A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 / V I S I T E B O N Y . C O M 69

For most, a trip to Europe consists of shu ing from one ornate building to another or a photo-snapping ride on a double-decker bus. And while theres nothing wrong with strapping on your sneakers and fanny pack, once youve followed your fair share of tour guides, its time for something new. Ive trav-eled from Zambia to Thailand to Italy,

usually sticking to a mixture of public transportation, rattrap minibuses and the occasional long-tail boat. So I jumped at the opportunity to take in the sights, sounds and speeds of the famous German artery by test-driving the new 2015 C-class S550 Mercedes-Benzes.Billowing clouds spotted the bright-blue sky over Stuttgart,

Germany, as I marveled at endless, rolling green hills split by a winding thoroughfare. Although highways are nothing new to me, an L.A. native, this pristine, two-lane road couldnt be more unique. Germanys Autobahn is nearly 8,000 miles of uid, high-speed motorway, the third-longest in the world. The panoramic views and the hairpin turns of the mountain roads are thrilling for visitors and residents alike. On many parts of the Autobahn, drivers are restricted to 5080 miles per hour, but approximate-ly 60 percent of the superhighway has no o cial speed limit. I found a true thrill ride pushing 105 mph breezing by dairy farms and vibrant patches of yellow rapeseed owers.

OFF TO STUTTGARTA er an 11-hour ight to Frankfurt and a short connection to Stuttgart, I headed to the hotel for a quick change as adventure awaited. First stop was to the Center of Excellence, the hub of design on the Mercedes-Benz campus. Marveling at prototype

L I V E Travel

PUTTING THE PEDAL TO THE METAL, OUR JET-SETTER SPEEDS THROUGH EUROPE

T H E S C E N I C R O U T E

models and learning about top-of-the-line features was impres-sive, but out of the corner of my eye I spied something more in-triguing. A Nigerian-American couple, whom I had seen in my hotel, was being taken to a shiny new silver coupe and shown all the bells and whistles. Turns out, they ew to Germany to pick up their new roadster and drive it through Europe before having it shipped back to the States. Fabulous! Following a quick tour, I was handed the keys to a new C-class

sedan and promised the ride of my life. The sporty, red-leather seats and head-up display are luxury features I never expected in the brands entry-level model. A er a few startling moments as two Porsches raced by me, I adjusted my speedway swag and got in on the Autobahn fun during my three-hour drive to Switzerland.

models and learning about top-of-the-line features was impres-

A luxury car for the weekend? Why, yes!

1SPEEDWhile many consider a sedan synonymous with slow, Mercedes flag-

ship cars V-8 engine with 449 horsepower can turn 4.8 seconds into 60 mph; bumps in the road, even at 115 mph, are afterthoughts.

2LUXURYRichly upholstered and swathed in elegant wood, the S-class cabin is

berbossy thanks to heated armrests, six-speed mas-saging seats and specially designed scents such as Downtown Mood.

3COSTTo tap into its vast array of features, be prepared to pay well in

excess of its base price of $92,900. The perks, however, guarantee that this is a splurge that will not disappoint.

EXPLORE 128 YEARS OF LUXURY AT THE MERCEDES-BENZ

MUSEUM

Zipping by farms with the wind in my curls, I realized I was built for the fast life.

ARRIVING IN ZURICHTo be honest, I didnt quite know what to expect of Switzerlands largest city, but I was struck by how clean the streets were and the sidewalks lined with perfectly even pink and purple tulips. Families casually strolled with ice cream as a crew of dreadlocked Rastas crossed the street. I stopped for a quick lunch at the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute before hopping into the new S550 to soak up the mini-May-bachs luxurious ride. Spotify set to Jay Zs The Black Album. Time to go.

AMAZED BY THE SWISS ALPSAs I made my way to Lake Lucerne, which

Car enthusiasts and dreamers alike will enjoy viewing more than

160 vehicles, including vintage models and the AMG Vision Gran Turismo, the brands super sports

car. Kids can unleash their inner engineer at the GeniusCampus, where they build model cars and

play interactive games. V I S I T

mercedes-benz-classic.com/museum

for more information and tickets.

A U T O S P E C S

THREE REASONS WHY DRIVING NEVER FELT SO GOODThe New S550

Haute History

Above: A picturesque look at Stutt-gart Square. Right: Pulling up to Villa Honegg after a two-hour drive. Below: Zurich is alive with cafs and shops.

Above: With a fabulous view of the Swiss Alps in the distance, the Villa Honeggs heated infi nity pool is per-fect for a midday dip.

was rimmed by vacation chalets and fam-ily-owned farms, I had to force myself not to be distracted by the quaint charm. A er navigating a steep incline, I arrived at my hotel, Villa Honegg, the ultimate lavish re-treat. At nearly 3,000 feet above sea level, I looked out from the terrace toward the snowcapped Swiss Alps. Soon I was sitting on the patio enjoying a glass of wine as a cool breeze blew. Moments later, a wait-ress arrived with a faux-fur coat, one of the hotels plush perks. (Sel es ensued, naturally.) Then it was time for to head to the restaurant on the property for dinner, a meal lled with local fare including sole and Swiss chocolate. As I sipped a nal glass of champagne, I dreaded my depar-ture the next day; it had been a short but very sweet trip. AEK

Fast &Fierce

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