Mercedes magic
S500 casts a seductive spell with its high-tech wizardry

At more than $120,000 a pop, Mercedes-Benz doesn't sell very many of its S500 4Matic luxury sedans, and thus not many Canadians get the opportunity to experience what these cars offer.

And that in turn might lead to a lack of understanding. The S500 4Matic and its attributes are so far beyond the automotive experience of most Canadians that they might have trouble grasping just why anybody would spend that amount of money on an automobile.

Just what do you get for a car with a price sticker that reads $133,090, with options, like our tester?

Well, the prestige that glints off that handsome bodywork and the chromed, three-pointed star hood ornament is an obvious factor for a lot of buyers. And then there's the Nappa leather and polished real wood trim and the automatic climate control, which monitors smog and humidity and senses occupants to better control temperature. There's also the navigation system, the superb Bose stereo (although I don't like the CD changer being in the trunk) and all the rest of the luxury features with which it abounds, but there's more to it than that. A lot more.

PRE-SAFE, for instance, is an electronics based system that actually anticipates a crash and takes appropriate action to protect the vehicle's occupants. As someone who started driving in an era when non-power drum brakes and unassisted steering were the norm, and the only place you might find anything 'electronic' was behind the radio faceplate, I find this level of technology pure magic.

Here's how it works. When the driver reacts to a dangerous situation by hammering on the brakes or attempting to steer out of trouble, two systems come into play. The first, Brake Assist, applies full braking power automatically, in an emergency, to large diameter and highly effective disc brakes, the fronts cross-drilled and equipped with Brembo calipers. The second system, called ESP, is an electronic stability program that applies brake force to individual wheels to help keep the car under control. These are backed up by the all-wheel drive system (with traction control) that does its bit to keep you both mobile and stable in slippery conditions.

But if PRE-SAFE determines the situation is getting out of hand and is exceeding the corrective capabilities of these systems, it gets involved. It will automatically tension the driver and front passenger's seatbelts and if it detects the passenger seat is in a less than favourable position, PRE-SAFE will move it backwards, tilt the cushion down at the rear and adjust the seatback to a more vertical position. If you've got the optional adjustable rear seat, it too will be adjusted. And if you're skidding, which could lead to a rollover, it will close the sunroof.

And if a crash does occur, you're protected by eight airbags, including a side curtain that protects rear seat passengers. And the S500 4Matic will even call for help automatically if you crash, through its Tele Aid on board communications system.

Plus there are Bi-Xenon headlamps that are highly effective and come with heated headlamp washers to make nighttime driving much safer. The S500 is also equipped with rear head restraints that are folded out of the way until a seatbelt is engaged and then they rise into position. And 14-way power front seats (heated and actively ventilated on our test car) and a fully adjustable wheel allow you to create a comfortable and secure driving position. One of the few things I didn't like was the driver's side mirror, which I find an awkward shape that doesn't give me the coverage I wanted.

My stopwatch clicked at 7.3 seconds as the needle hit the 100 km/h mark and showed a time of 5.9 seconds for the 80 to 120 km/h dash. Passing or merging with highway traffic obviously isn't a problem and the car is wonderfully responsive any time you depress the pedal.

The 4-wheel independent Airmatic suspension employs self-levelling air springs and an adaptive damping system that instantly adjusts shock absorber damping control at each wheel to match road conditions. This has a comfort and two sport modes.

Our test car came with the $7,310 AMG sport package that includes a new front air dam, lower side sills and rear apron, as well as 18-inch, AMG 5-spoke wheels with 245/45ZR18 performance tires. With the suspension set in its tautest position this big sedan becomes almost agile, with firmly controlled body roll, and is actually quite engaging to drive. Comfort mode should suit even the most coddled of backsides.

This is a car that, along with only a handful of other production sedans of its ilk, brings together in one package more than a century of automotive design knowledge and experience. There are more expensive cars, even more expensive S-Class Mercedes models, but I think this is likely the finest sedan the company has ever built.

Immediate competition:
Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar Vanden Plas