ROAD TEST: MERCEDES CLS500

On a typical day in Los Angeles, where I live, I spot at least one celebrity, a dozen surgery-enhanced starlet wanna-bes and tons of freshly minted exotic cars. So I was stunned when I parked my CLS500 tester at a ritzy garden party in the Santa Monica mountains and watched as several west-side hipsters slanted their Guccis to check out my wheels. I'd thought everyone here was immune to automotive eye candy, but no. With its sleek coupe lines draped over a four-door body, Mercedes has blended the sexiness of a two-door with the practicality of a sedan. And what a looker it is.

Yet unlike an L.A. bubble-headed beauty, this Benz is loaded with substance. Massive power comes from a 5.0-liter, V-8, 302-horsepower engine. Combine that with smooth, seamless shifting between seven--yes, seven--gears, and I was down for some fun in the sun. Most impressive is the electronic shifting, which adapts to the driver's current driving style. When I hit the accelerator hard, it responded in a snap, and kept the transmission in lower gears, anticipating aggressive acceleration. When I pushed the pedal more gingerly, the CLS moved into higher gears and relaxed into the gas-sipping stage. I also liked the Active Body Control (ABC,) which reduced the car's lean and roll while cornering. Beauty and brains; what a concept.

Tip: For $22,000 more, get the CLS55 AMG with 469 horses and 19-inch wheels.

© 2005