It’s that time, the seasons are changing, we’re in the last months of the year, and the newest cars for 2019 are making their debut on the scene. This is truly an exciting time in the auto industry, technology has reached new heights and the changes are remarkable. Whether you know every inch of the automotive world, or just enough to decide which car is right for you, technology has combined with modern luxury to create new models that have endless features to make driving safer, easier, and just plain cool.
Recently, we spent the day testing out one of these new models: The Mercedes-Benz CLS. One of the more popular cars here in the Northeast, the coupe meets sedan 13th generation model makes driving on the Cross County Parkway feel like a Sunday drive on an empty country road. (Full disclosure: I fall into the knowing just enough to decide which car is right for me category, so more technical detail can be found here).
Our day began by heading to the Inn at Pound Ridge for brunch, then off to the women’s finals of the US Open. The first thing you notice when you get into the CLS is the spaciousness—the clean strong lines of the coupe exterior do not translate to feeling cramped in the front or back seat. Visually, the interior details are beautiful in form, from the airplane-like vents, to the continuous instrument panel. But, like all Mercedes, function is at the heart of every vehicle they design, with safety and comfort being two of the main pillars.
When you’re driving in the CLS, there are a few features that really stood out. The semi-autonomous features with sensors and cameras so you can set the speed, take your foot off the gas, and determine how many car lengths of distance you want between you and the car in front of you. The driver still needs to pay attention, but now you have the added technology working with you to predict and prevent potential dangers (it will start to break if a vehicle cuts in front closer than the length you’ve set), and make the driving experience that much more enjoyable.
Looking to stay awake on a longer trip (or late at night?)? There is a selection of ambient lighting you can choose from all designed to make you more alert. Then there’s the energizing comfort package—basically a spa on four wheels. There are different settings that will help you feel more refreshed by engaging a massage seat to relax your muscles that might be stiff from driving, controlling the temperature in the car, playing specific music, and even aromatherapy scents.
While I tested the CLS, there are a variety of new models available out there, check them out here.
Fun Fact:
The first road trip, was taken by Bertha Benz in 1888 from Mannheim to Pforzheim. Three years after her husband had invented what would become the first automobile, she decided to take the arduous trip in the Patent-Motorwagen Model III to shorten the travel time and see how the car performed. The inspiration for the car was initially born out of purpose—to shorten travel times so people could travel to different areas in less time and with greater ease.
