Photo: Daimler AG
If it wasn't obvious by now, the Frankfurt Auto Show (IAA) is on of the most important venues for some of the most ground-breaking “world's first” premieres from Mercedes-Benz.
Back at the 1963 edition, for example, the IAA visitors probably simultaneously dropped their jaws at the unveiling of the Mercedes-Benz 600 (W100), which was pretty much the most advanced car in the world at the time (and for a good amount of years after its introduction).
Representing the pinnacle of automotive technology when it came to safety, comfort, size and never-before-seen technical features, the 600 was a true successor to the “Grosser Mercedes” (Grand Mercedes) from the pre-war era, which is what the upcoming Pullman S-Class W222 will also try to achieve.
Twenty years later, another world premiere was taking the world by storm, since it was the first car to introduce the segment of sporty compact cars for the German brand.
The 190 2.3-16 had a 185 hp four-cylinder engine co-developed with none other than Cosworth, back when the BMW M3 E30 was still just an idea. Not only that, but a whole month before its official unveil, three pre-production prototypes had achieved no less than twelve speed and distance records on the Nardo high speed circuit, in Italy.
The 1997 found Mercedes-Benz unveiling another never-before-seen type of car at the Frankfurt Auto Show in the shape of the first generation of the innovative A-Class. With a double floor and engines that were tilted to actually slide under the body of the car instead of the passenger compartment in the event of a frontal impact, the W168 A-Class had a huge interior and luggage space for its size and was also the first small car to offer ESP in standard instead of an option.
Representing the pinnacle of automotive technology when it came to safety, comfort, size and never-before-seen technical features, the 600 was a true successor to the “Grosser Mercedes” (Grand Mercedes) from the pre-war era, which is what the upcoming Pullman S-Class W222 will also try to achieve.
Twenty years later, another world premiere was taking the world by storm, since it was the first car to introduce the segment of sporty compact cars for the German brand.
The 190 2.3-16 had a 185 hp four-cylinder engine co-developed with none other than Cosworth, back when the BMW M3 E30 was still just an idea. Not only that, but a whole month before its official unveil, three pre-production prototypes had achieved no less than twelve speed and distance records on the Nardo high speed circuit, in Italy.
The 1997 found Mercedes-Benz unveiling another never-before-seen type of car at the Frankfurt Auto Show in the shape of the first generation of the innovative A-Class. With a double floor and engines that were tilted to actually slide under the body of the car instead of the passenger compartment in the event of a frontal impact, the W168 A-Class had a huge interior and luggage space for its size and was also the first small car to offer ESP in standard instead of an option.
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