1972, internally named A217, was introduced and became the one-generation model only. After the end of W222 production in 2020, the successors to the C217 coupé and A217 convertible are not planned, citing the low demand for those models and stronger demand for SUV models.
VARIENTS
First-generation W116 (1972–1980)
In 1972, Mercedes-Benz introduced the W116 line, the first to be officially called the S-Class.[3] Produced from 1972 through 1980, the W116 series featured a four-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes. The 280, 350, and 450 (4.5L version) models featured SE and SEL versions. Production of the W116 totaled 473,035 units. This was a groundbreaking sedan for Mercedes-Benz, and for the first time in the company history, the car had an obvious, blatant, and outward emphasis on safety placed above a pure styling viewpoint. The overall design incorporated numerous safety features developed from the "safety research vehicles" in the mid-to-late 1960s to the very early 1970s.
These safety features were all newly introduced passenger-car "firsts" on a production vehicle: padded door trim around the windows, heavily padded steering wheel (later to be replaced by an airbag with the Mercedes-Benz abbreviation of SRS standing for the English-language term Supplemental Restraint System), more comprehensive safety padding on the dashboard and around the interior, dual asymmetric windshield wipers, headrests with a center depression to locate the occupant's head in a more central position during a rear impact, a rain-water management system to improve visibility consisting of deep channels on both sides of the windshield and flowing into deeply channeled rain gutters, including similar designs on the side mirrors, rounded body shapes along the edges, such as the tops of the front fenders, etc., designed to ameliorate pedestrian injuries, ribbed rear taillamp lenses which would remain clearer of dirt on the recessed areas, an easy-to-access first aid kit stowed in a recessed compartment on the rear parcel shelf prominently labeled with the universally recognized "cross" symbol which represents "first aid", and several other subtle safety features related to both active and passive safety. The Mercedes Benz S-Class is a classic chauffeur-driven car and has frequently been used as the standard by car hire companies. It is comfortable and safe as well as elegant looking; ideal for drives across the countryside or high-class transport on a night out.
The W116 models were large luxury sedans. The W116 was larger on the outside than the W108/W109 series it replaced, but had similar interior capacity, as the additional bulk was driven by several new and aforementioned engineering developments on car safety and occupant protection in a crash. The W116 introduced other improved passive safety features into the vehicle design, including a strengthened vehicle occupant shell. It was one of the first cars to be available with ABS, a driver's airbag supplemental restraint system (but not available at the vehicle's initial launch). Also, the W116 was the first mass-production passenger vehicle offered with a turbocharged diesel engine.
- Production 1972–1980
- Layout FR layout
- Powertrain
- Transmission 3-speed automatic
- 4-speed automatic
- 5-speed manual
Second generation W126/C126 (1980–1991)
The W126 series premiered in September 1979, launching in March 1980 as a 1980 model and late 1980 as a 1981 model in the US and Australia replacing the W116 line. The W126 line featured improved aerodynamics and enlarged aluminum engine blocks. In Australia in 1981, the W126 S-Class won Wheels magazine's Car of the Year award. The W126 was manufactured from 1979 through 1991 with a mid-cycle update. Coupé models based on the S-Class were reintroduced with the W126 (380/500 SEC). Total sales of the W126 S-Class sedans reached 818,036 units, with an additional 74,060 coupes sold.
Although the top of the range Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 of the previous generation was not directly replaced, the W126 carried forward the hydropneumatic suspension of the 6.9 as an option on the 500SEL. A new cruise control system was offered as well. Succeeding the roadster-based coupes, the W126 introduced a two-door variant, the SEC coupé. The W126 S-Class received a mid-cycle update in 1985 that included both exterior modifications and engine upgrades.
- Production December 1979 – April 1992
- Layout FR layout
- Powertrain
- Transmission 4-speed automatic
- 5-speed manual
Third generation W140/C140 (1991–1998)
In 1991, the W140 series replaced the W126 line with the first production model assembled in April of that year. The W140 grew in proportions and featured two wheelbase lengths and a shorter-wheelbase W140 coupé. Production totaled 432,732 units.
The W140 cost 25% more than the W126 that it replaced and featured double-pane window glazing, self-closing boot lid and doors, electric windows with a jam-protection feature (lowering when encountering an obstruction), rear-parking markers in the US (which appeared on the rear wings when in reverse), and a heating system which emitted warm air while residual energy was available after the engine was turned off.
In 1993, Mercedes-Benz model nomenclature was rationalized, with the SE/SEL/SEC cars becoming the S-Class and alphanumerical designations inverted (e.g. the both 500SE and 500SEL became S500 regardless of wheelbase length). In 1995, the W140 received a minor facelift featuring clear turn signal indicator lenses on the front and rear as well as headlamps fitted with separate low- and high-beam reflectors for the US market. Following the mid-year facelift, the W140 coupe and sedan (Saloon) featured Electronic Stability Control. This particular generation of S-class is heavily referred to or nicknamed as the Mercedes Shahbad (Meaning ghost when translated) in many Middle Eastern countries.
- Production April 1991 – August 1998
- Layout FR layout
- Transmission 4-speed automatic
- 5-speed automatic
- 5-speed manual
Fourth-generation W220 (1999–2005)
July 1998, the W220 was presented. The W220 S-Class was restyled due to an update on previous models or new cars released compared to its W140 predecessor. Unlike its predecessor, the W220 was not the first model to feature the company's new design theme for the next generation of Mercedes-Benz. This honor was given to the W168 A-Class when it launched in 1997. The new S-Class incorporated the new styling cues first introduced on the Mk I A-Class the year before (for example, the dashboard carried over the new styling details first seen in the A-Class), with a renewed focus on elegance and style in a more rounded shape compared to the preceding W140. Despite being smaller, the W220 S-Class offered more interior space than the W140. Production of the W220 S-Class totaled 485,000 units, slightly more than the production totals from the W140. The W220 was produced in a sedan version only.
As with each new S-Class, the W220 brought in innovations such as Airmatic air suspension and Active Ventilated Seats (which used miniature fans in the seats to move air through perforations). A navigation system with a center console-mounted screen display was introduced, along with the COMAND input control system. Other options included keyless entry and ignition, a radar-controlled Distronic cruise control system, and a cylinder shut-off system called Active Cylinder Control. The 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system was introduced to the North American market S-Class for 2003, complementing the traditional rear-wheel-drive configurations.
Seventh generation W223 (2020–)
The W223 was unveiled on 2 September 2020.[28] This generation will not feature a coupe or convertible model as they will instead be replaced by the next-generation AMG GT and SL-Class models respectively.[29] The interior of the new model includes up to five displays, an AR Head-Up Display, and an ambient lighting system.[30][31] Additionally, the W223 S-Class is the first car in the world to come with rear seat airbags that use ambient air, instead of gas that is widely used in automotive airbag systems.
- Production 2020–present
- Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive
- Powertrain
- Transmission 9-speed 9G-Tronic automatic
- Dimensions
- Wheelbase SWB: 3,106 mm (122.3 in)
- LWB: 3,216 mm (126.6 in)
- Length SWB: 5,179 mm (203.9 in)
- LWB: 5,289 mm (208.2 in)
- Width 1,954 mm (76.9 in)
- Height 1,503 mm (59.2 in)
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