Riverside, Illinois – Each time you walk toward the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe, you notice something new, some intricacy that charms you. It might be the way the crossbar magically floats in the front grille like the image of an airplane propeller. Or maybe it’s the dramatic bodyline that starts above the front wheel, then slowly fades away before reaching the rear wheel. Or maybe it’s the pillarless bubble top framed in brushed aluminum (my personal favorite). The Mercedes S550 Coupe invites your attention instead of screaming for it. It has a refined, subdued sexiness, not a bold, bright-red-lipstick sexiness.

This is true not only for its exterior but also its leather-swathed interior, which neatly incorporates not one but two huge LCD displays, a panoramic sunroof, a Burmester audio system, touchpad controls for the infotainment system, and LEDs that provide soft, red ambient light on the dashboard at night. Massaging front seats and a surround-view camera system are part of the $3,500 Premium package; a heated steering wheel, a heated center armrest, and heated seats and door armrests are part of the $1,990 Warmth and Comfort package; and a night-vision system with an infrared camera that can detect animals and pedestrians costs $2,260.

Push the matte silver starter button and the S550 Coupe’s twin-turbo V-8 clears its throat with a grumble before settling into an almost silent idle after just a few seconds. Ease onto the accelerator pedal, and the big-body coupe pulls away smoothly and, as lame as it might sound, with majesty. It’s surreal how comfortable and civilized the S550 Coupe can be. Can. Be.

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe is subtly seductive, highly sophisticated, and startlingly savage. It’s beautiful.

2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic Coupe Specifications

(source: automobilemag.com)