Big body retrospective: 8 generations of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The S-Class, or Sonderklasse (aka, “special class”) is the top dog of the Mercedes-Benz sedan lineup, representing the leading edge of the German brand’s luxury and tech offerings. Though “S” badge designations officially started in 1972 (and have since sold 4 million cars), these flagships trace their lineage back to 1954 when the blocky “Ponton” launched the range-topping sedan as we know it.