MERCEDES-BENZ had a real task on its hands when developing the latest S-class. The previous car had from the outset not been kindly viewed because of its excesses and the company needed to address those while still remaining committed to showing the rest of the industry how the world's best luxury car should be built. The latest S-class, with more on-board systems than it has ever had but lighter, smaller and more accommodating than before, has done just that.