Mercedes S63 AMG — The New Knight Rider?
Many of today’s car buyers fondly remember KITT, the famous and much-loved vehicle star of television’s Knight Rider. With the promise of Night View Assist and speech recognition technology, the S63 AMG may just be the real-world coming of this wonder car. The S63’s capabilities were recently put to the test by CNET’s rigorous reviewers. Here is how the car stacked up.
The S63 speaks in a soothing female voice, rather than the sharply clipped male voice used by KITT. It also keeps conversation to a minimum, explaining how to use the system for a variety of tasks but refraining from dispensing advice. The system is easy to use and quite responsive.
KITT offered the ability to drive itself, freeing up Michael Knight for more important tasks. The S63 AMG’s adaptive cruise control offers a similar ability. In testing, CNET reviewers set the cruise control to 75 mph and allowed the car to work its magic. It performed admirably, pacing the car ahead at approximately 65 mph and using the acceleration and braking features to maintain a safe following distance. However, CNET noted that it is necessary for the driver to keep his hands on the wheel, as the S63 lacks KITT’s ability to steer itself.
The S63 AMG lacks just slightly in performance as compared to KITT. KITT featured an eight-speed transmission, while the S63’s transmission is seven-speed. The S63 accelerates from 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds, while KITT was slightly faster at 2 seconds. However, the S63 wins out in handling, taking corners much more smoothly than the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am on which KITT was based.
The S63 also offers a major advantage in its Night View Assist system. Night View Assist uses infrared projectors to change the speedometer’s video screen to an image of the upcoming road. Testers from CNET found that the system allowed them to identify the type of vehicle ahead as well as greatly improving the visibility of the road surface and upcoming turns.
KITT offered a comfortable ride and a top-notch entertainment system. The S63 performs well in both of these categories. A six-disc changer and RCA jacks in the glove compartment offer a complete entertainment experience. The S63 takes comfort to a whole new level, offering a variable speed massage seat.
Of course, some of KITT’s features continue to exist only in the realm of fantasy. The S63 AMG does not provide a tear gas launcher, flame thrower, smoke screen or bulletproof body. Nonetheless, in the areas of performance and technology, the car meets or exceeds most of KITT’s standards. Why not come on down to our local Mercedes-Benz dealership to see this high-tech vehicle for yourself?
Filed Under: Mercedes-Benz Vehicles
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