The Story Behind Mercedes-Benz’s Worst S-Class Mistake

The world’s motoring press lavished praise on the W220 when it arrived. Speaking of the performance, Top Gear‘s Quentin Wilson said, “With the S-Class, the Germans have rewritten the luxury car rulebook. This is a big car that’s actually fun to drive.” Wilson would later say, “As far as I’m concerned, this is quite simply the best car in the world.”

So it could outperform a BMW, had more brand cachet than an Audi, and was streaks ahead of Lexus in terms of refinement. On paper, it was perfect, and that’s before you even got to the technology. The S-Class has always been a crystal ball of automotive innovation, and the W220 was no different.

Innovations included ‘Airmatic’ air suspension, ‘Distronic’ radar-guided cruise control, keyless entry and push-button start, and ventilated seats with a massage function. The facelift would introduce the advanced Pre-Safe system, which could detect an impending accident and prepare the vehicle for impact.