S-Class

[190E2.6]

For those of you familiar with the German language:
(Please correct if I'm wrong)
The S stands for "Spitzen" -klasse.
What does Spitzen mean? Is it "super" or "special" according to my own knowledge of the German language or does it stand for something else?
C = Kompakt?
E = Executiv?

[JQ]

I think that the "S" in "S-klasse" stands for "Super", but sometimes it is also referred to as "Sonder-klasse", which would translate to something like "Special class".

I tried to make a complete translation of all Letter combinations used by Mercedes. Do you disagree on anything, or did I miss any combination?

HP = "Horse Power" (used on the very first Mercedes Benz models)
S = “Super� or "Sport" or "Saloon" (depending on which car carries the badging)
SS = “Super Saloon�
Sc = "Saloon coupe" (?)
SSK = “Super Saloon Kurz� (Short)
SSKL = "Super Sport Kurz Leicht (Light)
K = "Kompressor"
H = "Heckmotor" (rear-mounted engine)
E (after model number) = “Einspritzung� (Injection)
E (before model number) = “Executive�
SE = “Super Einsprizung�
SEL = “Super Einspritzung Lang“ (Long)
C (after model number) = “Coupe�
C (before model number) = “Compact�
CE = “Coupe Einspritzung�
SEC = “Super Einspritzung Coupe�
SL = “Sport Leicht�
SLC = “Sport Leicht Coupe�
SLK = “Sport Leicht Kurz�
SLR = ???
CL = “Coupe Luxus� (?)
CLK = “Coupe Luxus Kurz� (?)
G = “Gelände� (Terrain)
D = “Diesel�
CD = "Coupe Diesel"
SD = "Super Diesel"
T = “Touristik"
CDi = “Common rail Diesel injection�
ML = ???
A = ???

[190E2.6]

Here's what I think on some of them:

CDI= Common rail direct injection not "diesel"

ML= the "L" is added so it doesn't get confused with the BMW "M" cars

The CLK and CL are still mysteries to me.

SLK= K= kurz or kompressor? But why would there be a "Kompressor" after the SLK230 badge.

AMG= Aufrecht, Melcher, Grossaspach

CLE(future car)= coupe luxury executive?

Maybe some of these letters are made up to make it rhyme or sound good:
L in CLK, CL, CLE, ML
A in A-Class

[JQ]

You are right regarding CDi.

Why don´t you buy my sugestion regarding the L (=Luxus)in CL, CLK etc?

And regarding the ML, what does the "M" stand for?

"K" in "SLK" as well as CLK for sure stands for "Kurz" (short)

[JQ]

According to one of my MB books, for newer S-classes (after the mid 90´s when the "S" was moved in front of the number) the "S" stands for "Saloon".

On earlier S-classes, where the "S" is behind the number, the "S" stands for "Super". This I have seen in lots of literature. In one book however, an old S-class was refered to as "Sonder-klasse".

[190E2.6]

If the S-Class is a saloon, which is another word for sedan, aren't the C- and E-Classes saloons to?

[JQ]

I agree. "Super" or "Superior" makes more sense to me. Saloon is what my book said though, but it can fo course be wrong.

[JQ]

Saloon:

1. A place where alcoholic drinks are sold and drunk; a tavern.

2. A large room or hall for receptions, public entertainment, or exhibitions.

3. Nautical.
a. The officers' dining and social room on a cargo ship.
b. A large social lounge on a passenger ship.

4. Chiefly British. A sedan automobile.

3 b fits quite good to an S-class [:)]

[musso]

[?]Hello,, Im a bit confused of S's I know this days SEL, SEC,dont exist,, but,, Is the SEL a long wheelbase version of the S-Class? how about the SEC? Thanks,,...

[190E2.6]

Here is a short history on the S-Class nomenclature:

Back then Today

SE S-Class short

SEL S-Class long

SEC CL-Class coupe