For much of its storied history, Mercedes-Benz has built mostly rear-wheel-drive passenger vehicles. The German brand debuted its 4Matic all-wheel-drive system at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show. It later reached production when first offered on the brand’s legendary W124 E-Class sedan in 1987. However, the brand’s most memorable cars from this era, vehicles like the famed V8-powered AMG Hammer and the Porsche-built Mercedes 500E sedan, continued with rear-wheel drive. Fast-forward forty years later, however, and things have changed dramatically.
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