In 1994 Mercedes-Benz renamed its popular 500SEL S-class car the S500, and since then it has been the flagship car of Mercedes-Benz's flagship lineup. The 500 name denotes the 5.0 liter engine that has been a muscular V8 that tops 300 horsepower in the most recent models.
Today the S500 is marketed as a step up from the entry level S430, yet is not as extravagant or as expensive as the burly S600. Like all S-class cars, the S500 has been built on the W220 platform since the 2000 model year.
The W220 platform was launched in the spring of 1999 as an early 2000 model and drew the company praise for a stylish update to the stately yet tired S-series design.
