Base price: $99,990
As tested: $110,925
5.5-liter, 382 horsepower V8
15 city / 22 highway
More info: www.MBUSA.com
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Can the lack of a B-pillar be sexy? When you're talking about the new Benz CL550, you're damn right it can. A B-pillar is basically a steel post between the front and rear windows that supports a car's roof. Without one, this new coupe has a shockingly clean and smooth overall line. Slightly flared fenders, oversized dual exhaust pipes and a boxy rear end that reminds us of the new Bentley coupe all keep the CL from looking the least bit feminine. To be blunt, we've never really liked giant, oversized two-door coupes like the CL -- until now.
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Nixing the B-pillar also has a dramatic impact on the CL's interior, giving passengers, especially those in the back, pristine panoramic views. It feels like you are floating around in an opulent glass bubble. The interior is definitely lush, which is what you would expect from a six-figure auto. Some of our favorite touches included automatic rear head rests that fold down for increased visibility, a gorgeous wood compartment that houses the CD changer and a neat push-button "electronic trunk closer." We were disappointed with the slightly tight rear leg room given how long the car is, and while the "driving dynamic front seats" are cool at first (they squeeze into you going into turns), the novelty wears out fast and it even becomes a little annoying at low speeds.
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For a car that costs more than $100,000, we felt that the 382 horses pumped out by the 550's V8 were a little skimpy. However, during a three-day test drive around L.A., the 550 was quicker than we expected (0 to 60 in less than 5.5 seconds), had almost no body roll and was recording studio-quiet in basically all conditions. The seven-speed automatic transmission shifted very crisply (you expect a car this big to lumber a little), and we absolutely love the simple, steering column-mounted shift mechanism. But if the 550's outstanding performance isn't enough for you, hop over the top by dropping about $45 grand more for the twin-turbo, 510-horse V12 CL600, which will catapult you to 60 in about 4.5 seconds. It's total overkill, but in the best possible way.
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Pull up in this and she's pretty much yours.
-- by John D. Thomas |
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