Mercedes-Benz S-Class History
The flagship sedan and benchmark luxury car — showcase for the brand's newest technology since 1972.
Photo: “1980 Mercedes-Benz W116 280SE Automatic, front right, 06-28-2024” by Ethan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The complete year archive
Every model year
Browse the Mercedes-Benz S-Class year by year, or narrow the archive by generation, body style, engine, and highlights.
- Model years
- 55
- Generations
- 7
- Archive span
- 1972–2026
Photo: “1980 Mercedes-Benz W116 280SE Automatic, front right, 06-28-2024” by Ethan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Photo: “1982 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE (W 126) sedan (2015-06-18) 01” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain. Cropped to 16:9.
Second generation · W126
1981–1991
The best-selling classic S-Class and a design icon. It reached US showrooms for 1981 (late-1980 launch). The first production car offered with a driver's airbag; later added a passenger airbag (1988). Also spawned the C126 coupe (SEC).
Photo: “1993-1994 Mercedes-Benz S500 (W140) Sedans (28-01-2020) 03” by Jirapat Chroenkeskij / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Photo: “Mercedes S 600 L (V220) Facelift front 20100717” by M 93 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Attribution. Cropped to 16:9.
Photo: “Mercedes S 400 HYBRID (W221) Facelift front 20100410” by M 93 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Attribution. Cropped to 16:9.
Photo: “2019 Mercedes-Benz W222 S350d in Anthracite Blue Metallic, front right” by Ethan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Sixth generation · W222
2014–2020
A technology landmark: Magic Body Control's road-scanning suspension and an all-LCD cabin. Reintegrated the two-door as the S-Class Coupé (C217) and added the first S-Class Cabriolet (A217); the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class revived the Maybach name in 2015. US model years 2014–2020.
Photo: “2024 Mercedes-Benz V223 S450 4MATIC in Onyx Black, front right, 06-26-2024” by Ethan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
History
Officially badged 'S-Class' (from Sonderklasse, 'special class') beginning with the W116 in 1972, the S-Class is the flagship that has debuted much of the automobile's modern safety and luxury technology — ABS, the airbag, ESP, and more.
Across the W116, W126, W140, W220, W221, W222, and W223 generations it has remained the standard against which full-size luxury sedans are measured, topped by the V12 S 600 and the AMG and Maybach versions.
Generations
First generation · W116
The first car officially badged 'S-Class' (Sonderklasse). A safety-focused flagship that introduced the 450 SEL 6.9 V8 and, in 1978, the world's first anti-lock braking system (ABS) as an option.
Second generation · W126
The best-selling classic S-Class and a design icon. It reached US showrooms for 1981 (late-1980 launch). The first production car offered with a driver's airbag; later added a passenger airbag (1988). Also spawned the C126 coupe (SEC).
Third generation · W140
The imposing, over-engineered 1990s flagship — double-pane glass, a V12 (600 SEL / S 600), and the debut of Electronic Stability Program (ESP) in its C140 coupe. US model years 1992–1999.
Fourth generation · W220
A lighter, sleeker S-Class with Airmatic air suspension, Distronic radar cruise, and the Pre-Safe pre-collision system (2002). Topped by the bi-turbo V12 S 600 and AMG S 65. US model years 2000–2006.
Fifth generation · W221
Brought Night View Assist and the first S-Class hybrid (S 400 Hybrid, 2010). The two-door flagship continued as the separate CL-Class (C216) during this era.
Sixth generation · W222
A technology landmark: Magic Body Control's road-scanning suspension and an all-LCD cabin. Reintegrated the two-door as the S-Class Coupé (C217) and added the first S-Class Cabriolet (A217); the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class revived the Maybach name in 2015. US model years 2014–2020.
Seventh generation · W223
The current S-Class — sedan only — with up to five screens, an augmented-reality head-up display, rear-seat airbags, and the plug-in-hybrid S 63 E Performance V8. No coupe or convertible successor is planned.
Famous S-Class variants
The nameplates that define the S-Class — each with its own cross-year history, engines, production, and collectibility.
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Find a scale model of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.