After the bulky S-Class W140, the appearance of the W220 took anyone by surprise.
The S-Class was sleek, stylish, and looked more dynamic when it was introduced in 1999.

The 2003 S-Class model suffered subtle design changes. The front bumper’s lower air intake was restyled, making the car look wider. The grille was taller. The headlights were covered with clear glass and the whole lamp featured a rounder look. The door mirrors and the taillights were refreshed as well.

Inside, there were over 40 elements redesigned in the 2003 S-Class. The multi-contour seats featured air-chambers that inflated and deflated according to the road conditions to offer better support for its occupants. For the infotainment system, the car was fitted as standard with the 6.5” COMAND unit. In the top of the range version S600, the unit was connected to the navigation system.

The most important safety innovation system was the PreSafe, which analyzed several sensors from the ESP and took actions by tensing the seatbelts, closing the windows, and the sunroof. If the accident was avoided, the PreSafe resumed to a standby mode. The 2003 S-Class was fitted with air-suspension and it was available with all-wheel-drive. Under the hood, the S-Class was fitted with a choice of six diesel or gasoline engines, ranged between 204 hp and 500 hp. All versions were mated with a 5-speed automatic gearbox.