Mercedes-Benz: A Pioneer of Innovation and Technology

The awe experienced when visiting the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart comes from discovering how Mercedes-Benz, with over 130 years of expertise in every kind of automobile—from luxury cars to sports cars, from practical vans to prestigious family models, off-roaders, and work vehicles—has built a reputation that is strong and undisputed. This doesn't even take into account the value of their motorsports division, where technology and image play key roles. For such a vast operation, a company needs innovation and development centers that are both important and costly. Furthermore, the search for new technology requires experimentation, and not all of these experiments meet expectations.

Let’s look at two cases: in 1936, the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz 260 D, where the "D" stands for diesel, was a shock. The noise, the performance, and even the embarrassment of having to refuel alongside trucks might have suggested it was a dead-end. But, looking at today’s diesel market, regardless of current restrictions, it’s clear that Stuttgart was ahead of its time, understanding the opportunities for developing that engine technology.

In 1936, the Mercedes-Benz 260 D, the first production car with a diesel engine, hits the market.

On the other hand, there’s the case of the Wankel engine. In 1969, the C111 prototype was unveiled, raising hopes, but that solution did not deliver the expected advantages and remained a dream. Fittingly, the legendary artist Andy Warhol immortalized it in some of his iconic works.

The C111 project featured experimental vehicles to explore new technical solutions like the Wankel engine.

Looking at innovation more broadly, Mercedes has always used motorsports to bring cutting-edge solutions to the consumer market. Take the 1954 300 SL Gullwing, the first production car to abandon carburetors in favor of direct fuel injection. Twenty years earlier, in 1922, Mercedes introduced supercharged engines to road cars: the first models to feature them were the Mercedes 6/25 PS and 10/40 PS, followed by the legendary SSK a few years later.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, introduced in 1954, was the first production car to feature direct fuel injection instead of carburetors.

Mercedes-Benz also pioneered vehicle evolution where performance and safety intersect. The Mercedes-Benz 380 was the first car in the world, in 1933, to feature a double-wishbone suspension system. A highlight for suspension innovation came in 1998 with the Airmatic system in the S-Class W220. Another milestone occurred in 1982 with the 190 W201, which introduced the multi-link rear suspension. In 2000, the CL 55 AMG F1 Limited Edition became the first road car to utilize ceramic composite brakes.

The Mercedes-Benz 380 was the first car worldwide to use double-wishbone suspension architecture.

What about environmental consciousness? You might be surprised to learn that, as early as 1902, the Mercedes Simplex 28 PS was offered in a hybrid version, with electric motors integrated into the wheel hubs! Fast forward to 1998, and the S-Class W220 introduced several world-first technologies, such as selective cylinder deactivation to improve fuel efficiency, keyless entry, and ventilated seats. It’s pointless to list everything Mercedes does for the environment today; their efforts are so extensive, and well covered by the media.

The S-Class W220 from 1998 introduced selective cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption.

On the subject of safety, Mercedes-Benz has always been a trailblazer. A visit to their extraordinary museum proves it. In 1969, the Mercedes-Benz Accident Research unit was founded to study road accidents and find ways to reduce their impact. From 1994 to 1998, the passenger-side airbag was introduced worldwide in all Mercedes-Benz models. In 1996, Mercedes launched the Brake Assist system, which increases braking force during sudden maneuvers in emergency situations. Then, in 1998, the E-Class W210 debuted the world’s first side airbags. More recently, in 2010, the CLS C218 introduced the first dynamic full-LED headlights.

Who could have imagined all of this back in 1900, when the 35 PS Mercedes, widely regarded as the first modern automobile, made its debut?

This impressive story of firsts, driven by a passion for improvement in every field, continues today with the same energy and determination as ever.