Technology. Some people are afraid of it and some embrace it. But one thing upon which we can all agree is that it's an unstoppable force in the modern age. The sheer pace of technological development we've seen over the last few decades has been breathtaking: that smartphone in your pocket has more computing power than an '80s era, Ohio-class nuclear submarine and cars like the new 2014 E-Class have more onboard computing power than all of NASA during the Apollo 11 Moon Mission.

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Advancements in computing technology have led to all sorts of "the-future-is-now" features on automobiles. Consider self-parking. The Active Parking Assist feature on the new E-Class offers a wonderful option for parking naysayers like me, who dread that reverse-parallel maneuver in between two SUVs. Taking control of the steering, braking and accelerator of the vehicle, the system uses radars to gauge space size and looming shopping carts and street lamps. With almost no help from the driver, the car will parallel or perpendicular park as efficiently as you'd expect from something designed by German engineers.

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The E-Class is also fitted with a new electromechanical power steering system, a technology that is significantly more advanced—offering more fuel and weight savings—than the conventional oil-and-air hydraulic systems that are still commonly used today. Mercedes engineers took special care to ensure that the E-Class steering had the kind of clear, communicative feedback that has always been lacking with more antiquated hydraulic units, with drivers testing the system with a focus on stability and responsiveness.

The list of groundbreaking technologies incorporated into the E-Class continues with Intelligent Drive, a network that offers an ever-expanding universe of driving assists and conveniences. Helping a driver stay in his lane without drifting, adjust his high beams for oncoming traffic, and avoid rear-end collisions, the futuristic features enabled on the E-Class take us one step closer to space-age driving.

There is nothing more promising than having automobiles that are capable of outwitting Cold War era submarines and lobbing Saturn V rockets at the moon, all without breaking a sweat or interrupting your iTunes playlist. And standing at the starting line, equipped with radars, satellites, and modern technology systems smarter than the average human, is the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.


What do you think?