Among the vast array of automobiles being produced over the years, there are some that not only define a segment but invent it. The Mercedes W124 500E is one such car. Even to this day, the 500E is being revered by car enthusiasts across the globe, as the first true performance sedan. In this video, Hagerty’s Jason Camisa explains in detail all you need to know about the mighty German sedan, and there’s a lot you need to know.

The W124 generation came out in 1984 - two years after the 190E “Baby Benz” (W201). That said, the development of the two cars happened around the same time and the design of both models was heavily influenced by the Italian Bruno Sacco – at the time head of Mercedes’ safety department.

Both cars are known to be over-engineered and to this day considered the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz build quality. The W124 used a 5.0-liter version of the M119 engine. The normally-aspirated V-8 had a DOHC valvetrain and produced 326 horsepower (240 kilowatts) at 5,700 RPM and 354 pound-feet (480 Nm) at 3,900 RPM.

The best part is, we actually have Porsche to thank for making the 500E. The German sports car company was still in a financial pickle and was open to collaborating with various manufacturers, including its rivals.

Because of this, many non-Porsche vehicles with Porsche DNA came to be, one of which the 500E, which was actually assembled by Porsche. Yes, nowadays, there are many performance sedans that are quicker than the 500E, but this is where it started – with the Porsche-built W124. In the video, Jason Camisa does what he does best – talk about cars. Watch the video below to see what makes the W124 so significant.