First place: Mercedes-Benz S-Class “450 SE”
115 points,
1972-1980,
41,604 built.
The 450 SE, then the most powerful model in the W116 lineup, was awarded European Car of the Year in 1974.
As the only Mercedes ever is the W116 450 SE elected car of the year (1974).
According to the jury, possessed the car ‘ excellent and balanced qualities in terms of safety, driving comfort and performance ‘.
Safety
Mercedes-Benz Typ 280 S, 280 SE, 280 SEL, 350 SE, 350 SEL, 450 SE, 450 SEL, 1972 bis 1980, 450 SEL mit 6,9 Liter, 1975 bis 1980 (Verriegelung der Sicherheitsgurte)
In terms of passive safety the S-Class also outlined the latest technological development. The many construction details realised in the 350 SL for the first time and for safety reasons now, of course, were transferred as a whole to the S-Class saloons. Thus the fuel tank was not located in the rear end of the car anymore, but above the rear axle and thus protected against collision. Inside a heavily padded dashboard, deformable or conceiling switches and controls as well as a new four-spoke security wheel with impact absorber and broad impact cushion provided for utmost crash protection. Important improvements in comparison to the preceding model range was the even more stable safety 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 zone in the front and rear end was significantly increased by a controlled deformation capacity.
Mercedes-Benz Typ 280 S, 280 SE, 280 SEL, 350 SE, 350 SEL, 450 SE, 450 SEL, 1972 bis 1980, 450 SEL mit 6,9 Liter, 1975 bis 1980 (verstellbarer Außenspiegel)
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.
Driving comfort
Armaturen, Mercedes-Benz Typ 280 S, 280 SE, 280 SEL, 350 SE, 350 SEL, 450 SE, 450 SEL, 1972 bis 1980, 450 SEL mit 6,9 Liter, 1975 bis 1980
A remarkable technical novelty in the saloons of type range 116 was the double-wishbone front wheel suspension with zero steering-offset and brake dive support. It improved the handling characteristics of the car considerably. The rear wheel suspension corresponded for the most part to the construction which had proved itself for years in the “Stroke Eight” models and was also used in the 350 SL
Performance
S-Klasse Baureihe (W 116) 450 SE/ SEL mit M 117 Motor. Mercedes-Benz 8-Zylinder Otto-Motor M 117 aus dem Jahr 1972
Maximum speed
210 km/h
Acceleration 0-100 km/h
9.3 s
41,604 built
41604 S-Klasse W116 450 SE are built during the period 1972 / 1980.
Click here for more information about the first S-Class W116
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