BUSINESS MONDAY, MAY 23, 2016 20 legendary models over 112 years Mercedes-Benz S-Class - the pinnacle of automotive engineering Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. Mercedes-Benz S-Class. living legend that’s never gone out of December 1951, and from that point on was and provided proud owners not only with the 2013 size as well as from standard equipment that fashion: ever since the beginnings of only ever to be seen being chauffeured ultimate in comfort and luxurious appointments Mercedes-Benz S-Class includes executive seats on both left and right, Aautomotive history, the top models around in a “three hundred” model. but also sports car-like performance. 222 series, from 2013 innovative voice amplification and the extend- from Mercedes-Benz have been the most well- At the time of its appearance at the first IAA The best car in the world - each generation ed rear trim elements with ambient lighting. In known and renowned embodiments of the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in April 1972 of the S-Class has earned itself this epithet the rear, the Mercedes Maybach S-Class is also fine art of automotive engineering. With their 1951, six years after the end of the Second Mercedes-Benz S-Class anew. Consequently, “perfection down to the the world’s quietest production saloon vehicle. trailblazing innovations, they have set new World War, the “three hundred” stood, like no 116 series, 1972 - 1980 last detail” was the tall order for the develop- benchmarks for the development of passen- other model, for Germany’s return to the inter- In 1972 the luxury class saloons with which ment of the model series. 2015 ger cars as a whole. This living tradition has national automotive market. Mercedes-Benz had been setting standards for The luxury saloon has combined first-class Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet continued with the introduction of new S- It not only served as a representative car for decades were officially given a name. driving and responsibility to the highest stan- A217 series, from 2015 Class models over the last three years, which the world of politics and finance, it was also a The new 116-series S-Class featured a com- dard since the summer of 2013. The First Class Mercedes-Benz is presenting a superlative will carry the illustrious “S-Class” cachet into comfortable and luxurious touring saloon. prehensive safety concept including a fuel Fond transforms the S-Class into a comfortable dream car in the guise of the S 63 4MATIC the future. tank fitted over the rear axle and protected office, while the ENERGIZING massage function Cabriolet. For the first time in its 48-year history, 1951 against collisions, a four-spoke safety steering provides an ideal opportunity to indulge in a Mercedes-Benz’s sports car and high-perfor- 1903 Mercedes-Benz 220 wheel, side windows designed to minimise the spot of pure comfort. mance brand has introduced a four-seater 60 hp Mercedes-Simplex W 187, 1951 - 1954 build-up of dirt, large headlamps, conspicuous Numerous innovative and optimised driv- Cabriolet in the S-Class segment, adding anoth- 1903 - 1905 Alongside the spectacular 300 model, indicators and ribbed tail lights also designed ing assistance systems which have been sum- er head-turning model to its flagship range. The 60 hp Mercedes-Simplex is an early Mercedes-Benz presented a second luxury to minimise dirt build-up. marised under the name “Mercedes-Benz Appealing to automobile enthusiasts with a example of the unique luxury class tradition of segment model at the first Frankfurt In 1978, the S-Class became the world’s first Intelligent Drive” combine comfort with safety penchant for performance and luxury, the new Mercedes-Benz. The spacious, luxurious tour- International Motor Show in 1951: the 220 series production vehicle to become available to open up a new dimension of motoring. model also offers its driver and up to three pas- ing saloon dating back to 1904 once be- model, which also featured a cutting-edge six- with the ABS anti-lock braking system, sengers space to travel in style. Its high-calibre longed to Emil Jellinek, the father of Mercedes cylinder engine. designed to help retain steering control even 2014 statistics: 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine with an Jellinek, after whom the brand was named. While the more compact, less powerful 220 under full brake application. At the time a Mercedes-Benz S-Class CoupÈ output of 430 kW (585 hp) and peak torque of The fact that the car was designed to be model (W 187) may not have caused quite as worldwide sensation, ABS is now standard C217 series, from 2014 900 Nm, AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel driven by a chauffeur is also reflected in the much of a stir as its big brother, it nevertheless across the automotive industry. Xx series, from 2014 drive with rear-biased torque split as standard, interior appointments: the passengers were proved highly popular among customers. Its Stylistically self-assured presence, exclusive acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds seated in the rear on the finest brocade fabric, impressive performance moved the trade press 1979 appointments and refined sportiness - the new and a high-performance composite brake sys- while the driver’s bench seat was covered in to speak of its “sports car credentials”, while its Mercedes-Benz S-Class S-Class CoupÈ from Mercedes-Benz combines tem for optimum deceleration. hard-wearing leather. handling characteristics were deemed to match 126 series, 1979 - 1991 the classic proportions of a large, sporty coupÈ The 60 hp Mercedes-Simplex followed the comfort with safety in equal proportions. The In 1979 the 126-series S-Class impressed with modern luxury and pioneering technolo- 2015 design of the 35 hp Mercedes, the develop- lush interior also contributed to the popularity with its aerodynamically enhanced shape and gy. The breathtaking two-door coupÈ can be Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Pullman ment of which had been stimulated by Jellinek of this luxury segment model. systematic weight reduction through the use optionally equipped with the MAGIC BODY X222 series, from 2015 in 1900. To the present day, this first vehicle to of elements such as the new light-alloy V8 CONTROL suspension system with curve tilting The new Mercedes-Maybach Pullman, is the bear the Mercedes name is regarded as the 1954 engines. The model series 126 also set the function. Additional technical highlights are second model from the Mercedes-Maybach’s first modern car. Mercedes-Benz 220/220 S/220 SE trend in terms of its design: it was the first the head-up display and the touch pad feature. ultra-luxurious family of cars. The top-of-the- W 180/W 128, 1954 - 1959 Mercedes-Benz passenger car to do away with Optionally available expressive LED High range vehicle, with its face-to-face seating in 1928 Introduced in the spring of 1954, the type the traditional chrome bumpers in favour of Performance headlamps, each featuring 47 the partitioned-off passenger compartment, Mercedes-Benz N¸rburg 220, also known internally as the 220 a (W deformable plastic ones built to withstand a Swarovski crystals, produce a uniquely striking stands as a proud example of the high-end W 08, 1928 - 1939 180), was the first Mercedes-Benz six-cylinder “parking dent”. appearance. Extremely low wind noise was a automotive luxury traditionally associated with The N¸rburg 460 (W 08) made its debut in model with a unitised body design. Its ultra- The airbag, now a key component of auto- declared objective when developing the S- Maybach. 1928 as the first series production Mercedes- modern, spacious “ponton” body, which motive safety, made its debut in 1981, in the Class CoupÈ, with the aeroacoustics experts Many governments, heads of state and roy- Benz to feature an eight-cylinder engine. Its Mercedes-Benz had presented just six months model series 126, which had been launched implementing form optimisation measures as al families around the world have for decades model designation “N¸rburg” was derived from earlier in the mid- range 180 model, offered two years earlier. The driver’s airbag was ini- early as the design phase. Achieving success, chosen Mercedes-Benz saloons with the desig- the N¸rburgring circuit, which had been previously unheard of levels of comfort. tially combined with a pyrotechnic belt ten- the S-Class CoupÈ is the world’s quietest series- nation “Pullman” to drive them with the glory opened just a year earlier. The background to Safe handling was guaranteed by the sioner for the front passenger. From 1988, production car in terms of wind noise. and style befitting their status. With its new it being given this name comes from a spec- single-joint swing axle, which was intro- Mercedes-Benz also offered its customers a model, the company is now extending its tacular endurance test in which a 460 model duced into series production in the 220 front passenger airbag. 2015 unique position in this demanding segment. covered some 20,000 kilometres over 13 days model. With the launch of the overhauled Mercedes-Maybach S-Class 600 Its length of 6.50 metres is a sign of the spe- of driving at the N¸rburgring. and more powerful type 220 S in1956, the 1991 X222 series, from 2015 cial status of the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman. Built at the Mannheim plant, the luxury “S” designation became a permanent fix- Mercedes-Benz S-Class With the name Mercedes-Maybach, the Providing appropriate space for the tasteful class model was continually enhanced from ture in the names of high-end Mercedes- 140 series, 1991 - 1998 brand represented by the three-pointed star club lounge in the rear, a multitude of superior the outset.