Mercedes Looks Back on S-Class Luxury After New Generation Debut

MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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33 videos
announced the newest generation S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-ClassGermany, 1972 > present6 series
293 versions
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on Wednesday, and it has been looking back on the innovations of the S-Class for the last several weeks. Its latest focus is on the progress that the S-Class has made in passenger comfort. 

While the S-Class was not officially introduced until the 1956 220SMercedes-Benz 220 SGermany, 1956 > 19591 photo
, the concept of luxury Mercedes models goes back to the Mercedes-Simplex 60hp from 1903. The first car was created for Emil Jellinek, an early funder of the company. He mounted a four-seat body that would be comfortable for long distances to a Mercedes chassis. 

After World War II, Mercedes introduced the Type 300Mercedes-Benz Type 300 Gen.1Germany, 1951 > 195712 versions
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, another spiritual successor to the S-Class. The cars were nicknamed the Adenauer because West German Prime Minister Konrad Adenauer was especially fond of them.

The 1956 220S and 220SEMercedes-Benz 220 SEGermany, 1958 > 19592 photos
were the first Mercedes to carry the S badge that we know today. The cars were novel for their time because the passenger compartment and drivetrain sat on separate subframes, which isolated passengers from the vibration of the engine. A few years later Mercedes took isolation of the passenger cell even further with air suspension on the W112Mercedes-Benz 220 Gen.4Germany, 1959 > 19656 versions
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chassis in 1963 and self-leveling hydro-pneumatic suspension in 1975. Today, technology like adaptive damping and active body control are relatively common, but Mercedes introduced the on the W140Mercedes-Benz S-Class Gen.3 [W 140/ V 140]Germany, 1991 > 199844 versions
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in 1991 and W220Mercedes-Benz S-Class Gen.4 [W 220/ V 220]Germany, 1998 > 200531 versions
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in 1999 respectively. 

The other major innovation in driving since the introduction of the S-Class is in driver assistance systems. Things started rather simply on the W180Mercedes-Benz 220 Gen.2Germany, 1956 > 19595 versions
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in 1957 with a hydraulic automatic clutch that assisted shifting. Today, Mercedes has innovated that to a seven-speed gearbox. 

Cruise control has been another major innovation in driver assistance. It was introduced on the S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-Class Gen.1 [W 116]Germany, 1972 > 198023 versions
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in 1975 with persistent innovations since then. The current cutting edge is radar- and ultrasonic-assisted adaptive cruise control that allows the car to practically drive itself. 

Finally, Mercedes have made major strides in improving the driving climate as well. The 220S was available with separate controls for driver and passenger heating, which was a major luxury at the time, and air conditioning was introduced in 1958. Automatic climate control was introduced on the W140 S-Class in 1991, and multiple automatic climate zones were added in 1998.

The latest S-Class takes these technologies even further with reclining rear seats that are heated and ventilated. It is also the first car every where every light that it emits for the interior and exterior comes from LEDs.