LA Auto Show: Best Seats in town!

Mercedes-Benz all new CLS 550: Excelent seats with premium package!

One of my favorite evolutions is that of comfort inside the vehicle. So for this year’s LA AUTO SHOW I decided to give my opinion about seating and interior feel.

The S-Class: Maybe the best seat out there!

Regarding the luxury vehicles, nowadays it is hard to find a bad seat. What varies more are the different ways you can find your best position. Some cars have so many options you take too much time figuring out the power adjustments. 

All is possible on the S-Class power-seats.

Volvos still have the most comfortable and easy to find positions in the car industry. Only top of the line Mercedes and other big priced vehicles can tackle at the same level of comfort and anatomy.

Mercedes-Benz CL!

As for these expensive automobiles, Mercedes-Benz luxury liners have incredible seating, particularly on the S-Class sedan and CL Coupe. Not far behind are BMW’s 7 series and 5 series GT (the GT is similar to the 7, not to the 5 series). Audi, the other German competitor becomes welcoming once you are above the A6 level.

BMW GT: 5-series based on the 7-series platform.

BMW GT: Almost the same as a 7-series.

GT seat with dark leather.

Figure out all you can do with the BMW driver's power-ajustments!

In terms of SUV, nothing beats the traditional Range Rover, even if it still uses the commands of the time it was owned by BMW. The new Range Rover Evoque is a great comfortable and avant-garde small SUV.

All-new Range Rover Evoque: small SUV.

With British comfort!

The Japanese are not behind at all. All Acuras and Infinitis have exemplary seating. Although the new Acura ZDX and Infiniti M are better than others.

Acura ZDX Crossover.

Acura ZDX with all leather console!

Infiniti M.

Infiniti M has amazing comfort as all Infinitis!

The Acura TSX Wagon is amazing at afordable prices!

On the American end, I would have to stick with Lincoln. Their MKS has amazing seats and touch technology center commands for audio and air-conditioning. Buicks are good too, but Cadillacs have too much of a hard seat. 

The new Buick Verano.

The Verano is a Chevy Cruze with better trims and good seats at affordable prices.

Lincoln MKS: true American comfort!

Ford and Lincoln now have touch sensitive commands!

As for more inexpensive options I recommend the Ford Fusion and Subaru Legacy as two sedans that really have very good seating and comfort. Honda Accord is also a good option. Unfortunately, the NEW CIVIC is not as good as it used to be.

Low profile comfort and space!

Hope this helps enlighten how comfortable one should feel inside an automobile. 

Honda Crosstour Interior.

2011 Los Angeles Auto Show!

 Please enjoy taking a peek at the Los Angeles Auto Show – 2011 Edition.

The SUPERSTARS:

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The All-New Porsche 911 Carrera

This is the new Gullwing Mercedes!

Perfect classic combination of Green and Beige!

Mercedes-Benz SLS beige Interior

The new SLS in green was one of the most beautiful vehicles!

The rear view of the 911 Carrera S - All LED back lights!

Small details make all the difference for this state-of-the-art Porche

SLS Converteble

Jaguar Concept - one day will be the new XK

Jaguar Concept

Rolls-Royce

This is the interior of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Cabriolet

Bentley Mulsanne

This is the new super-full-size from Bentley

An interior trim for the super luxury Bentley

Details and a lot of LEDs for the 2012 Continental

This has been a glimpse of the bes showcars! Soon more will be shown!

Mercedes and their peculiar Cruise Control

For years, Mercedes-Benz has positioned their cruise control command on a strange position, above the side signals and windshield wiper commands (that are all on the left hand of the driver). This location, where a protuberant arm flies out almost covering part of the gauges, is practically a tradition, since it has been this way for decades.

With every new edition, I hope that I will see the cruise control set up on more convenient places, like mounted on the steering wheel.  However, this fails to happen even today, with the most advanced Mercedes models ever. 

Cruise Control arm out and above on the left side.

I know several people who agree with the fragile and odd-looking control located on the upper-west corner of the driver. Actual staff from Hertz at the SFO International Airport feels that the command is on the way, badly located and that it eventually makes basic turn-signaling harder! I was impressed how exact they were in sharing my own feelings.

Mercedes-Benz small SUV: GLK 350.

Meanwhile, I recently had the opportunity to test-drive a new Mercedes GLK for a long journey. With my up-close and personal use, I found out a few things. First of all, how precise and not-at-all fragile the command is. This cruise control also has a feature that permits the driver to coast or accelerate from 1 to 1 mph or 5 to 5 miles! And if you choose to have the board computer showing your speed, you will witness how accurate and practical it is.

Two arms: Cruise Control above and turn signals plus wipers commands!

Thus, my point now reclines only on the fact that this location is definitely strange and hard to reach, but not any more on the precision of the control. This position is quite dangerous, since drivers often seem to confuse the upper arm with the lower one – cruise with turn signals. Therefore, Mercedes could think of a better place for its cruise control since the brand has broken other traditions recently!

Mercedes-Benz GLK: C Class kind of luxury!

The Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 exists to defend the brand from small SUVs as BMW X3 and Audi Q5. The interior commands are very similar to a C Class sedan, but it fits five people and their luggage with certain comfort.

Filled with nice details, the interior has memory power front seats with heating option, adjustable power steering wheel and dual sunroof. The tailgate opens and closes with the simple push of a button. And the rain sensing wipers are very intelligent and capable! In terms of security, this Mercedes comes with all the obvious bags and electronics, including the NeckPro for whiplash protection.

The controls are not intuitive at all. For instance, the sound system is great, but difficult to understand and the auxiliary input is inside the glove compartment, right by the passenger door. The steering wheel holds the board computer commands, witch also lack intuitiveness!

Powered by 268 hp with the help of a 6-speed automatic transmission, the engine is cleaver and fast: 0 to 60 in 10 seconds. However the gas needle follows the driver’s enthusiasm falling quickly when one presses the pedal!

Aside from these details the GLK is a great luxury SUV and can triumphantly show off the three-point star on its hood.