Mercedes-Benz S-Class

S-Class refers to the superclass of the car brand Mercedes -Benz. It stands for luxury sedans and coupes. In 1972 appeared with the 116 series the first officially by Mercedes -Benz (MB ) as designated S-Class. Even before the top models from Mercedes- Benz had borne the name S.

The Coupé S-Class, the first time there was the 126 series, 1992 ( C 140 series ) from 1999 to 2014 ( C 215 series ) stylistically distinct and bears the name since 1996 CL-Class. Since 2014 S-Class Coupe is named with the C 217 again marketed, the optical autonomy of the coupe, however, as in the automotive industry is now common practice, remained.

In May 2013, the tenth generation of the S -Class was released.

Term transmission

Only with the introduction of the 116 series in 1972 was in the brochures of the " S-Class " ( special class ) talk, sometimes has been, or will its predecessor - the series W 108/109 - referred to as " Old S- class ". Mercedes -Benz describes the models W 108/109 as "even if they had not yet called the true birth of the S- class way." ( Quote from promotional video for the introduction of the 221 series ). Harry Niemann wrote in the "Illustrated History of Daimler -Benz AG " (Editor: Daimler -Benz group archive): "Even though the name was officially used until 1972 for the 116 series, seen as the first S- Class, the 250 S to 300 SEL 6.3 ( 1965-1972 ) ".

The S-Class series 220 (1998-2005) is characterized among other things - with the exception of S 600, which exclusively with steel suspension ( Active Body Control) was available - by a standard air suspension from. This is considered to be a complicated construction and very robust.

The S-Class (221 ​​) is available from the factory as a special protection vehicle, the resistance level B6/B7.

There is the S-Class (221 ​​) also known as Stretch Limousine ( S 600 Pullman Guard ). It is available only with the above armor.

The S-Class was the world, in Europe and Germany's best-selling luxury-class vehicle in many years. There were exceptions ( as is common in the automotive market ) towards the end and the beginning of a model cycle. Two examples: on the German market were more BMW 7 Series sold in 2004 as the S -Class cars; 2012 BMW 7 Series and were more Audi A8 sold as S-Class.

Series

Technical features of the S-Class and its predecessors

The Mercedes -Benz S-Class has been an innovator of advanced automotive technology and over again until today. She brought as high-priced pioneering innovations in the market, then partly found widespread use.

• Newly designed six-cylinder engine with overhead camshaft
• Security Zapf Castle against the popping of doors
• Fan Heaters available
• Duplex drum brakes front

• Self-supporting body in shape of a pontoon
• Subframe front suspension
• Single-joint swing axle with tiefgelegtem fulcrum
• Brake drums with "turbo cooling"
• Hydraulic- automatic clutch " Hydrak "

• Passenger safety cell with crumple zones ( front and rear)
• Padded steering wheel
• Wedge-pin door locks
• Disc brakes (300 SE)
• Three -point seat belts
• Four-speed automatic
• Air suspension ( 300 SE)
• Long version ( 300 SE)

• First S - class with 8- cylinder engine
• Patented safety steering
• Hydropneumatic compensation spring at the rear axle

• Anti -lock braking system (ABS ) in 1978
• Mercedes ' biggest post-war passenger car engine with 6.8 liter displacement in the 450 SEL 6.9
• Double wishbone front suspension from the test vehicle C 111
• Fuel tank installed on rear axle, protected against collision
• Security Interior
• First luxury sedan with a diesel engine (300 SD)

• New safety concept, the criterion of the frontal offset crash fulfilled, the world 's first production vehicle (offset crash )
• Driver airbag and belt tensioner from 1981
• Passenger airbag from 1985
• Three -point seat belts in the back seat
• Automatic locking differential
• Traction control ( ASR)

• Networking of ECUs via the CAN bus
• Identification of even the smallest plastic parts according to varieties to improve recycling
• Voice control ( LINGUATRONIC ) for speaker-independent control of the car phone
• Electronic parking aid ( PARKTRONIC )
• Electronic Stability Program ( ESP)
• Double glazing to improve the heat, but especially the sound insulation
• Automatic emergency call system Tele -Aid
• First S -Class with a V12 engine (600 SE / L or S 600 / L) with 300 kW and 290 kW from model year 1994

• Distronic adaptive cruise control
• Keyless access and start authorization system Keyless Go
• Preventive safety system Pre-Safe
• AIRMATIC - air suspension on all 4 wheels with adaptive damping and self-leveling front and rear
• TV with teletext - even while driving for the rear passengers
• Remote boot lid closure - rear lid opens and closes electrically
• COMAND ie first use of an LCD - screen ( 4:3 ) instead of a radio, from 09/ 2002 16:9 format
• First active control of steel springs and damping with Active Body Control ( first use in the S-Class Coupe CL-Class )

• Night View Assist
• Distronic PLUS adaptive cruise control with brake assistant and radargesteuertem Pre-Safe brake
• Digital 5.1 surround sound system
• Electronic parking aid on the short-range radar
• Stepless door brakes for the first time at Mercedes- Benz
• Adaptive brake lights
• Split View navigation display ( for the facelift 06 /2009)
• Mild hybrid drive with a lithium- ion battery and energy recovery during braking and overrun mode
• First S -Class with four-cylinder engine in the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY with only 5.7 liters of fuel consumption

• COMAND Online system 5 based on the latest NTG Installed are two 12.3 -inch LCD screens.
• World's first vehicle that only has LEDs to replace the bulbs.
• The world's first vehicle with a stereo camera based on an active suspension.
• The world's first vehicle with a wrong-way driver warning system.
• Newly developed intersection assistant
• Newly developed Lane Keeping Assist
• Rear seat belts with airbags

Others

In April 2013, the E-Class was given a facelift. The two models have many similarities.