NEW YORK (FORTUNE) - Back story: Although it likes to think of itself as King of the Road, Mercedes has been running back in the pack for the last couple of years, thanks to quality problems, clunky designs, and an intense whispering campaign by competitors.

Mercedes-Benz 2007 S550
Price as tested: $103,745.

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With the launch of the ninth generation S-class -- Mercedes' flagship and contender for the title of Best Car in the World -- it couldn't afford to screw up without risking major embarrassment.

It didn't. In fact, the new S-class jumps right back to the front of the field. I took my pewter-colored tester on a 1,300 mile New England college tour with my daughter and enjoyed every day that I could pretend to be its owner.

The styling is subtle and refined, and the much criticized fender flares (which one wag compared, unfavorably, to the 1966 Olds Tornado) look much better in person. More than just a pretty face, the 550 is also faster, quieter, roomier, and smarter than its predecessor and manages to pamper the driver and his passengers without being overbearing.

My two favorite features: The dynamic seats that grip your thighs with increasing force as you navigate a curve, and the active cruise control that almost imperceptibly bring the car to a complete halt if the vehicle in front stops unexpectedly.

Least favorite: the overly complicated Command System that hid controls for the Sirius satellite radio under several screens of other data. A couple of electronic glitches flashed across the instrument panel but otherwise the big Benz performed flawlessly.

Der grosser Mercedes isn't for everyone, but those special few (you know who you are) will get plenty of enjoyment from their six-figure outlay.

Click here for another look at the S-class.