When it comes to shaking up the luxury car world, no amount of power, technological sophistication or supple leather in the cabin can top an alluring design. More stunning in person than even the most flattering photography might suggest, the coupelike Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class has a visual presence that few other luxury sedans can match. And that is something that's not likely to change for some time to come.

The 2011 CLS is a 4-door, 4-passenger luxury sedan, or luxury sports sedan, available in two trims, the CLS550 4-Door Coupe and the CLS63 AMG 4-Door Coupe.
Upon introduction, the CLS550 4-Door Coupe is equipped with a standard 5.5-liter, V8, 382-horsepower engine that achieves 14-mpg in the city and 21-mpg on the highway. The CLS63 AMG 4-Door Coupe is equipped with a standard 6.3-liter, V8, 507-horsepower engine that achieves 12-mpg in the city and 18-mpg on the highway. A 7-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims.

What the Auto Press Says about Mercedes-Benz CLS

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS ranks 7 out of 7 Super Luxury Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 50 published reviews and test drives of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS has sprouted imitators, but none of them have ever come close to catching it. It’s a beautiful car, with a sweeping roofline and sports-car-like profile, yet has seating for four. It’s as powerful and opulent as a super-luxury car should be. Its extraordinary shape forces compromises -- limited rear seat space and a small trunk -- but the automotive press doesn’t care. For those who can afford to sacrifice a little practicality on the altar of style, the CLS has no peers.

Most automakers build just one flagship sedan to show off the best their designers can do. BMW, for instance, has the 7-Series. Audi has the A8. Lexus has the LS. The automotive press considers each the culmination of a company's talent. There is no feature those cars lack, they are among the most luxurious cars ever built, and most perform like sports cars half their size.

Engineers applied some light camouflage to this test car, but to no avail. There's no mistaking that Mercedes-Benz grille, although we're more interested in what lies underneath those padded hind quarters. It may be slightly obscured, but the disguise doesn't hide the rising rocker trim and the curvaceous rear fenders, both cues first shown on the Concept Fascination from the 2008 Paris motor show.

That show car, however, was designed more as a shooting brake than a familial mode of transport. We're not surprised that the Fascination's racy roofline has been nixed in favor of a more traditional profile, creating more room for kids, pets, and other cargo.

Likewise, the Concept Fascination's powertrain - a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel I-4 also used in the E250 Bluetec concept shown in New York - won't appear in production cars destined for North America. Mercedes-Benz plans on offering the next E-class wagon only as an E350, meaning a 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 will lurk underhood. While we wouldn't be surprised if a 4Matic model followed soon after, don't expect to see a diesel or AMG variant in the model mix.

Although we should see the final product in all its glory this fall (it's expected to debut at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show), the 2010 E350 wagon won't arrive stateside until the summer of 2010.