The pedestrian on the shoulder of the road appeared bright and clear in the Merc's TV monitor as I approached but it took around three seconds more before I spotted him through the windscreen.
If he'd moved into the road, those few seconds could have meant the difference between him walking away unscathed or becoming an uninvited new addition to my grille.
This feature using infrared cameras to allow the driver to see much farther ahead at night, is part of a barrage of James Bond technology that the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class uses to outwit and outplay its luxury car rivals.
It's the most technically advanced S-class yet launched; the benefit of this game of one-upmanship in the millionaire's end of the market is that a lot of these features eventually filter down into bread-and-butter cars.
But that's not what I liked best about this car; I did like the seat massagers, adjustable from slow and gentle to fast and vigorous. And the seat bolsters that instantly inflate to give you extra support every time you turn a corner.
I was also quite fond of the distance control system uses front sensors linked to the cruise control to maintain a safe following distance; it even brakes the car when traffic ahead suddenly slows, and only stops working at speeds under 20km/h.
I didn't find the rear parking camera much use, though. The wide-angle camera distorts the view too much and I used the tried-and-trusted look-behind-me method, with a little help from the sensors that beeped when I got too close to anything.
High on my likes list were the doors that hold in any position instead of slamming shut or swinging open - even when you're parked on an incline. They also "suck" closed if you haven't shut them properly.
I'm less impressed with the cabin storage space. There are door pockets and a decent-sized glove compartment if you don't mind things noisily sliding around in them, but no smaller, handier receptacles for house keys and cellphones. The shallow storage bin between the front seats isn't much use.
The mouse-type multi-function controller is a decent effort; Mercedes-Benz has followed BMW and Audi, integrating functions such as the audio system, DVD player, satellite navigation, automatic air conditioning and various vehicle settings.
By twirling and pressing a knob between the front seats you can control a multitude of functions. At first it seems like you need a Masters' degree to figure it all out but it doesn't take very long to become familiar with it.
Baseline model
The S350 tested here is the baseline model in the three-model range - if you can use such a term with a straight face for a car that costs R715000 - with the others being the 5.5-litre V8 petrol S500 and the 3.2-litre V6 turbodiesel S320 CDi.
This "entry-level" S-Class is motivated by a new 3.5-litre V6 engine that's rated for 200kW and 350Nm. Merc claims it will sprint from 0-100km/h in 7.3sec at sea level with a generous top speed of 250km/h.
At Gauteng altitude the car moves forward with meaningful vigour without ever feeling racy. Its appeal is that it's an effortless cruiser, taking scant notice of steep hills and effortlessly scooting past slower traffic.
The seven-speed automatic gearbox, the only transmission available in the new S-class, is very smooth although with so many speeds on call it tends to change gears too often. It also has a semi-automatic mode via buttons on the steering wheel.
Those who need their adrenal glands stimulated to the tune of 0-100km/h in 5.4sec will need to buy the Benz S500 model for R895 000 or wait for the V12-engined S600 long-wheelbase version with 380kW/830Nm which will arrive later.
The new S-Class is longer, wider, and higher than its predecessor but barely heavier thanks to the use of aluminium while the engines all wield more power and torque than those they replace.
Luxury barge
Luxury barges like this can seldom be described as handsome and the rear styling of the new S-Class is particularly beauty-challenged. But the car has presence; its imposing size and that Benz star on the nose instantly identify its occupants as members of the Concorde-and-caviar fraternity.
A legion of safety features are ready to pop into action should the worst happen; in addition to numerous crash bags there's a pre-crash system that moves the seats into the optimum position to minimise passenger injuries and closes the windows.
Brake assist applies full stopping power when an emergency is sensed while adaptive brake lights flash to warn drivers behind - but you emergency really hard and the vehicle senses there's enough room to the vehicle in front, the brakes automatically release slightly so that the car behind you doesn't end up in your back seat.
But that's still not what I liked best about the S350.
The best part
It has vast space and pampers its occupants in leather-lined luxury - and it makes you feel good in that special Benz way. Which is why the S-Class already had an 18-month waiting list of people who had never even sat in it when it was launched here in February 2006.
Everything that was good about the previous S-Class, that sold about half a million units worldwide, is still good but it's now larger, safer, more sophisticated and more powerful.