S65 AMG

The S65 AMG is a high performance version of the S-Class. It uses a Twin-Turbocharged 6Litre V12 engine capable of producing 612hp with Torque limited to 1000lb/ft. Even weighing 2250kg, the S65 can hit 100km/h in 4.4 seconds. Impressive. Apart from superb performance, styling has also changed. AMG 20" alloys are standard. The front air dam is also fabulous. Aggressive and aerodynamic. The rear is equally brilliant. A diffuser style bumper along with quad exhaust pipes. The interior is also modified. Standard upholstery is the finest Exclusive Passion Leather. Extended wood trim is also standard. Underneath the armrest, wood inserts are added. On the plate covering the telephone keypad, wood also replaces the leather. Dynamic Multicontour seats have air chambers that inflate in certain positions while cornering. This makes sure that you stay in your seat while sitting comfortably. AMG badges are everywhere along with a sports steering wheel, speedshift tabs, race timer and drilled through pedals are all standard. The S65 AMG is one fabulous machine. However, you will need to prepare a good $200, 000 to get one.

S63 AMG

The Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG is a high-performance luxury sedan. It is based on the it's brother, the S65 AMG. However, it has a less powerful engine. The S63 uses a 6.2Litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine capable of producing 518hp and 465lb/ft of torque. With the help of the AMG Speedshift transmission, the S63 is capable of reaching 100km/h in 4.6 seconds. Exterior styling is similar to the S65. The interior has the extended wood trim underneath the armrest and the telephone keypad cover. Standard upholstery is AMG Passion leather. Perforated to be heated and cooled. You can fetch an S63 with a price a little over that of the S550. The S63 is a high-performance alternative to the way-expensive S65 AMG

W221 S-Class Sedan(Current)

The W221 is the replacement for the W220 S-Class Sedan. Production of the W221 first began in late 2005, selling 2006 models. The new S-Class was larger in all dimensions to accommodate new safety features and also to provide more interior space for the passengers.
The exterior styling was a big change from the previous S-Class. Gone were the smooth, fluidic curves. Now, there are sharp lines and creases on the body. Also, huge wheel arches gives the W221 an aggressive stance. The front is a large, one piece headlamp cover, housing the Bi-Xenon lights. A huge air dam on the bumper sucks in air like a monster. Above that is an elegant grille; adorned with chrome with the Mercedes-Benz Tri-Star on the bonnet. The rear end is developed from the Maybach rear. The S-Class also features the Bangle-Butt. Tastefully elegant, yet aggressive. The huge wheel arches, the creases and the sharp edges gives the W221 a powerful, aggressive, yet elegant look. Once someone arrives in an S-Class, an aura of prestige surrounds him. The S-Class just has that stance.
You just finish attending a ball. You step out of the entrance with your beautiful lady. You then see your chauffeur bring your other beautiful babe, the S-Class. Others stare at you in awe, but that doesn't matter. The door opens and courtesy lighting floods from the cabin and the doors. The car emits a soft, warm glow to welcome you on the car. You step inside and sit on the seat. You pull the door a slight bit and then it closes. You admire the incredible lightness of the door. Meanwhile, as soon as the door closes, a stream of fibre-optic ambient lighting surrounds the cabin. It just creates that nice surrounding feel. Also, a warm glow appears on the footwell to make sure you can see around the car while not distracting the driver. The gleaming wood trim then catches your eye. The wood trim is based on the W220. However, with the new COMAND APS system, the two-tone dashboard is completely clean. The display screen housed at the top, the air conditioning vents, elegant air conditioning controls and that's it. That's all you see. All you see is the the wide blade of wood streaming across the dash and into the door panels. You feel like changing CDs, no problem. You push a small tab on the dash and out pops the CD-Changer. If you want to adjust your seat, just push a button and the electronics do the rest. The seats are heated and ventilated. Also, available are dynamic multicontour seats. Air cushions inflate to the direction where the car is turning to provide extra support. Massage function is also featured. The rear passengers are also pampered. An optional, Executive Rear Seating package allows passengers to have their own powered seats, ventilated and heated with massage function. Also, it splits seating into 2+2, separating the rear bench with a beautiful centre console. A rear entertainment system is also available. Four types of leathers are offered: Premium Leather, AMG Passion Leather featured on the S63 AMG, Exlusive Passion Leather featured on the S600 and AMG Exclusive Passion Leather featured on the S65 AMG.
Tons of new technology is featured on this S-Class. Never had night vision been used on a car. The Night View Assist system uses an infrared camera and projects the image onto the COMAND APS screen. This allows the driver of the S-Class to see in the dark. The Distronic system featured on the previous S-Class is now newly improved into the Distronic Plus. Distronic Plus not only tells you the distance inbetween two vehicles, it also slows the car into a complete stop. Systems on previous S-Class vehicles such as ESP(Electronic Stability Program), Brake Assist Plus, ABS(Antilock Brake System) and Surrounding Airbags as a standard. The newest safety concept featured on the S-Class is Pro-Safe. This is composed of 4 parts: Perform-Safe, Pre-Safe, Passive Safe, Post Safe. Perform-Safe helps you to drive safely. This includes features such as ABS, ESP, Brake Assist Plus, Distronic Plus, Night View Assist, Bi-Xenon Lights with cornering function, Adaptive Brake lights, COMAND APS and Multicontour seats. Pre-Safe operates on the few critical seconds before collision. It has features such as seat belt pretensioners and windows are automatically closed. Also, the seats and headrests are moved to put occupants in the safest position. The air chambers in the seats are inflated to provide more support. All these features best prepares the occupants for the upcoming collision. Passive-Safe protects the occupants during the crash. Adaptive Restraint System has sensors that detect the severity of the crash and provide passengers with the necessary protection. Sensors in the door panels sense compression and will response by moving the passenger to the safest location. With the rigidity of the passenger cell, the cell remains intact in a crash and also provides maximum protection if the car rolls over. The smooth surfaces of the car also provides more protection for other road users. Post-Safe protects the occupants after a collision. The engine is automatically switched off and fuel is cut off from the engine. This prevents a fire. Hazard warning lights are also automatically activated to prevent other road users from crashing into the vehicle. The doors are automatically unlocked to help rescue the occupants faster. Also, when air is needed, windows are automatically lowered to improve air circulation. After a collision, marks on the windscreen and rear window appear to guide rescue personnel on cutting the A and C pillars more easily. This helps them to rescue the occupants more quickly. Finally, a rescue guide developed by Mercedes-Benz helps rescue more effectively. Therefore, with Pro-Safe, Mercedes-Benz protects the occupants as best as they can be protected.
The W221 also features very advanced drivetrain systems designed to provide maximum comfort, convenience, safety and performance. Standard gearshift is the 7G-TRONIC 7-Speed automatic transmission. On the S600 and the S65 AMG, AMG Speedshift is used(5-Speed automatic). Featured on all S-Class models up to the S500(S550) is the Airmatic DC air suspension. On higher models, an adaptive suspension known as Active Body Control is used. The W221 is featured with a variety of engines and chassis. This chart should help you understand the different displacements.

S320CDI 3Litre V6 Diesel
S420CDI 4Litre V8 Diesel
S280(Asia Only) 3Litre V6
S350 3.5Litre V6
S350L 3.5Litre V6
S450 4.6Litre V8
S450L 4.6Litre V8
S500(S550) 5.5Litre V8
S500L(S550L) 5.5Litre V8
S600 5.5Litre V12
S600L 5.5Litre V12
S63 AMG AMG 6.2Litre V8
S65 AMG AMG 6Litre V12 Biturbo

These various engines allow Mercedes-Benz customers to have a large selection of different power outputs. For those seeking more exclusivity, there is Designo. Designo allows you to personalize your vehicle with unique paint schemes, exotic interior trims and exclusive interior colour combinations. Another variation is the S-Guard. The S-Guard is based on the standard S600 but with armour plating. The S-Guard has an International protection rating of B6/B7, providing protection against military rifles and explosives. With all these individuality options, who wouldn't choose Mercedes-Benz? Every Mercedes-Benz vehicle suits our own individual needs. This S-Class is truly amazing. It has lived up the legend and is the current holder of the throne. The question is, will it's heir live up to this name? No one knows.... yet.

W220 S-Class Sedan

The successor of the W140 was the W220 S-Class sedan. This replacement came in 2000. Whenever an S-Class is introduced, everyone is dazzled. The W220 was no exception. It looked fresh. It was a completely new design. Some even considered it "un-Mercedes like". People were not used to such a fresh idea from one of the oldest and most traditional car manufacturers.
The design of the W220 S-Class was a whole new concept. The S-Class was no longer big and chunky. It has been tamed and refined. Exterior dimensions were smaller in all ways. However, the interior offered more interior space thanks to the new space saving concepts. No longer did the S-Class have the once elegant, angular lines. The exterior was curvy and fluidic; from the headlights to the body to the bumpers. The W220 offered a new level of elegance. All the shapes of the car linked together gave the feeling of flow. Flow is the feeling you get when you look at a car and the front just flows; connects to the rear. This gives the car a lighter, younger and fresher look.
The interior also showed signs of elegance and fluidity. Once you step into the front seats, a sweeping strip of wood on the dashboard catches your eye. You then look at the extensive details of the interior. Below the gleaming wood trim is the newly developed COMAND APS. The COMAND APS has GPS, the audio system, the radio and controls many other features in the car. All these features housed in the centre console are surrounded by beautiful wood inlays. You then feel around you and find yourself indulged in soft leather upholstery. However, their is a disappointing side of the car. The top of the dash is not covered in leather. It is merely textured plastic. Also, the controls and keys are hard plastic. Many are also disappointed about the wood trim on the door panels. However, as a whole, it's still nice. The W220 still had it's gadgets. For example, automatic closing doors. We all know that the doors on full-size luxury sedans can be quite heavy. With automatic closing doors, you merely have to pull a bit and the electronics does the rest for you. Powered seats were standard on all models. Memory seats are optional for base models and standard for higher models. Multicontour seats with massage function is also optional.
Many safety enhancements have been made to the w220. PreSafe braces the occupants of the vehicle for the collision. Seat position is raised, head restraints are moved to absorb the impact, also, seat belts are tightened. Curtain airbags are standard. Also featured were LED lamps. LED lights take less time to light up than conventional bulbs. This allows other drivers to notice the vehicle. Featured for the first time is Distronic. Distronic is a electronic system to keep a safe distance between two vehicles. Parktronic shows guidelines for the driver during reverse. Available as an option was Linguatronic. Linguatronic allows the driver to give commands to the car through speech. Xenon headlights are standard on early vehicles. On later models, opaque headlamp covers were replaced by clear covers. The Xenon lights were replaced by Bi-Xenons. Bi-Xenon headlights swivel to the turning direction. This allows greater visibility during cornering at night.
A new suspension was developed for the W220 S-Class sedan. An air suspension, Airmatic, was developed for the W220. This is combined with ADS(Adaptive Dampening System). This allows suspension to stiffen during turns and provide a soft, comfortable ride during straight stretches. 3 driving modes are available, Comfort, Standard, Sport. The W220's ride height could also be adjusted for suiting different terrains. Various engines were offered. This chart should help you understand the different engines.

S320 CDI 3.2Litre Inline-6 Diesel
S420 CDI 4.2Litre V8 Diesel
S280 2.8litre V6
S320 3.2Litre V6
S350 3.7Litre V6
S430 4.3Litre V8
S500 5Litre V8
S600 5.5Litre V12
S55 AMG 5.5Litre V8 Supercharged

During 2001, an S63 AMG was produced in limited numbers. It used a 6.3Litre naturally aspirated V12. In 2005, an S65 AMG was produced. It used a 6Litre V12 Biturbo producing a staggering 612hp. Throughout it's reign the W220 S-Class has been criticized for build quality and reliability. The name of Mercedes-Benz and the S-Class was severely damaged. However, the W220 was replaced by the W221 in 2006. The W221 S-Class would redeem the name of the legendary S-Class.

W140 S-Class Sedan

The replacement, the W140 was first introduced in 1991. This was a time of change. Mercedes-Benz decided to use the letter first naming scheme. For example: a 500SE would now be named S500. A 500SEL would now be called S500L. This change first started with the S-Class and then progressed to other models.
The design of the W140 was quite different than it's predecessor. It was long awaited. The W126 was in production for 12 years. People wanted a new design. The W140 was the answer. The design was fresh and new. The car was smooth and elegant, while retaining the prestige of Mercedes-Benz. The front was no longer vertical and upright. The grille and the headlights now slanted. On top was the Mercedes-Benz TriStar. The rear headlights were enlarged. This new car offered supreme elegance and prestige. Chrome was kept to a minimum. It only highlighted the grille, the bumpers, the door handles, the windows and the headlights. Also, thin narrow strips highlight the body panels. With smooth body panels and thin bits of chrome, supreme elegance is achieved.
The interior is also brilliant. No longer was velvet popular. Leather dominated all the luxury car interiors. All the S-Class models have leather upholstery as standard. All the surfaces were covered in leather. Strips of wood trim surrounded the interior. Dual-Zone Automatic climate control is standard on all S-Class vehicles. A Bose sound system is available as an option on base models and is standard on the S600. A suede headliner is also available on the S600. Comfort is enhanced by double pane window glass. This glass has improved soundproofing capabilities. Also, this provides numerous insulation benefits. Orthopedic seating, also known as multicontour seats. However, this was an expensive option. Another standard feature was reclining and heated rear seats.
The W140 featured BAS(Brake Assist System). This system allowed for greater brake power. With BAS, break distance was shortened than other vehicles without BAS. Also available as an option was ESP(Electronic Stability Program). This new addition allowed better control over wet surfaces, ice and mud/dirt. Since first introduced, ESP has saved many people's lives, especially on hostile winter conditioned. A new standard feature was ASR(Acceleration Slip Regulation). ASR prevents wheelspin during acceleration. Another addition was side airbags. When a collision occurs, airbags from the side drop like curtains. With these airbags, occupants are better protected against side collisions as well as parts and debris broken off during the crash. Early vehicles were equiped with guide rods that extend when parking. These markers aid the driver in making rear maneuvers.
The W140 received a new suspension system. It uses a double wishbone front axle. Meanwhile, it uses a multi-link independent rear suspension. This suspension aids the car in comfort and handling. Again, 7 engines are available in either long or short wheelbase models. This chart will help you understand the litrage of the engines and their correspondent amount of cylinders.

S300 CDI 3Litre Inline-6 Diesel
S340 CDI 3.4Litre Inline-6 Diesel
S280 2.8Litre Inline-6
320 3.2Litre Inline-6
S320L 3.2Litre Inline-6
S420 4.2Litre V8
S420L 4.2Litre V8
S500 5Litre V8
S500L 5Litre V8
S600 6Litre V12
S600L 6Litre V12

This was the first car in which Mercedes-Benz used a V12 engine. This 6Litre V12 was special, newly created just for the new line of vehicles. This S-Class has again revolutionized the car industry with new technologies and design trends. After an eight year production, the S-Class was replaced by the W220 S-Class in the year 1999.

W126 S-Class Sedan

The replacement for the W116 was the W126 S-Class sedan. This car was produced from 1979 to 1991. The W126 was an effort to create a sedan sleeker, lighter and faster than it's predecessor. With the help of lighter alloys and wind tunnel testing, the W126 is capable of attaining 250km/h and also save 10% of fuel. The exterior was quite different from it's predecessor. The W126 was sleeker and seemed to have a lower ride height. The one-piece headlights on the W116 were also used on the W126. However, The exterior chroming was gone. No longer were there chrome bumpers or long chrome strips. Bumpers and body panels were now body coloured. The body panels were visually aligned, meaning they were smooth and even, instead of the traditional creases. There were still bits of chrome to highlight the exterior, such as the grille, the bumper, the windows, etc. The use of chrome is limited to highlighting small bits instead of whole, chrome bumpers. The shape of the S-Class was pioneered and developed from the W216.
The W216 featured a brilliant interior. There was a sweeping strip of wood inserted in the dash. In the centre are two air conditioning vents. Beneath the vents are is the centre console, containing all the controls. Within the centre console are the controls for the air conditioning and the radio/audio system. Also featured is a telephone. On all models, a fully automatic dual-zone climate control is standard. Also standard were courtesy lights. Eight-way power adjustable front seats with memory function are standard on all models. Heated front seats are standard on the 560SEL and are optional on the other models. On flagship 500SEL and 560SEL models, a two-way powered rear bench seat is standard. An optional feature was individual, powered seats in the rear with a centre console in the rear, adorned with wood and equiped with luxury amenities. This allowed for executive 2+2 seating.
We always say safety first. Mercedes-Benz is definately a safety first. The W126 S-Class sedan was the first car in the world to feature airbags. However, due to high costs, airbags were optional. Another new feature was Traction Control. Traction Control allows the car to prevent wheelspin during skidding. With Traction Control, performance on icy and wet roads is improved. Seat belt pretensioners are also fitted for the first time. Seat belt pretensioners tighten the seatbelts before a collision, therefore, bracing the occupants for the upcoming crash. Features such as ABS was optional for all models except the 560SEL. All these pioneered safety equipment would save many people's lives in the years to come.
The W126 sedans used an automatic 4-Speed transmission. Suspension was the self-leveling pneumatic suspension used on the 450SEL 6.9. A new feature was cruise control. Cruise control enables the driver to set a constant speed and the car electronically controls throttle to maintain the speed. 7 engines have been offered in short and long wheelbase versions of the W126. This chart shows the various engines used.


300SDL 3Litre Inline-6 Diesel
350SD 3.5Litre Inline-6 Diesel
350SDL 3.5Litre Inline-6 Diesel
260SE 2.6Litre Inline-6
300SE 3Litre Inline-6
300SEL 3Litre Inline-6
420SE 4.2Litre V8
420SEL 4.2Litre V8
500SE 5Litre V8
500SEL 5Litre V8
560SE 5.6Litre V8
560SEL 5.6Litre V8

This S-Class was in production for 12years from 1979-1991. Throughout it's 12year debut, 892,123 units were sold, making it the most popular S-Class ever. Also, 12 years of production is the longest for any S-Class. The W126 is definately a great milestone in history of automobiles. It's certainly one of the most influential cars in history. The legacy of the S-Class then continues with the W140.

W116 S-Class Sedan

The W116 was the replacement for the W108/W109. It was produced in 1972-1980. The W116 was given a new name, the S-Class. The W116 featured elegant exterior styling. The grille expanded sideways. The headlights formed a large single piece at the front. A long strip of chrome highlights the side of the vehicle. Chrome also highlights the window edges and the wheel fenders. All the special details are highlighted in chrome. The car is painted in a glossy coat of paint. Where paint wasn't as unique in previous cars, the W116 featured glossy paint, a very rare feature at it's time. Many cars were lucky enough to receive any paint. Varnish was pure fantasy.
The interior was also 'the best'. Soft supple leather or luxurious velvet pampered the occupants of the W116 S-Class. A broad sweep of wood trim highlighted the dash. The dash was heavily padded to help cushion the impact in the event of a crash. These were the predecessors of the airbag. In the centre console housed the audio/radio system and the air conditioning system. The areas in the centre console not covered by tools or switches were covered with wood. Where there is an absence of wood, leather takes it's place.
New technology had been fitted onto the car. ABS(Antilock Brake System) is first fitted onto a car. A pioneer by Mercedes-Benz. By preventing the wheels from locking, the car doesn't skid, therefore shortening the brake distance. The passenger cell has been strengthened so that in the event of a crash, the crumple zones will crumple while the passenger cell does not flex. The fuel tank has been moved from the rear end to the rear axle to help protect it during a crash. Wraparound turn signals help other drivers to locate the car more quickly and easily and make necessary decisions earlier.
Various engines were offered including a special edition, 6.9Litre V8. However, this was at the time of the Oil Crisis. A 6.9Litre engine does not have a low fuel consumption, but this did not affect it. The 6.9 seemed so attractive. It was big, muscular, beefy, muscular, powerful, whatever way you wish to describe it, it sold well. Someone once said that he heard a 450SEL 6.9's engine roaring and thought it was a Ferrari passing by.

280S 2.8Litre Inline-6
280SE 2.8Litre Inline-6
280SE 2.8Litre Inline-6
350SE 3.5Litre V8
350SEL 3.5Litre V8
450SE 4.5Litre V8
450SEL 4.5Litre V8
450SEL6.9 6.9Litre V8
300SD 3Litre Inline-5 Turbodiesel

The 450SEL 6.9 was a Special Edition variant of the standard 450SEL models. It was designed to be a high-performance luxury sedan. The car featured hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension system. It uses fluid filled struts and nitrogen filled pressure vessels. Where normal suspensions used a dampener and coil, in this special suspension, shocks were absorbed by the use of a hydraulic pump. Ride height could also be altered by pumping in hydraulic fluid or releasing it. This fluid was stored in a tank near the engine. Ride height could be adjusted by 50mm. This suspension allowed the car to have exceptionally nimble handling while retaining a superb ride. The automatic suspension was specially designed for the 6.9. A limited slip differential also improved handling. Limited slip differentials are usually only found in high performance sports cars. The SOHC(Single Over Head Camshaft) V8 engine was the best at it's time. It featured the latest fuel injection from Bosch. Also, the whole structure was made out of alloys, making it light and efficient. The engine, codenamed M-100 also featured a dry-sump lubricant. Dry-sump lubricants are only found in sports cars/supercars. This high-performance engine could have definately been fitted onto a sports car. On the racetrack, test driver said that handling was amazingly easy. The ride however, was so comfortable that he opened the sunroof and turned on the radio. The downside is that the 450SEL 6.9 was quite expensive. The most expensive Cadillac and a Full-Size Fleetwood Series Seventy-Five limousine cost around $16,000 each. The price of the 450SEL 6.9 was around $40,000. This was more expensive than most Rolls-Royce's at it's time. In the later years, 6.9s were sold for $53,000 each. The 450SEL 6.9 is indeed a very special vehicle.
The W116 S-Class Sedan is/was/will continue to be truly amazing. It's a legend, a legacy of Mercedes-Benz. The 450SEL 6.9, a very special car will always have a very special place in our hearts even if it doesn't have a place in my garage. The legacy of the S-Class continues.

variety of engines were offered. The name corresponded to the engine size. The 280SE and the 280SEL featured an Inline-6 engine. The other engines were V8s. There was the 350SE, 350SEL, 450SE, 450SEL and a special 450SEL 6.9 featuring a 6.9Litre engine. Also featured for the USA and Canada was a 3Litre Diesel engine. This S-Class featured many technological advancements. It pioneered the ABS, a strengthened passenger compartment, interior safety features such as impact cushions(the predecessor of airbags) and wraparound turn signals so that other drivers can notice the car more easily. The S-Class was definately the most advanced car of it's era.

W108/W109 S-Class Sedan

The W108/W109 was produced in 1965-1972. This was the successor of the W111 S-Class also known as the 220 series. W108 stood for short wheelbase. W109 was the chassis for the long wheelbase version. The exterior was refined. No longer were fins attached. The rear was cleanly shaped into an elegant, angular design. Again, a strip of chrome running on the side of the body enhances elegance. Instead of the one-piece headlamp used by the W111, Mercedes-Benz decided to use 3 on each side, not including the turning signal lamp. Some models retained the single-piece headlamp. However, the W108/W109 still does not resemble the current S-Class sedans.
The interior was stunning at it's time. It's still very nice nowadays. It had a sweeping dashboard of wood trim. In the centre of the console are the controls for the audio/radio system and the air conditioning. Beneath that are the air conditioning vents. To the right is a glove box, nicely fitting into the interior. Then, a round air vent to the right also releases a stream of warm or cool air. To enhance elegance, another sweeping piece of wood, close to the windscreen was fitted. A straight, long piece of wood, highlighted with chrome is inserted on the door panel. Glove soft leather or silky velvet can be felt all over the car. Bench style seats are chosen for the rear. A very rare luxury has been added on the first time on any car, powered windows.
Various engines were offered on the W108/W109. Reading this chart will help you understand the Chassis, the engine and the corresponding name.

W108
250S 2.5Litre Inline-6
250SE 2.5Litre Inline-6
300SEB 3Litre Inline-6
280S 2.8Litre Inline-6
280SEL 2.8Litre Inline-6
280SE 3.5 3.5Litre V8
280SEL 3.5 3.5Litre V8
280SE 4.5 4.5Litre V8
280SEL 4.5 4.5Litre V8

W109
300SEL 3Litre V8
300SEL 3.5 3.5Litre V8
300SEL 4.5 4.5Litre V8
300SEL 6.3 6.3Litre V8

The W108/W109 were the S-Class sedans that really brought up the name of Mercedes-Benz. Many competitors at it's time such as Lancia, Rover and Vauxhall would eventually die out. Others, such as BMW had not even joined the fight yet. However, Mercedes would always stay strong. It's next successor, the W116 is the S-Class sedan where the design starts to resemble the more recent generations.

W111 S-Class Sedan

The W111 was produced in 1959-1968. This car was the successor of the W128 S-Class. This car was designated a new name, Fintail. The name Fintail was acquired due to the small fins Mercedes-Benz added to the tail of the vehicle. These little fins, some say, were designed to appeal to the American market. At that time, the American cars featured huge tailfins. The headlights were changed to form a one-piece headlight. A strip of chrome runs along the side of the car, giving the vehicle flow and elegance. Every little detail of the car was highlighted in chrome, the door handles, grille, bumpers, the edge of windows, mirrors, etc.
The interior was also changed. The dashboard was refined. A sweeping piece of wood tapered at the sides. A sound system and radio was offered. Beside the radio/audio was an analog clock, beautifully elegant. To the left was the driver's display. Very different from what we see today. On top of the dash, unlike it's predecessor, is leather. underneath, it's also leather. Then, a sweeping blade of wood trim, close to the windscreen finishes the elegance. The car is fully upholstered in either leather or velvet. In those days, velvet upholstery was extremely popular. It was regarded as "more prestigious" than leather.
The W111 featured a great technological advancement, crumple zones. This was the work of the brainchild, Bela Barenyi. The front of the car was designed to crumple and absorb the impact of a collision. This would prove to be a very useful safety feature in cars. Also new, were disc brakes. Vehicles before the W111 used drum brakes. These brakes only enabled a vehicle to drag slowly into a stop. With disc brakes, a much quicker stop can be obtained, therefore improving safety and usage of the vehicle. Another new feature was an air suspension. By using air, a very comfortable ride can be obtained.
Throughout the production of the W111, different names were given.
The First Series:
220B 2.2Litre Inline-6
220SB 2.2Litre Inline-6
220SEB 2.2Litre Inline-6
300SE 3Litre Inline-6
300SEL 3Litre Inline-6

Second Series:
230S 2.3Litre Inline-6
250SE 2.5Litre Inline-6
280SE 2.8Litre Inline-6
280SE 3.5 3.5Litre Inline-6
300SE 3Litre Inline-6

The W111 Sedan was a next step up for the S-Class. The 300SE with the W111 Chassis would form the next S-Class sedan, the W108.

W128 S-Class Sedan

The W128 was produced in 1958-1959. The W128 was the last S-Class sedan to be named Ponton. It's official name is the 220SE. It was basically a refined version of it's predecessor, the W180. The "E" has been added on after the "S" signifying "Fuel injection". The exterior remained the same as the W180.
Interior also remained the same as the previous S-Class, the wood, leather/velvet and chrome.
Technology, however, changed. This car featured the latest technology. New features included aluminium cylinder heads. Aluminium being a lighter and stronger metal helped increase efficiency of the engine. For the first time, overhead camshafts were used, therefore making the first SOHC(Single Over Head Camshaft) engine. The big improvement, however, was fuel injection. All the cars previously used a carburetor. A carburetor is a tank where fuel and oxygen is mixed before spraying it into the cylinders. Fuel injection is done by squirting a high-pressure jet of fuel into the cylinder. By doing this, fuel efficiency is improved. Also, more power is produced by an engine of the same displacement. Another new feature was the Automatic Clutch. Previously, Clutches were complicated and hard to operate. With the automatic clutch, all the driver has to do is release the fuel pedal, step on the clutch, shift the gear, release the clutch and step on the fuel again. This feature helped drivers greatly.The W128 kept the 2.2Litre Inline-6 engine of it's predecessor. However, more power was produced. Although visually the same as the W180, the W128 is a great technological advancement. Another step forward for the S-Class.