Mercedes-Benz CLS550

Introduced in 2007, the Mercedes-Benz CLS550 was one of two vehicles in the automaker's CLS line of sophisticated four-passenger, four-door coupes, as Mercedes referred to them. The CLS line, introduced a year earlier, drew some mechanical elements from the automaker's E-class vehicles. However, the CLS vehicles featured exterior styling that was unique and contemporary in appearance, with arched rooflines, similarly arched contour lines from front to rear, and concealed B-pillars for a clean side appearance.

Under the hood of the CLS550 was a new 5.5-liter, 32-valve V8 engine that produced 382 horsepower. The engine was linked to a seven-speed automatic transmission with a number of features, including Touch Shift, which allowed the driver to upshift or downshift manually by nudging the shift lever left or right.

Standard features for the CLS550 included an Electronic Stability Program that monitored steering and braking to keep the car stable and balanced under aggressive driving. Also part of the package were all-speed traction control, anti-lock brakes, a Brake Assist system for emergency situations, and an Adaptive Damping System, which enabled drivers to select sport or comfort driving modes. The system would then automatically adjust the ride and handling accordingly.

Exterior features included a silver grille with four chrome ribs, dual chrome exhaust pipes, a power tilt and sliding tinted glass sunroof, power heated exterior mirrors, light-sensing headlights, and touch turn signals that flashed three times at a single touch for signaling.

Inside, standard features were extensive, and included 10-way power-adjustable front seats with three memory settings, premium leather upholstery, hand-polished Laurel wood trim, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, a four-zone climate control system, electronic cruise control, power windows, and a 12-speaker Harmon/Kardon surround-sound stereo system with a CD player.