-
Carl Benz Invents the First "Motorwagen"
Carl Benz himself called the vehicle a “motorwagen” and described it as being self-propelled by a single-cylinder engine that was mounted in the back of the vehicle. -
Mercedes Introduces the Electric Car
Before, most vehicles were built with battery-powered motors. The electric car is considered by many to be an early ancestor of the hybrid vehicles we know today -
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
The Mercedes 170 features the first-ever fully independent suspension, which allows each wheel to respond individually. Along with a new hydraulic braking system, the 170 sets new performance and safety benchmarks that remain the gold standard today. -
Mercedes Releases the First Ever Diesel-Fueled Passenger Car
Before diesel fuel had been used virtually exclusively by trucks and service vehicles. But now, Mercedes would offer another option to the automotive consumer market in the form of a diesel car. -
Mercedes Introduced the First Style of Electric Powered Windows
This allows passengers to roll down their windows without using a hand crank. -
Designing the Gullwing Door
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL model featured the iconic Gullwing doors that today are still associated with luxury and modern design. -
Crash Testing Program
For the first time, development of every new Mercedes includes an increasingly rigorous regimen of crash-testing. This vital learning tool was initially performed outdoors. -
Mercedes Releases the First Five-Cylinder Engine
This turbodiesel vehicle was the first 5-cylinder engine and was the fastest diesel car of its time. It accelerated from 0 to 62 mph in 19.9 seconds, reaching 92 mph as its top speed. -
Introducing SmartKey Technology
SmatKey is an innovative locking and anti-theft technology that uses an electronic code to unlock vehicle doors. -
Attention Assist
After measuring over 70 parameters in the first few minutes of a drive, this innovation can help detect signs of drowsiness and audibly alert the driver to take a break.
