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W116 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 280S : 280SE : 280SEL : 300SD : 350SE : 350SEL : 450SE : 450SEL : 450SEL 6.9 A completely newly developed luxury car was presented to the public in September 1972. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class (internal designation: W116) replaced the 108/109 series and was the first series for which the name "S-Class" was officially used.

Initial models consisted of the 280S and 280SE with 2.8 L inline-six engines and 350SE with a 3.5 L V8 engine. Six months later the S-Class was also available with a larger displacement capacity of the 4.5 L V8 engine wearing badges of 450SE and 450SEL, the latter with a 100 mm longer wheel base benefiting the rear passengers. From November 1973 the long wheel-base version was also available as the 350SEL, and in April 1974 also as the 280SEL.

The W116 made extensive use of the knowledge gained from the C 111 and Experimental Safety Vehicles. A remarkable technical innovation introduced by the W116 was the twin control arm front wheel suspension with zero steering offset and brake dive support, improving the handling characteristics of the car considerably.

Safety In terms of passive safety the W116 incorporated all the latest technological developments. The fuel tank was no longer located in the rear end of the car, being positioned above the rear axle for protection against collisions. Inside, a heavily padded dashboard, deformable or concealing switches and controls, as well as a new four-spoke steering wheel with impact absorber and broad impact cushion provided for utmost crash protection.

Important improvements in comparison to the preceding 108/109 series was the even more stable security passenger cell with stiffened roof-frame structure, high-strength roof and door pillars as well as reinforced doors. The energy absorption of the front and rear deformation zones were significantly increased by a controlled deformation capacity.

Newly developed cowl panels at the A-pillars, serving as water-shield gutters, guaranteed good visibility in rain and kept the side windows clean in bad weather. Further safety details were wide wraparound direction indicators, well visible also from the side. In addition, broad rear lamps with ribbed surface profile proved to be very insusceptible to dirt.

Award Winning The 450SE was awarded the European Car Of The Year in 1974.

Even if the S-class had been introduced in 1972, the new big Mercedes ( 5 m.) was identified with the mighty 450 SE/SEL versions added the following year. It was the first modern-style car from Stuttgart, already with horizontal road lights installation instead of the classic vertical clusters. Brightest point, however, was the performance coming from the new 4.5 V8 with fuel injection and well over 200 hp; a figure partly tamed by 3-speed automatic transmission and optional limited slip differential.

With 115 points the Mercedes-Benz 450SE beat the Fiat X 1/9 (99 points) and Honda Civic (90 points)

In May 1975 the 450SEL 6.9 was presented as the new top model of the range and as the legitimate successor to 300SEL 6.3. The powerful 6.9 L V8 engine, developed from the 6.3 L, achieved 210 kW and a maximum torque of 550 Nm. A hydropneumatic suspension with level control system guaranteed the highest driving comfort. Further equipment standard on the top model included central locking system, air-conditioning and headlamp washer system.

Between November 1975 and February 1976 the fuel injection system of the 2.8 L, 3.5 L and 4.5 L injection engines was changed in order to correspond to the now higher exhaust-emission standards in most European countries. The electronically controlled Bosch "D Jetronic" was replaced by the mechanically controlled Bosch "K Jetronic". In all three cases the conversion resulted in slight power reductions. In the 2.8 L and 3.5 L engines the compression was lowered at the same time, including that of the 2.8 L carburettor engine. In order to facilitate maintenance both V8 engines were equipped with a breakerless transistor ignition and a hydraulic valve-clearance compensation.

Innovation A technical innovation of lasting importance was available in autumn 1978, exclusively in the W116 S-Class: the antilock system (ALS) which had been developed together with the Robert-Bosch GmbH. It guaranteed the unrestricted controllability of the vehicle by preventing the brakes from locking in an emergency situation, thus contributing considerably to active safety.

Two years later, from April 1978, the original performance of all three models with injection engine was reached again. With the 2.8 L injection engine - in contrast to the carburettor engine - the compression was increased to its old value. With the two V8 models the former performance was basically achieved by changing the exhaust-emission system.

In May 1978 the model 300SD was introduced to the USA and Canadian markets. The new S-Class model - for the first time in the history of this vehicle category - was driven by a diesel engine. The 3.0 L 5 cylinder, which had proven so well in the types 240D 3.0 and 300D, was fitted with a turbocharger. The development of this unusual S-Class variant had been started with the goal to fulfil the lower consumption figures introduced by the US-government.

In September 1979 types of the series W126 were represented at the Frankfurt motor show as the successor of the first S-Class range. W116 production stopped between April and September 1980, depending on the type. The last car that passed the final-assembly inspection at the plant in Sindelfingen was a 300SD. A total of 473,035 W116 were built of this model range over eight years.

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