NEWS photos Neil Lucente ercedes Benz 500 SEL Emphasis ABOUT FIVE years ago, I remember reading in the North Shore News about a couple of West Vancouver teenagers who took their parent’s new full-size Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan for a joyride up Mt. Seymour Parkway. On the way down, the speeding car ran off the road, rolled over a couple of times and was written on safety, quality and passenger comfort - off. The boys, however, walked away unharmed. [ remember thinking at the time what a sturdy car the Mercedes must be, and that, despite the car's price tag of approximately $100,000, the boys’ parents must have felt glad they elected to buy a Mercedes-Benz. Not that there aren’t other safe cars on the market, but Mercedes-Benz automobiles, par- ticularly the large S-Class sedans, are definitely among the safest cars in the world. The Highway Loss Data Institute, an indepen- dent research association in the U.S. that analyzes real-world crashes, gave the S-Class sedans the highest safety rating of any car in its class during the 1988 to 1990 period. Everywhere you look on the new 500 SEL, there is evidence of the high priority given to passen- ger safety. Standard features in- clude airbags for both driver and passenger, automatic seat belt ten- sioners that pull back on the seatbelts in the event of an acci- dent, knee bolsters under the dash to prevent passengers from sliding under dashboard, extensive pad- ding and rounded surfaces to minimize injury, and doors that automatically unlock after a crash. The car's body is enormously strong, using a rigid steel passen- ger cabin, energy-absorbing crumple zones front and rear, side beams in the doors, and a full- size spare tire in the rear designed Technical data Price as tested $124,250 Type 4-door, 5-passenger sedan Layout longitudinal engine/rear wheel drive Engine 4,973 cc V8, DOHC x 2, 4 valves per cylinder, variable intake valve timing, front to help absorb impact forces. Weighing a hefty 2,150 kg (4,740 Ibs.), the 500 SEL has weight on its side too. And then there’s the ‘‘active’’ safety features that contribute to improved driver control and acci- dent avoidance. Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, traction control, speed-dependent variable-assist power-steering, and a fully in- dependent, self-levelling suspen- sion, The thought of crunching this magnificent $124,000 car is pain- ful to imagine, but if it does hap- pen, this car offers passengers a better chance than most. The 1992 S-Class sedans (300 SE, 300 SD, 400 SE, 500 SEL, and 600 SEL) were redesigned this year, and though heavier, thirstier, and considerably more expensive than previous models, ride, handling, comfort, and inte- rior roominess have been improv- ed. Interior room is noticeably sequential fuel injection Horsepower 322 @ 5,700 rpm Torque 354 Ib-ft @ 3,900 rpm Transmission 4-speed automatic Curb weight lbs. Wheelbase 3,140 mm/125.6 in. Length 5,213 mm/205.3 in. Width 1,886 mm/74.3 in. Height 1,495 mm/58.9 in. 2,150 kg/4,740 more generous due to a significant increase in the wheelbase for both SE and SEL (longer wheelbase) models. This translates into lim- See Quality-built page 30 Greg Wilson TEST DRIVE Tires 235/60 ZR-16 Trunk space 433 cu.ft. Fuel economy City 18.5 1/100 km, I5 mpg; Hwy. 13.4 1/100 km, 2! mpg Warranty Complete 4 yrs/ 80,000 kms Inquire about the Mercedes Benz 500 SEL at Mercedes Benz Canada, 1375 Marine NY. litres/15.6