- Mercedes has unveiled the new S-Class, the "flagship" of the Stuttgart brand.  This model takes over the generation launched in 2005, which itself replaced the generation launched in 1998.

- The first S-Class was launched in 1965. Since then, the Mercedes high-range S-class has managed to supplant its two main competitors, the BMW 7 Series (the first model dates from 1968) and Audi A8 (the first model in 1988).  It is however to note that the difference in sales between the three luxury cars has greatly reduced over the past three years (with a S-class arriving at the end of a cycle).

- The image of the three Premium carmakers - Mercedes, BMW and Audi - lies greatly on these three models, symbolizing the upscale European level. The new Mercedes S-Class positions itself now as the highest range model of Daimler, since the Maybachwas stopped earlier this year.  The carmaker expects sales of 100,000 vehicles per year, a figure already achieved in the past (between 1982 and 1986, between 2000 and 2003 and between 2006 and 2008).

- Other carmakers have tried with little success to make a foray into this luxury sedan segment , in particular Lexus (with the LS), Jaguar (with the XJ) and Maserati (with the Quattroporte), but also Cadillac or Lincoln who lost his footing on the market. Above this range, however, remain Rolls-Royce and Bentley, but with very modest sales volumes (less than 10,000 vehicles per year).