20 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Mercedes-Benz, Part 2

The 2019 Continental GT raises the bar for luxury and performance in a grand tourer that’s longer and sleeker than ever—ideal for those who crave high-speed, long-distance travel in ultimate comfort.

Another outstanding example of Mercedes’s safety innovations is the Pre-Safe system. Introduced in 2002, it was a collision-avoidance system ahead of its time. Pre-Safe could detect the warning signs of an impending crash and automatically take measures to protect occupants—everything from repositioning the seats to tightening the seatbelts in anticipation of impact.

By now, it should be clear that the numbers in Mercedes-Benz model names convey useful information to those who know how to read them. Specifically, the numbers indicate the displacement of their internal-combustion engines—the total cylinder volume measured in liters, cubic centimeters, or another suitable unit. Mercedes-Benz uses liters multiplied by 100, which is why their model numbers climb steadily higher as displacement increases.

Of course, the letters in Mercedes names also carry meaning. A “C” once denoted a coupe or cabriolet body, just as “G” originally referred to a specialized off-road model before being repurposed for SUVs. Other letters reveal engine type: “D” indicates diesel, while “E” can signify fuel injection, an electric motor, or a hybrid drivetrain. Some letters are less obvious unless you’re already familiar with the system, but “E” for electric is generally clear enough.

The Mercedes-Benz naming convention in use today isn’t the same one they used in the past. In 1994, the company made significant changes to how models are designated. Modern Mercedes-Benz vehicles start with a class—denoted by up to three letters—followed by a series of numbers that no longer strictly correspond to engine displacement but may instead reflect relative performance or marketing considerations. Additional alphanumeric suffixes can indicate special features or equipment packages.

Long before self-driving cars became a hot topic, Mercedes-Benz teamed up with a research group led by Ernst Dickmanns to create the world’s first robotic automobile. This collaboration’s success inspired the European Union to launch the Prometheus Project, pouring vast funds into autonomous-vehicle research. Ultimately, Dickmanns’s team converted an S-Class Mercedes into a robotic car that drove itself from southern Germany, through Bavaria, all the way to Copenhagen.

Mercedes-Benz’s three-pointed star is one of the world’s most recognized corporate logos, but it holds deeper significance than most realize. The three points symbolize land, water, and air—the three domains Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft aimed to motorize. It’s fortunate the company chose a three-pointed star over the alternate four-pointed design they once considered.

Stuttgart proudly calls itself the “Cradle of the Automobile,” since it’s where the car was invented. Not only does Mercedes share this home city with Porsche, but Stuttgart also hosts two major auto-parts manufacturers and numerous automotive publications—a fitting setting for an industry pioneer.

Mercedes-Benz has long aimed to attract eco-conscious buyers—whether for environmental or cost-saving reasons—but its record is uneven. In 2009, the company paid a $30 million fine in the U.S. for failing to meet fuel-economy standards. It also held the dubious distinction of having Europe’s highest average CO₂ emissions among automakers in both 2006 and 2007. Still, Mercedes-Benz has made serious efforts in recent years to improve its environmental performance.

From its earliest days, Mercedes-Benz recognized racing as a powerful way to showcase its vehicles. Over the years, the brand has competed in Formula 1 both directly and indirectly. While Mercedes secured two world championships before stepping back from the sport, it maintained an indirect presence through partnerships and constructor titles long after its official withdrawal.

Among Mercedes’s many safety contributions is the seatbelt pretensioner—a feature now ubiquitous but once groundbreaking. The pretensioner instantly tightens the seatbelt during a crash, eliminating any slack that could allow occupants to lunge forward. This simple device has saved countless lives by keeping passengers firmly in place during impact.