2014 Cadillac ELR & 2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class

HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !

JOIN US AND SEE IF THE ELECTRIFIED ELR MAKES A BUZZ WORTHY PLUG FOR CADILLAC... PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE ON GETTING OUR CARS READY FOR WARM WEATHER CRUISING... WE'LL TAKE YOU ON A GUIDED TOUR OF ALL THAT'S NEW AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW... THEN IT'S A ROYAL RIDE IN THE UPWARDLY MOBILE MERCEDES-BENZ S550.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

>> Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BOB.

BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT BOB'S THINKING, "SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT THING IN HER TEETH?"

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES, AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

DIEHARD.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

John Davis: CADILLAC'S ART AND SCIENCE PHILOSOPHY HAS SPARKED MANY DYNAMIC LOOKING AND PERFORMING CARS IN RECENT YEARS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE SCIENCE ADDED TO THE MIX?

WELL, YOU GET THE CADILLAC ELR EXTENDED RANGE ELECTRIC VEHICLE!

THE 2014 CADILLAC ELR IS INTENTIONALLY A DIFFERENT KIND OF CADILLAC.

SURE, IT MAY SHARE THE SAME CREASED STYLING AS OTHER CURRENT CADDIES, BUT UNDERNEATH, THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT GOING ON.

THAT SOMETHING IS A PLUG-IN GASOLINE-ELECTRIC HYBRID POWERTRAIN TAKEN FROM THE CHEVROLET VOLT.

BUT THIS ADVANCED HYBRID IS MOSTLY ABOUT STYLE.

AND DEPENDING ON WHAT ANGLE YOU VIEW THE NEW ELR FROM, IT EITHER LOOKS SOFT OR SPECTACULAR.

THOUGH FROM ANY PERSPECTIVE IT'S VERY FUTURISTIC AND WAITING TO TURN HEADS FOR SURE.

MOST OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS WERE DEFINITE FANS OF THIS AUTOMOTIVE ART.

THE ELR COUPE HITS THE EYES AS SMALLER THAN THE VOLT SEDAN, THOUGH WHEELBASE AND OVERALL LENGTH ARE ACTUALLY UP; THE LATTER BY ALMOST 9-INCHES.

WE ATTRIBUTE THAT DECEPTION TO THE ELR'S SEVERE NOSE DOWN STANCE AND STANDARD 20-INCH WHEELS, WHICH SURE LOOK GREAT, BUT DON'T HELP MUCH WITH RIDE QUALITY.

LIKE THE CONVERJ CONCEPT ON WHICH THE ELR IS BASED, HEADLIGHTS ARE VERTICALLY STACKED LEDs, AND OF COURSE THEY ARE ECHOED AT THE REAR WITH THE BRANDS TRADITIONAL VERTICAL TAIL LIGHTS.

WE THINK THE BACK END LOOKS RATHER CHUNKY, BUT IT CONTRIBUTES TO VERY GOOD AERODYNAMICS.

LIKE THE VOLT, THE CHARGING PORT IS LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT FENDER.

AND JUST BEHIND IT, GREEN LIGHTING IN THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR KEEPS YOU INFORMED OF CHARGING STATUS.

A FULL CHARGE CAN TAKE AS LITTLE AS 4.5-HOURS ON 240-VOLTS OR AS MUCH AS 12 ON TYPICAL HOUSEHOLD 120 CURRENT.

THE VIEW FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS GREAT, AND THE ELR'S SEAT-OF-THE-PANTS FEEL IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE VOLT.

ENABLING PURE-ELECTRIC DRIVING IS A 16.5KWH BATTERY.

AGAIN, SAME AS IN THE RECENTLY UPGRADED VOLT.

BUT WHEN BATTERY POWER IS TAPPED OUT, AND THE 1.4-LITER GASOLINE ENGINE CRANKS UP TO TURN THE MOTOR/GENERATOR THAT KEEPS THE JUICE FLOWING, YOU NOTICE IT IMMEDIATELY.

IT SOUNDS VERY UN-CADILLAC-LIKE WHILE PRODUCING A MEAGER 84-HORSEPOWER OUTPUT.

STILL, THE ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR'S UPGRADED 295 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE WAS ENOUGH TO LAUNCH UTO 60 IN 8.3-SECONDS AND GET US TO 87 MILES-PER-HOUR IN 16.5-SECONDS AT THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE ELR'S DYNAMIC STYLING PROMISES MORE DRIVING EXCITEMENT THAN IT DELIVERS.

YET, FOR NORMAL STREET DRIVING IT'S STILL PLEASANT ENOUGH WITH A NICE AND TIDY BALANCE TO THE CHASSIS AND GOOD HEFT AT THE STEERING WHEEL.

EV-ONLY RANGE IS SIMILAR TO THE VOLT, ABOUT 35-MILES, THOUGH ON COLD DAYS WE ONLY SAW ABOUT 28 BEFORE WE STARTED BURNING FOSSIL FUELS.

THAT'S PLENTY ENOUGH FOR MANY PEOPLE TO SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THEIR COMMUTE TIME ON "E" POWER.

WE HAD FUN WITH REGEN ON DEMAND, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A PAIR OF HANDBRAKES ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT FEEDS POWER BACK INTO THE BATTERIES.

BUT WHEN THE NOVELTY WEARS OFF, YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING WITH THE NORMAL FOOT BRAKE PEDAL.

A HOLD MODE IS A VERY NICE FEATURE THAT ALLOWS YOU DO DETERMINE WHEN GAS-POWERED GENERATION OCCURS, SO YOU CAN SAVE YOUR EV DRIVING FOR IN THE CITY, OR ANY TIME YOU WANT TO OPERATE IN "STEALTH" MODE.

SPORT MODE INCREASES THROTTLE RESPONSE AND TIGHTENS SUSPENSION AND STEERING PROPERTIES; WHILE MOUNTAIN MODE KEEPS THE BATTERY AT A HIGHER CHARGE SO THERE'S PLENTY OF POWER ON TAP WHEN YOU NEED IT.

THANKS TO CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL, THE RIDE IS VERY ISOLATED, EXCEPT ON VERY ROUGH ROADS.

BUT NO MATTER THE SURFACE, THE INTERIOR IS WONDERFULLY QUIET.

THE INSIDE IS ALSO OFF-THE-CHARTS NICE, WITH A SPORTY, HIGH-TECH FEEL AND A HIGH QUALITY BLEND OF LUXURY MATERIALS LIKE CHROME, WOOD, CARBON FIBER, LEATHER, SUEDED MICROFIBER... YOU NAME IT.

CUE WITH NAVIGATION IS STANDARD, AND ALL OF CADILLAC'S LATEST SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE.

LIKE THE VOLT, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS DON'T SEEM THAT IMPRESSIVE, AS THEY COME IN AT 31-CITY, 35-HIGHWAY, AND 33-COMBINED; WITH AN MPGE RATING OF 82.

BUT AS WITH ANY PLUG-IN VEHICLE, THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND ON BATTERY POWER, THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE.

AND OVER A TYPICAL ERRAND RUNNING WEEKEND OF CLOSE TO 200-MILES, ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS AVERAGED 76.2 MPG OF PREMIUM.

AND THE ELR HAS A VERY GOOD ENERGY IMPACT SCORE WITH JUST 3.6-BARRELS OF OIL BURNED AND 1.5-TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE INDEED VERY ATTRACTIVE, BUT LESS SO IS THE ELR'S BASE PRICE OF $75,995.

SURE, IT'S MORE APPEALING AND EXCLUSIVE THAN THE VOLT BUT IS IT REALLY WORTH TWICE THE PRICE?

THINK OF IT AS GM'S TWO-DOOR ANSWER TO THE TESLA SEDAN AS A WELL-HEELED CEO'S ECO-BADGE OF HONOR.

IN THAT VEIN, THE ELR HAS NO COMPETITION.

INDEED, THE 2014 CADILLAC ELR IS A VERY WELL EXECUTED PLUG-IN LUXURY COUPE.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE WOULD SPEND OUR $80 GRAND ON SOMETHING MORE FUN TO DRIVE, WE CAN EASILY SEE HOW THE ELR, AND FOR THAT MATTER, THE TESLA MODEL S, CAN GET MORE THAN A FEW ONE-PERCENTERS REALLY CHARGED UP.

FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ROAD TESTS, AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

THOUGH MANY ARE STILL THAWING FROM A BRUTAL WINTER, INCLUDING US, THINGS WERE HEATING UP AT THE 2014 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

AND FOR FAMILIES IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW CAR, THERE WAS A LOT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR.

SO COME ALONG AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE SAW IN THE BIG APPLE.

ROUNDING OUT THE AUTO SHOW SEASON, 2014 AT NEW YORK'S JAVITS CENTER REALLY WAS A "CAR" SHOW WITH NEW SEDANS IN THE SPOT LIGHT.

THE 2015 TOYOTA CAMRY PULLED ON STAGE WITH THOROUGH UPDATES, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT THE UBER-SUCCESSFUL MID-SIZER IS ALSO LONGER AND WIDER AND ADDS A NEW XSE TRIM LEVEL WITH SPORT-TUNED SUSPENSION AND 18-INCH WHEELS.

BUT HYUNDAI OPENED WITH AN ALL-NEW SONATA.

NOW A SERIOUS FAMILY SEDAN RIVAL, THIS SONATA IS MORE MATURE, LESS SWOOPY, ALTHOUGH STILL STYLISH WITH LEDs HEAD AND TAIL.

ACURA SURPRISED NO ONE WITH THE PRODUCTION VERSION OF THE TLX.

IT SLIMS DOWN THE LINE, REPLACING BOTH TL AND TSX, AND ALONG WITH THAT, A FOUR JOINS THE SIX CYLINDER FOR POWER.

REVAMPS CONTINUE ACROSS DOMESTIC BRAND SEDANS AS WELL.

A RESTYLED FORD FOCUS COMPACT SEDAN JOINS THE 3 AND 5 DOOR MODELS ALREADY REVEALED, AND ADDS THE FIESTA'S 1.0-LITER ECOBOOST 3-CYLINDER.

ALSO SHOWN WAS A FOCUS ELECTRIC.

AND WHO COULD IGNORE THE 2015 MUSTANG, CELEBRATING ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A LIMITED EDITION HARDTOP, REVEALED IN CLASSIC WIMBLEDON WHITE.

FORD ALSO RECREATED A CLASSIC STUNT WITH THIS MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE ATOP THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.

CHEVROLET MADE SOME TOP DOWN NEWS WITH THE CORVETTE Z06CONVERTIBLE.

BUT THE BOW TIE BRIGADE SURPRISED EVERYONE WITH A NEW SUBCOMPACT UTILITY, THE TRAX, COMPLETE WITH 4G LTE CONNECTIVITY.

WHICH IS SHARED WITH A FRESHENED CRUZE COMPACT SEDAN, NOW WITH THE BOLDER IMPALA FRONT END.

DODGE TOOK THE FACELIFT ROUTE, TOO.

WITH MOSTLY NEW SHEET METAL, AND A DECIDEDLY DART LOOK UP FRONT, THE CHARGER FOUR-DOOR ADDS A STANDARD 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

ALSO TWEAKED, THE CHALLENGER COUPE LOOKS READY FOR THE NEXT PONY CAR WARS.

SPEAKING OF TWO DOORS, MERCEDES-BENZ TEMPTED JUST ABOUT EVERYONE WITH THE AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL S63 AMG COUPE.

NISSAN'S RADICALLY ENHANCED MURANO SHOWS A MODERN AND SHARP CONCEPT INSPIRED REDESIGN.

THIS ALL-NEW MIDSIZE CROSSOVER IS DUE OUT LATE THIS YEAR.

LEAVE IT TO KIA TO TAKE A RATHER AGGRESSIVE TONE FOR A MINIVAN.

THE 2015 SEDONA IS FIT FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT, WITH A STANDARD V6 AND K900-STYLE LUXURY OPTIONS.

A PERENNIAL FAMILY FAVORITE, THE SUBARU OUTBACK SPORT-UTILITY WAGON FOLLOWS THE LEGACY SEDAN'S TOTAL REDESIGN AND LOOKS TO BE SLIGHTLY BIGGER, SAFER, AND EASIER TO LIVE WITH THAN EVER.

VOLKSWAGEN AND COMPANY GAVE US A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO, INCLUDING A CONCEPT, ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE DIESEL VERSION OF THEIR GOLF SPORTWAGEN.

AND AUDI ANNOUNCED A TDI HATCHBACK VERSION OF THE JUST RELEASED A3 SEDAN.

BMW FURTHERED THEIR 4 SERIES LINEUP WITH REVEALS OF THE SLOPPING ROOF X4... FOR THOSE WITH VERSATILITY IN MIND.

AND THE M4 CONVERTIBLE, FOR THOSE SEEKING WINDY PERFORMANCE AND THRILLS.

A SURPRISE WAS THIS UPDATED X5 EDRIVE PLUG-IN HYBRID CONCEPT WITH UP TO 20-MILES OF PURE EV RANGE.

MINI SHOWED A REFRESHED COUNTRYMAN UTILITY.

HONDA SHOWED ONLY A PHOTO OF ITS FIT BASED AMERICAN HR-V CROSSOVER.

THEIR STAGE WAS OCCUPIED BY THIS SMOOTH LITTLE GUY, THE SECOND GEN ASIMO ROBOT.

MORE HUMANOID THAN EVER, BOY, CAN THIS TIKE DANCE!

BUT THE STAR OF THE SUV CROWD WAS EASILY LAND ROVER'S DISCOVERY VISION CONCEPT, FORETELLING A MULTI-VEHICLE DISCOVERY LINE WITH THE FIRST FAMILY MEMBER DUE BY YEAR'S END.

WE WERE ALMOST HOPPING WITH EXCITEMENT TO SEE BOTH THE JEEP RENEGADE AND THE ALFA ROMEO 4C AT NEW YORK, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO DRIVE BOTH.

INFINITI'S M SEDAN IS REBORN AS THE Q70, BUT BESIDES FRESH STYLING, IT ADDS AN EXTENDED WHEELBASE L MODEL.

INFINITI'S NEW QX80 FULL-SIZE SUV IS A RE-SKINNED QX56.

AND FINALLY, THE MAZDA MX-5 MIATA CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A SPECIAL EDITION, AS AN ALL-NEW CAR IS LESS THAN A YEAR AWAY.

THOUGH HARDLY A CAR-FRIENDLY METROPOLIS, NEW YORK CITY AND THE 2014 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW, DID A BUFFO JOB OF DRIVING UP OUR AUTO ENTHUSIASM WITH THE BIG APPLE'S BIGGEST AND BEST CAR SHOW YET.

WITH THE WEATHER IMPROVING, SOME LEISURELY CRUISING IS LIKELY IN YOUR FUTURE.

SO LET'S STOP BY GOSS' GARAGE, AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S IN WORKING ORDER!

Pat Goss: WITH SPRING COMES POTHOLES, AND POTHOLES CAN DO A LOT OF DAMAGE TO A CAR.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO DO, IS YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET YOUR CAR UP IN THE AIR AND YOU HAVE A LOOK UNDERNEATH IT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT LAST "MOTHER OF ALL POTHOLES" YOU HIT, DIDN'T DO SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE THAT MAY BE CONCEALED.

NOW, THE MOST TYPICAL THING THAT GETS DAMAGED BY HITTING POTHOLES IS GOING TO BE THE ALLOY WHEELS.

SO YOU WANT TO INSPECT EACH WHEEL VERY CAREFULLY; ALL THE WAY AROUND, ESPECIALLY ON THE INSIDE OF THEM.

AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR DENTS OR CRACKS FROM THE EDGE GOING UP INTO THE CENTER, OR A CRACK ALONG THIS LITTLE RIDGE THAT'S IN HERE THAT REINFORCES THE WHEEL.

NOW, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS IS, YOU GET A TINY CRACK, IT DOESN'T LEAK AIR OR ANYTHING, BUT LATER ON, YOU'RE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED AND THE WHEEL JUST OPENS UP LIKE THIS.

THAT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES AND LOSS OF CONTROL.

SO CHECK THE WHEELS VERY CAREFULLY.

ALSO, LOOK AT THE CONTROL ARMS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'VE SLID AND TAPPED A CURB OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT DURING BAD WEATHER.

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ANY SIGNS OF TINY LITTLE BENDS OR CRACKS IN THE PAINTED PARTS.

THAT USUALLY SIGNIFIES THAT SOMETHING IS BENT.

LOOK AT THE STEERING; ALL OF THE LINKAGE COMPONENTS.

LOOK AT THE DRIVE AXLES AND BOOTS ON THEM.

THE RUBBER BOOTS ARE SOMETIMES DAMAGED BY ICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

ALSO, LOOK AT THE SPLASH PANS UNDERNEATH.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY THERE TO CHANNEL AIR WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING, AND SOMETIMES EVEN IN TRAFFIC.

THEY'RE ATTACHED BY PLASTIC PUSH PINS.

HERE WE HAVE A COUPLE EXAMPLES OF THEM.

THEY'RE VERY SIMPLE DEVICES, BUT THEY BREAK QUITE EASILY SOMETIMES.

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THIS PLASTIC IS IN PLACE.

ALRIGHT, NOW THE NEXT THING IS A GENERAL LOOK SEE AT EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE.

SEE IF ANYTHING IS DAMAGED, IF ANYTHING IS FALLING APART OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND ALSO LOOK FOR SALT RESIDUE.

AND IF YOU HAVE SALT RESIDUE, WELL, ONE WAY TO GET RID OF IT IS WITH A SPRINKLER, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE.

YOU USE THAT WITH A GARDEN HOSE.

NOW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL DAY BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT OVER HERE IN THIS QUADRANT FIRST.

THEN YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.

THEN YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT OVER HERE.

THEN YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE IT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR, ONE SIDE AND THEN THE OTHER.

AND FINALLY TO THE BACK OF THE CAR.

NOW, ABOUT AN HOUR IN EACH POSITION AND THIS WILL GET RID OF MOST OF THE SALT AND THE NASTY STUFF THAT CAN EAT AWAY AT THE UNDERNEATH OF YOUR CAR.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

WHEN IS A SMALL CAR NOT SUCH A SMALL CAR?

WHEN IT CAN CARRY AS MUCH AS OUR NISSAN VERSA NOTE.

FLIP THE ALSO ROOMY SPLIT REAR SEATS DOWN AND YOU HAVE ALMOST 40 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO SPACE.

MORE THAN ONE BIG SCREEN HAS GONE HOME IN OUR NOTE.

THE TYPICAL SMALL CAR ALSO DOESN'T HAVE A TOP END SAFETY FEATURE LIKE NISSAN'S AROUND VIEW MONITOR FOR 360-DEGREES OF VIEW WHILE BACKING.

ONE THAT DOES CEMENT NOTE AS A SMALL CAR IS FUEL ECONOMY.

AFTER 6 MONTHS AND 8,000 AROUND TOWN MILES, WE'RE AVERAGING 32.2 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

PLUS, ON INFREQUENT INTERSTATE TRIPS WE HAVE SEEN NISSAN'S CLAIM OF 40 MPG HIGHWAY.

REASONS FOR SO LITTLE LONG HAUL USE INCLUDE THE SKINNY PADDING ON THE SEATS, A RATHER CRAMPED DRIVER'S FOOT WELL, AND OVERALL STIFF RIDE.

BUT THAT SAME RIDE MAKES THE NOTE A ZIPPY PARTNER AROUND TOWN.

SO, WITH NO MECHANICAL WOES, OUR NOTE IS STILL RINGING LOUD AND CLEAR WITH US.

WE REALLY LOVED HAVING A TOYOTA RAV4 IN OUR LONG-TERM FLEET DURING THE NEVER ENDING WINTER OF 2014.

IT MADE QUICK WORK OF THE COLDEST DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NOW THAT SPRING IS HERE, A FEW UPCOMING ROAD TRIPS WILL ALSO TEST THE RAV4'S WARM WEATHER VERSATILITY.

BESIDES A COMFORTABLE CABIN FOR FOUR ADULTS, ALONG WITH PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THEIR GEAR, THE COMPETENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM IN THE RAV4 CAN TACKLE UNIMPROVED ROADS EASILY.

PLUS, IF IT GETS MUDDY, A LOCKING CENTER DIFF SHOULD HELP ENSURE FORWARD TRAVEL.

AND YOU CAN DO IT PRETTY FRUGALLY.

26.9 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR AFTER 9 MONTHS AND 20,000 MILES SPEAKS WELL FOR A 2.5-LITER POWERED COMPACT CROSSOVER.

PLUS, OUR RAV4 HAS BEEN MECHANICALLY FAULT FREE.

WE'LL WRAP UP A YEAR OF HYPERMILING IN OUR KIA OPTIMA HYBRID ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

THERE'S LUXURY, AND THEN THERE'S ULTRA-LUXURY.

AND WHILE EVERYONE CERTAINLY THINKS LUXURY WHEN THEY HEAR MERCEDES-BENZ, EVEN THE COMPANY THOUGHT THAT TO GO THE ULTRA-LUXURY ROUTE, IT WOULD TAKE A DIFFERENT BRAND.

AND THAT'S WHERE MAYBACH CAME IN TO PLAY.

BUT IT'S TOUGH FOR A LITTLE KNOW CAR MARQUE TO GET A FOOTHOLD THESE DAYS, EVEN WHEN IT'S BACKED BY MERCEDES.

SO, MAYBACH IS AGAIN HISTORY.

BUT DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT BENZ HAS ABANDONED THEIR ULTRA-LUXURY GOALS.

FROM OUR FIRST MOMENTS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE ALL NEW S550, IT WAS CLEAR MERCEDES-BENZ IS ATTEMPTING TO ELEVATE S-CLASS STATUS ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY REPLACE THE ULTRA-EXCLUSIVE MAYBACH.

SO, FORGET ABOUT COMPETING WITH THE 7-SERIES AND A8, THE NEW S-CLASS NOW HAS BENTLEY AND ROLLS-ROYCE IN ITS SIGHTS.

AND JUST LIKE THOSE HIGH ROLLER RIDES, THERE'S REALLY NO END TO THE LIST OF OPTIONS YOU CAN ADD IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR "S" A ONE OF A KIND PIECE.

BUT BENZ IS ALSO ATTEMPTING TO MATCH UNBRIDLED OPULENCE AT A MORE ATTAINABLE PRICE.

FOR STARTERS, THE LOOK IS PURE SOPHISTICATED ELEGANCE, NOT SHOWY IN ANY WAY; MORE CHISELED THAN BEFORE, BUT WITH THE SAME UPSWEEPING BODY LINES FLOWING TO MORE SUBSTANTIAL REAR SHOULDERS.

AS YOU WOULD EXPECT IN A NEW FLAGSHIP MERCEDES-BENZ, NEW STANDARDS FOR SAFETY ARE ACHIEVED.

THE TECHNOLOGY IS KNOWN, BUT NOW THERE IS SEAMLESS INTEGRATION OF DRIVER AIDES LIKE STEERING ASSIST, ACTIVE LANE KEEPING ASSIST, AND EVEN A NIGHT VISION SYSTEM THAT WORKS SO WELL, YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR LOOKING AT IT INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD.

THOUGH IRONICALLY ENOUGH, WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST, THE BUTTON TO TURN IT ON IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IN THE DARK.

THE NEW S-CLASS ALSO TAKES THE ILLUMINATION CROWN, AS THERE ARE ALMOST 500 LEDs BETWEEN THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR; NO INCANDESCENT BULBS WHATSOEVER.

JUST ONE WORD COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU FIRST EXPERIENCE THE INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT WORD IS CRAFTSMANSHIP.

BUILD QUALITY IS EXQUISITE, AND THE EXCELLENCE OF MATERIS AND UPHOLSTERY IS VERY REMINDFUL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED ESTEEMED BRITISH MARQUES.

THOUGH ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS AND CLARITY OF THE NAVIGATION SCREEN AND VIRTUAL GAUGE PANEL ARE FAR SUPERIOR AND JUST SCREAM HIGH-END, MUCH MORE SO THAN IN THE PREVIOUS GENERATION S-CLASS.

THE COMAND CENTRAL CONTROL SYSTEM IS WELL IMPROVED, MAKING A GOOD CASE FOR ELIMINATING TOUCHSCREENS ALTOGETHER; AND THERE ARE ALSO ENOUGH TRADITIONAL MANUAL CONTROLS FOR MOST FUNDAMENTAL OPERATIONS.

SEATS AND ARMRESTS ARE INSTANTLY COMFORTING AND SOOTHING; ALL CONTROLS AND ACCOUTREMENTS FEEL RICH; THE QUALITY OF WOOD AND LEATHER IS AMAZING.

ALL-IN-ALL, IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL INTERIOR.

OUR 4MATIC-EQUIPPED TESTER PERFORMED JUST GREAT OVER OUR WORN DOWN WINTERY BYWAYS, THOUGH THE ADDITIONAL HEAVES AND HOLES IN OUR ROADS HAD US WISHING IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL MAGIC BODY CONTROL THAT DOES JUST WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE; NEARLY LEVITATING OVER EVERY BUMP AND ROAD IMPERFECTION WITH THE TRUE SENSE OF A MAGIC CARPET RIDE, WITH APOLOGIES TO STEPPENWOLF.

THE UNIQUE PART OF THE "MAGIC" SYSTEM IS THAT INSTEAD OF REACTING TO WHEEL MOVEMENTS, IT USES CAMERAS TO SCAN THE ROAD SURFACE AHEAD AND PREDICT WHAT THE SUSPENSION IS ABOUT TO DEAL WITH AND ADJUSTS DAMPING ACCORDINGLY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE SYSTEM IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE MODELS.

DRIVING A FULL-SIZE, HIGH-DOLLAR SEDAN CAN BE A LITTLE INTIMIDATING, AS NOT ONLY ARE YOU AWARE OF THE CAR'S GIRTH, BUT YOU'RE ALSO VERY AWARE OF THE CAR'S PRICE TAG.

BUT BENZ DOES IT'S BEST TO ALLEVIATE THAT ANXIETY WITH AN INSANE AMOUNT OF COMFORT FEATURES, LIKE MASSAGING SEATS WITH PILLOW-LIKE HEADRESTS, PERFUME ATOMIZER, AND BURMESTER SURROUND SOUND AUDIO.

ALSO HELPING IS THE FACT THAT IT DOESN'T FEEL AS HEAVY AS THE PREVIOUS S, THOUGH IT STILL HAS THAT SUBSTANTIAL FEEL THAT ONLY A GERMAN MADE LUXURY SEDAN MANAGES.

EVEN WITHOUT "MAGIC," OUR 4MATIC NEVER BOUNCED OR FLOATED LIKE A BENTLEY OR ROLLS, MAKING US WANT TO PUSH IT FASTER AND FASTER.

AND IT HAS THE POWER TO DO IT.

WHICH WE CONFIRMED AT THE TRACK WHERE WE BOLTED TO 60 IN JUST 5.0-SECONDS, FINDING THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 13.5-SECONDS AT 108 MILES-PER-HOUR.

MAKING THAT POSSIBLE IS A 4.7-LITER V8, COMPLETE WITH A PAIR OF TURBOCHARGERS, CRANKING OUT 449-HORSEPOWER AND 516 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

TRANSMISSION IS A 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR 4MATIC ARE 16-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 22.3 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE COMES IN FAIRLY HIGH AT 17.3-BARRELS OF OIL USED WITH 7.6-TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.

EVEN WITH ITS DECIDEDLY MORE UPSCALE NATURE, BASE PRICING STARTS UNDER SIX FIGURES AT $93,825.

OUR EXTREMELY WELL-EQUIPPED TEST CAR WAS $122,895.

THAT'S NOT INEXPENSIVE, BUT THE NEW S REALLY DOES FEEL LIKE A CAR THAT COSTS TWICE AS MUCH, AND A BARGAIN FOR THIS LEVEL OF CRAFTSMANSHIP.

IN FACT, MERCEDES-BENZ CLAIMS THE 2014 S550 IS THE BEST AUTOMOBILE IN THE WORLD.

WE'RE NOT READY TO GO ANYWHERE NEAR THAT FAR, BUT IT IS A PRETTY SPECTACULAR PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE CONVEYANCE.

IT CLEARLY HAS REPLACED MAYBACH, AND WITHOUT QUESTION, HAS BECOME THE NEW BENCHMARK FOR THE "MASS PRODUCED" PREMIUM LUXURY SEDAN CLASS.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST, AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'LL CRANK THE WHEEL OVER ON SUBARU'S NEW AND HOT WRX STI.

THEN WE'LL CHECK OUT THE THIRD GEN BMW X5.

UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

>> Announcer: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE, VISIT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS PETE.

PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES, AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR, AND POWER THE DEMANDS OF TODAY'S ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.