Status & Class, headquartered in Geneva, was founded in 1996 by a group of automotive specialists. The first official appearance of S&C took place at the Geneva Motor Show. The objective of this new company was the production of expensive exclusive cars.

The debut model of the Swiss company was the Contender XG all-wheel drive coupe, built on a short-wheelbase chassis of the Mercedes G SUV. The top speed was approx. 200 km/h. The car was also capable of going off-road thanks to a short wheelbase, high ground clearance (210 mm), small body overhangs, and all-wheel drive transmission.

Only several examples of this model were made before the company disappeared by the end of the '90s. The actual manufacturing of the car was entrusted to Italian coachbuilder OPAC.