MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
9852 photos
33 videos
will reveal new generation S-Class to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Until then, it will be looking back on the previous generations of the S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-ClassGermany, 1972 > present6 series
293 versions
353 photos
1 video
and their innovations. The first part of the car that it is looking back on is the safety innovations made by the S-Class. Since the 1959 S-Class, Mercedes has used the car to introduce now ubiquitous safety features like anti-lock brakes, air bags, and automatic braking. 

The 1959 S-ClassMercedes-Benz 220 Gen.4Germany, 1959 > 19656 versions
19 photos
(W111) introduced what Mercedes called the safety body. It included door locks with a securing pin into the body of the car and recessed windscreen wipers. It also was one of the first cars with front and rear crumple zones to absorb impacts.  There was also extra padding in the interior that would absorb impacts when passengers collided with them. Two years later, Mercedes introduced four-wheel disc brakes on the W111, and it added dual-circuit braking in 1963. 

The W116Mercedes-Benz S-Class Gen.1 [W 116]Germany, 1972 > 198023 versions
14 photos
introduced in 1972 took made the crumple zones larger, and it was the first production car with anti-lock brakes in 1978.

The W126 S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-Class Gen.2 [W 126/ V 126]Germany, 1979 > 199183 versions
28 photos
received an air bag in 1981 and added the passenger air bag in 1988. 

The W140 S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-Class Gen.3 [W 140/ V 140]Germany, 1991 > 199844 versions
29 photos
1 video
was introduced in 1991 and received a new deformable front end, and the chassis sub-frame would shift separately from the body in a crash, which kept the passenger cell safer. The model introduced stability control in 1995. The system could apply the brakes separately and change the engine management when it believed that the car was skidding. An active suspension system was added in 1999 that could keep the car level during driving. 

The W220 S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-Class Gen.4 [W 220/ V 220]Germany, 1998 > 200531 versions
26 photos
came in 1998 and introduced window air bags, rear side airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners, adaptive cruise control.

Mercedes has already hinted that the next generation S-Class will carry on the series' legacy of having cutting edge safety systems. It has already confirmed that it will include seat belt airbags and anti-dive airbags in the lap belt incase rear passengers have the seat reclined during an accident.