The Mercedes CLS-Class is an excellent case in point. Introduced as a 2006 model, it was not only a show-stopper, it became the prototype of a whole new vehicle class. When your design is so cool that it provokes copies far and wide, what do you do for an encore? Introduced for 2012, this latest-generation CLS-Class uses turbocharged engines for increased power and improved fuel economy. The CLS550 comes with a 4.6-liter biturbo V8 rated at 402 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. The CLS-Class was completely redesigned for the 2012 model year.
CLS550 comes standard with dual-zone digital automatic climate control, leather upholstery, 14-way power front seats, three-position memory, multicolor ambient lighting, COMAND system with 7-inch LCD, AM/FM/DVD/CD6, SiriusXM radio, traffic and weather, HD radio receiver, 10GB Music Register, Bluetooth, 80GB hard drive navigation with Zagat survey, harman/kardon Logic7 digital surround sound.
Safety features standard on all CLS-Class: 12-way air bag protection, Neck-Pro active front head restraints, Attention Assist drowsiness monitor, Pre-Safe, Hill-Start Assist, Hold braking feature, tire pressure monitor, mbrace2, ABS, brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control.
The pneumatic suspension handles the weight remarkably well, snubbing up and down body motions and keeping the car level during hard cornering. The electro-hydraulic power rack and pinion steering is accurate, and nicely weighted, though some may find the level of effort a smidge high. And there's no shortage of grip. The twin-turbo 4.7-liter V8 generates big-time torque (443 pound-feet) and it peaks just off idle, 1800 rpm, and stays peaked all the way to 4750 rpm. Throttle response is right now, not even a hint of turbo lag, and all that thrust, plus all-wheel drive, add up to very brisk acceleration, just over four seconds to 60 mph, and a quarter-mile in about 12 seconds flat. And when a quick stop is required, the brake system is more than equal to the task, providing sports car braking power and stopping distances. this is arguably the most stylish sedan in the Mercedes lineup, a powerful pleasure in everyday motoring, and still a head-turner wherever it goes.