|
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the common description for a series of large luxury flagship sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler-Chrysler.
[] Origin of the S-Class
While the exact beginning of the colloquial S-Class expression cannot be determined precisely, it has always referred to the most spacious and largest luxury vehicle in the Mercedes-Benz line-up, with the exception of the limited-production Mercedes-Benz 600 limousine. In some cases it also applied to vehicles requiring premium fuel or "Super" due to the higher compression ratio and output of the company's top-of-the-line engines. The name "S-Class" derives from the German word "Sonderklasse" for which "S-class" is just an abbreviation. "Sonderklasse" means "special class", meaning a specially outfitted car.
The cars are commonly accepted as the Mercedes-Benz flagship model. Though the term S-Class has been used as a colloquial term for decades, it was not officially adopted by Mercedes-Benz until the introduction of the W116 for the 1973 model year.
The S-Class grew out of the modest "Ponton" model, a six cylinder sedan known as the W180/128 bodystyle. The line was introduced with the 220a, 219 (W105), 220S, and 220SE sedan, coupe, and convertible in 1954/1956. 1959 saw the introduction of the 220Sb (W111) with the new "Einheitskarosserie", which branched off in 1961 into the W110 featuring a shorter hood and wheelbase for the "economy" models 190c and 190Dc, and the 300 SE (W112), a short time successor to the "Großer Mercedes" 300/300b/300c/300d and predecessor of the "Großer Mercedes" 600 (W100). As the German economy grew, Mercedes-Benz saw the opportunity to build much larger vehicles, including the limited volume 1964 600 limousine (W100 series), which would then take the title of the "Großer Mercedes".
The W111 line continued in 1965 with the 230S sedan (still W111) alongside the new larger models W108/W109 250S / 250SE – which in 1968 grew to 280S and 280SE. The 300 SE was available in the W108 and in the W109 (LWB 300SEL) line until replaced by the 3.5 litre (in both long and standard bodies) and 6.3 litre V8 engine in the long body. These larger vehicles established the S-Class market position which continues.
The 1973 W116 saw the introduction of passive safety into the design and the 1980 W126 brought much-improved aerodynamics. The W140 saw the car grow dramatically in its proportions, while the W220 saw a renewed focus on elegance.
All S-Classes are currently built in Sindelfingen, Germany.
[] S-Class Chronology
* 1956 Mercedes-Benz W180
* 1958 Mercedes-Benz W128
* 1959 Mercedes-Benz W111
* 1961 Mercedes-Benz W112
* 1965 Mercedes-Benz W108
* 1973 Mercedes-Benz W116
* 1979 Mercedes-Benz W126
* 1991 Mercedes-Benz W140
* 1999 Mercedes-Benz W220
* 2006 Mercedes-Benz W221
[] Naming convention
As is typical for Mercedes, the name of the car consists of a small series of numbers and letters, often carried over from one bodystyle to the next.
For example, 500SEL denotes an S-Class car with an engine size of about 5,000ccm, with fuel injection (Einspritz) and long wheelbase (Lang). Note that the "S" in "SEL" is not the same as the "S" in "SL" (Sport Light) – the SL roadsters are not S-Class vehicles.
Currently, the S-Class is available in seven trim levels; the numbers are given in ascending order to denote more upscale models.
In 1994, the traditional naming convention (numbers, then letters) was reversed. From then on, the long-wheelbase models (formerly "SEL") and the regular length models (formerly "SE") are both labeled with the prefix of "S" regardless of length. For example, both 500SEL and 500SE are now labeled as S500.
[] 1959 Fintail
The W111 "Fintail" series debuted in 1959. Initially powered by a line of straight-6 engines (the M180 and M127), it set a new standard for luxury. The series was augmented with a line of 3.0 L cars in 1961, the W112.
The Fintail was among the first cars in the world to have crumple zones and disc brakes, and for the top of range 300SE model, air suspension.
This large Fintail model should not be confused with a smaller Fintail line, the W110, which was also produced at that time and was essentially the predecessor of today's E-Class.
[] 1960s
With the W108/W109 series of 1965, the range received V8 power for the first time. The unusual 300 SEL 6.3 was based on this body type.
During this period, the designation SE was used for short wheel based models. Longer models (with more room in the back) were designated SEL. This designation continued until 1994.
[] 1970s
The S-Class continued in the 1970s with the W116 series, produced from 1972 through 1979. This car had four-wheel independent suspension and disk brakes. It was the first Mercedes model to be officially called S-Class.
The W116 models were large luxury sedans. The new car was larger on the outside than the W108/W109 series it replaced, but had similar interior capacity, as the additional bulk was driven by new theories on car safety and occupant protection in a crash. It was one of the first cars to be available with ABS, airbag or a turbo diesel engine.
The most notable W116 was the high-performance, limited-production 450 SEL 6.9. This 8 cylinder model boasted the largest engine installed in a postwar Mercedes-Benz up to that time. Every 6.9 featured self-leveling hydropneumatic suspension and offered the ABS anti-lock braking system as an option from 1978 on.
Production totalled 473,035 units.
[] W126 1981
W126
Mercedes-Benz 500 SE
Production: 1980–1990
The W116 S-Class was replaced by an all-new model in late 1979 for 1980 (and 1981 in USA), codenamed W126. The car won the prestigious Australian Wheels Magazine Car of the Year award for 1981, the first luxury car to do so.
Although the top of 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. In 1981, the W126 re-introduced the airbag to the world, as an additional measure of occupant protection.
Abandoning the roadster based coupes, the W126 had a two door variant, the SEC coupé. The W126 line lasted from 1979 through 1991.
The 500SEL has an interesting place in US history, since American demand for this particular car drove the establishment of a large grey market. The detuned, yet very expensive standard US specification 380 SE/SEL/SEC/SL was underpowered, according to contemporary reports, so 25,000 units per year of the parallel import vehicle were sold in the early 1980s. That prompted then Mercedes-Benz of North America to lobby for the elimination of parallel import in 1988.
Production totalled 818,036 units.
The W126 line was replaced by the W140 S-Class in 1991.
[] W140 1991
W140
1999 Mercedes-Benz S600
Production: 1991–1999
Engine: 3.2L 228 hp I6
4.2L 275 hp V8
5.0L 315 hp V8
6.0L 408 hp V12(1991-1993)
6.0L 389 hp V12(1994-1999)
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 3040 mm (120 in)
Length: 5113 mm (201 in)
Width: 1887 mm (74 in)
Height: 1486 mm (59 in)
Curb weight: 2032 kg (4480 lb (US))
Fuel economy: 26.40 gal.
See Mercedes-Benz W140 for complete details.
In 1991, Mercedes replaced the W126 S-Class with the W140. The very first W140 rolled off the assembly line on August 6, 1991.
Production totalled 406,532 units, the reduced total reflecting the inroads made by Lexus into the key US export market.
[] Design and engineering
As with its predecessor, the W140 was the first of the "next generation" of Mercedes-Benz models to feature the company's new design theme.
The W140 introduced new innovations such as double-pane window glazing, self-closing doors and boot lid, electric windows which lowered back down when encountering an obstruction, rear-parking markers which appeared on the rear wings and a heating system which emitted warm air even after the engine was turned off.
For details like this, the W140 is often known as the last Mercedes to be "overengineered," a Mercedes trait that was costing the company in product delays and overbudgeting. For the consumer, the W140 cost a considerable 25% more than its predecessor, the W126. In addition, the intense pressure from Infiniti and Lexus led to adding more features and options as to set the W140 apart from the rest and to justify the higher price.
The W140 was to feature air-suspension as an option, but Mercedes was still perfecting the technology and chose to launch air-suspension in the next generation S-Class in 2000.
The W140 coupé and sedan were each fitted with Electronic Stability Control following the mid-year facelift in 1997.
Like its predecessor, the car was available in two wheelbase lengths along with the shorter-wheelbased W140 coupé.
In 1992, A new 6L 408hp V12 engine joined the lineup for the first time with the 600SE, 600SEL and 600SEC. A "V12" badge was affixed to the C-pillar. In 1997, grille was redesigned on all V12 models.
In 1993, the 408hp V12 motor was slightly detuned to 389 hp to comply with tighter emission control regulations in the United States and Europe. The V8 models were tuned down from 322hp to 315hp.
In 1994, all Mercedes-Benz model names were rationalized, with the SE/SEL/SEC cars becoming the S-Class. The alphanumerical designations were inverted: for example the both 500SE and 500SEL became S500 regardless of wheelbase length.
The W140 S600 was available with a leather dashboard and a suede headliner, unlike the V8 and inline 6-cylinder models.
Following the new Mercedes-Benz tradition of mid-life facelifts (starting with the W126 in 1986), the W140 received a minor facelift in 1997. The clear turn signal indicator lenses on the front and rear were the most obvious changes. Headlamps were fitted with separate low and high beam reflectors.
[] W220 2000
W220
2006 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG
Production: 2000–2005
Engine: 2.8L 204hp V6
3.2L 224hp V6
3.2L 197hp I6 Diesel
3.7L 245hp V6
4.0L 250hp V8 Diesel
4.3L 279 hp V8
5.0L 306 hp V8
5.4L 493 hp V8
5.5L 367hp V12
5.5L 493 hp V12
6.3L 444hp V12
6.0L 604hp V12
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 121.5 in (3086 mm)
Length: 203.1 in (5159 mm)
Width: 73.0 in (1854 mm)
Height: 56.9 in (1445 mm)
Curb weight: 4139 lb (1877 kg)
Fuel economy: City: 16 mpg (US) (14.7 L/100 km); Highway 23 mpg (US)(10.2 L/100 km)
Fuel capacity: 23.2 gal (US)
See Mercedes-Benz W220 for complete details.
In late 1999, the completely restyled W220 S-Class was introduced. The W220 was slightly smaller and lighter than its predecessor.
Production totalled 485,000 units, slightly more than the production totals from the W140.
[] Style
Unlike its predecessor, the W220 was no longer the first model to feature the company's new design theme for the next generation of Mercedes-Benz. This honor was given to the A-Class launched in 1997. The new S-Class incorporated the new styling cues.
Despite being smaller, the new car offered more interior space than the W140. The dashboard carried over the new styling details first seen in the Mk I A-Class the year before.
[] Engineering
As with each new S-Class, the W220 brought in new innovations such as Airmatic air suspension and Active Ventilated seats (which use miniature fans in the seats to move air through perforations). Other options included keyless entry and ignition, a radar-controlled Distronic cruise control system and a cylinder shut-off system called Active Cylinder Control.
4MATIC all wheel drive was introduced to the North American S-Class for 2002.
[] Engines
The W220 was available with more engine options than the W126 or W140. The range started with smaller 3.2L 224hp V6 motor, which was superseded by an enlarged 3.7L 245hp V6 in S350.
The S430 was powered by a 4.3L 279hp V8 in S430 and the S500 was powered by a 5.0L 306hp V8. The S55 AMG was outfitted with a supercharged 5.4L 493hp V8 motor. The S600 was outfitted with a 5.5L 493hp V12 twin turbo engine.
For one month in 2001, AMG produced S63 AMG, which was sold in very limited numbers. The S63 was powered by a 6.3L 444hp V12. An undisclosed number of were sold exclusively through AMG in European and Asian markets.
The S65 AMG was introduced in 2005. Powered by a 6.0L 612hp V12 twin turbo motor, the S65 was the most powerful S-Class, as well as the world's most powerful five-seat sedan.
|
