Every Mercedes-Benz S-Class can lay claim to a number of superlatives, but if one beats all others in terms of popularity, it is the W126. No other S-Class has been sold in such large numbers or over such a long period of time. The timelessly elegant saloon was designed by Bruno Sacco and presented at the IAA in Frankfurt in 1979. Thanks to an improved drag coefficient and reduced weight, fuel consumption had fallen by around 10% compared to the predecessor model. The Coupé was added to the range in 1981. The engine range included 6- and 8-cylinder engines with a displacement of up to 5.6 liters and up to 220 kW (300 hp), 5- and 6-cylinder diesel engines were only available in sedans for the North American market. The W126 received a facelift in 1985 and remained popular with politicians and celebrities around the world for many more years. Production in Germany was discontinued in 1991, but continued in South Africa until 1994. A total of 818,063 saloons and 74,060 coupés were produced. The W126 was prized for its outstanding build quality and durability, and the official car of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl was only taken out of service with over 500,000 km on the clock.