The term 'S-Klasse', short for 'Sonderklasse', was officially used for the first time with the introduction of the W116 in 1972. Before the top of the range models got the letter 'S' to indicate their upper class level. First in that row was the Mercedes-Benz 170 S [W136] from 1949. The W108/W109 model is in retrospective view being regarded as the first instance of what is today understood by the term 'S-Klasse'. Even Mercedes-Benz officials say that that is the first 'S-Klasse' without having the name.