{"id":3871,"date":"2016-02-28T13:49:40","date_gmt":"2016-02-28T12:49:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.car-shooters.com\/en\/?p=3871"},"modified":"2016-09-26T14:50:06","modified_gmt":"2016-09-26T12:50:06","slug":"mercedes-benz-4matic-safety-and-drive-pleasure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.car-shooters.com\/en\/2016\/02\/28\/mercedes-benz-4matic-safety-and-drive-pleasure\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC: Safety and Drive Pleasure"},"content":{"rendered":"

I had the pleasure of being invited to participate at one the Mercedes-Benz<\/strong> all-wheel drive 4MATIC<\/strong> events (Take a look at our focus here<\/a>): we started from Milan and I\u2019ve reached the snowy peaks of the Passo del Tonale. Everyting starts at the Mercedes Benz Centre in Milan, a huge and visually striking dealer really close from what was the area of Milan\u2019s \u200b\u200bEXPO.<\/p>\n

\"Interno<\/p>\n

Once the groups have been seleceted, we begin our journey to Ponte di Legno with a GLE 350d Coupe 4MATIC<\/strong>: an interesting SUV that boasts a true sporting spirit. Starting on the passenger seat, I explored this car better appreciating every detail, such as the leather quality or the fantastic Harman-Kardon Hi-Fi.<\/p>\n

\"Inizio<\/p>\n

\"Dettaglio<\/p>\n

\"Dettaglio<\/p>\n

Aesthetically is very sporty, the front of this car is looks very aggressive for being an SUV. Near the village of Spinone al Lago we take advantage of the last light of the day to admire the GLE Coup\u00e9 with the beautiful Lake Endine background.<\/p>\n

\"Mercedes-Benz<\/p>\n

\"Dettaglio<\/p>\n

\"Lago<\/p>\n

This journey is really rewarding for the comfort offered by the GLE Coup\u00e9 and the path that separates us to our destination near the Passo del Tonale. It\u2019s time for me to drive and only with the steering wheel in my hands I can finally understand how this GLE may be an SUV and a coup\u00e9 at the same time. To handle two totally different souls Mercedes-Benz has equipped this car with the DYNAMIC SELECT that, pushing a button on the tunnel, completely changes the car behavior.<\/p>\n

\"Interni<\/p>\n

\"Quadro<\/p>\n

In Comfort Mode the GLE Coup\u00e9 is appreciated for the excellent work of the suspensions, which perfectly absorb the terrain, the steering wheel is soft and the engine works to ensure good efficiency and quietness. The Sport Mode wake the beast inside the GLE Coup\u00e9: the powerful Diesel, with almost 260HP, comes to life, steering and throttle become very responsive and the car set-up ensures a very low rolling considered the size and the mass of it.<\/p>\n

\"Vista<\/p>\n

\"Dettaglio<\/p>\n

The dual clutch 9 gears 9GTRONIC becomes much faster and more responsive for a better management of the immense torque of the engine. The road goes up and the night is falling allowing us to observe the LED headlights that, as always, are a technology that really helps a lot during night driving.<\/p>\n

\"Dettaglio<\/p>\n

We are really close to the finish point and we realize that by watching the temperature going down and the first snow at the roadside. There are many things that I liked about this car even if I\u2019m not a fan of SUVs. You can really drive the GLE Coup\u00e9 4MATIC<\/strong> like a sport car when you want to have fun and there is so much technology on board and the boot is really big. I still have some doubts on 9 speed gears, is the first vehicle that I drive with so many gears and I\u2019m not yet fully convinced of their usefulness, I have to test it for more kilometers. Anyway in this journey from Milan to Ponte di Legno the GLE Coup\u00e9 has allowed us to dominate the road feeling to drive a sports car.<\/p>\n

\"Tre<\/p>\n

\"Frontale<\/p>\n

We reach the Blue Hotel Acquaseria in Ponte di Legno for dinner where I also had the pleasure to meet with the members of the Mercedes-Benz<\/strong> Italian press office with whom we spend a nice evening. I get up with a white snow that falls, a wonderful panorama opens our day.<\/p>\n

\"Lineup<\/p>\n

\"Hotel<\/p>\n

Ready to go, I get to the snow and ice circuit in Vermiglio with a Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4MATIC<\/strong> proceeding with the second test drive. The combination of Brilliant Blue and Artico Crystal Gray leather is simply wonderful and the panoramic roof is the icing on the cake.<\/p>\n

\"Interni<\/p>\n

Thinking about the three cars I’ve driven, this is definitely the one I liked the most in terms of aesthetics. During this short but intense 20km test drive the hairpins are full of ice and snow and this make me realize how much security is able to give the all wheel drive Mercedes-Benz\u00a04MATIC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Vista<\/p>\n

The road conditions were really at the limit but the feeling is that during the driving the car is always sincere in what he transmits to the driver and that it is always easy to control. Many a time it happens in fact, driving in such conditions, to feel the car sliding understeering or oversteering, but the 4ETS system is always ready to help the driver. Truly amazing.<\/p>\n

\"Passo<\/p>\n

My day is getting better and better thanks to the AMG Driving Academy<\/strong> instructors that allow us to drive some of the AMG cars on a track made from snow and ice.<\/p>\n

\"Lineup<\/p>\n

\"Lineup<\/p>\n

\"AMG<\/p>\n

When my turn came I can test the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG 4MATIC<\/strong> with a 4-cylinder 2.0L Turbo engine delivering 361 HP. Despite being a beginner with drifting the 3-stage ESP system it makes everything seem easy, especially when the ESP SPORT HANDLING MODE is on, that helps me control oversteering by activating if the slip angle is too wide.<\/p>\n

\"Pista<\/p>\n

\"Dettaglio<\/p>\n

The result? Lots of fun and lots of adrenaline, also thanks to the sound and the drive of this beautiful engine. To show the skill of the instructors and the quality of these cars I ask to one of them to take me as a passenger on the track, you can see the result here.<\/p>\n

\"Istruttore<\/p>\n