S Class the Gem of Mercedes

The Mercedes S-class DNA can be traced back to 1951, when at that year’s Frankfurt motor show the German car maker introduced the svelte W187 220 and the W186 300 models. Available in saloon, coupé and cabriolet styles, the 220 was powered by a 2.2-litre six-cylinder overhead cam unit producing 80bhp.

Retrieved From Creative Commons Dave Cub32 2013

In grander 300 guises, an 113bhp 3.0-litre inline-six propelled the car onto a top speed of 100mph – cementing the 300 as the fastest German production car at that time. Technical highlights included a safety door lock to prevent doors from bursting open and electronically operated torsion bar suspension to compensate the height of the rear wheels under heavy loads.

Fast-forward seven years and the W220 replaced the now-ageing W140 with a completely new design, resulting in a body that was slightly shorter and lighter than its predecessor. The W220 continued the S-class’s pursuit towards ever-improving safety with eight airbags, ‘Pre-safe’ occupant protection system and an automatic child seat recognition system. Automatic cylinder shut-off, ventilated seats and a ‘Keyless-Go’ access system also debuted. Mercedes-Benz also launched the first official AMG-badged S-class in the form of the S55 AMG – armed with a 493bhp supercharged 5.4-litre V8.

Retrieved From Creative Commons Vossen Wheels 2012 

In 2005, W221 S-class was unveiled at that year’s Frankfurt motor show, with evidence of a bulking diet - proportions being slightly larger all-round than the preceding W220. Technological bragging rights included lots of ‘assisting’, with infrared Night View Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Park Assist, Lane-Keeping Assist and a proximity control including an automatic braking system.