Since demand for fast electric locomotives was high even after production of the 110 ended, the Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) decided to commission a new batch in the 1970s.

The bogies were replaced with a different type, significantly improving the locomotive's behaviour at higher speeds.

The driver's cab also was significantly improved by the DB-Einheitsführerstand (jointly developed by the Bundesbahn-Zentralamt München and Krauss-Maffei and designed under ergonomic aspects) that was first used for Class 111 locos and whose basic layout nowadays still forms part of the cab design found in many of DB's locomotives and control cars.

Up to 1984, 226 more engines were produced, not only at Krauss-Maffei but also including parts from Henschel, Krupp, Siemens, AEG and BBC.

As it was foreseeable that the Class 103 engines would be stressed with that workload, the 111's licence was extended to a speed of 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph), and from May 1980 onwards, the units could be found doing InterCity services.