Mercedes-Benz E550

The Mercedes-Benz E550 made its debut in 2007 as a replacement for the automaker's E500 luxury sedan. In addition to receiving the styling updates that all E-Class models received in 2007 (which included new bumpers, headlights, taillights and grilles), the E550 was powered by a new engine, a 5.5-liter, 32-valve V8 that produced 382 horsepower. That meant the new E550 had 80 more horsepower than the previous year's E500 sedan.

The E550 was equipped with many features that  were becoming common in Mercedes' mid-level and high-end vehicles. For instance, the E550 came with an Electronic Stability Program that monitored steering and braking to keep the car stable and balanced under aggressive driving. All-speed traction control, anti-lock brakes, and Brake Assist, which provided maximum available braking in an emergency situation, were also part of the package.

Also new was a PRE-SAFE system, which worked with the Brake Assist and Electronic Stability Program to sense impending accidents. In the event of an accident, the system automatically made adjustments to the seats, and closed the windows and sunroof to ensure optimal safety for the driver and passengers.

The standard transmission for the E550 was a seven-speed automatic with electronically controlled shifting and driver-adaptive programming that automatically adjusted shift points depending on the driver's style. The transmission also included an Optimum Gear that selected, when the driver nudged the shift lever, the best gear for acceleration or braking. It also featured a driver-selectable Comfort mode, which adjusted upshifts at a lower rpm for better control in difficult driving conditions.

Other features included a four-zone automatic climate control, heated 10-way power front seats with three memory settings, luxury upholstery and trim, Burl Walnut wood trim on the dash, doors and console, electronic cruise control, a power tilt and sliding glass sunroof, a SmartKey keyless entry system, and a 12-speaker Harmon/Kardon digital surround-sound stereo system with a CD player, CD changer, and optional DVD navigation system.

The E550 was also available with, at no extra cost, an optional Sport Package that included sculpted side skirts, a sport rear bumper with dual exhaust, 18-inch 10-twin-spoke wheels, perforated disc brakes, headlamp washers, and a sport suspension. Inside, the Sport Package added Black Birdseye Maple wood trim and a matte chrome instrument cluster with white gauges.

A 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system was also available as an option.