After all, they argue, with its ultra sexy sloping coupé like profile, what else can you call it?

Whatever one calls it, when you’re right in front of it you realize that Mercedes has done it again, creating a vehicle that others will find it difficult to match.

Based on the Mercedes E class, the CLS class was created with the intention of offering the comfort and luxury of a sedan with the sporty feel of a coupé.

I say that I believe that they did however there are a few shortcomings.

The doors for example are not as large as a sedan.

Second, the rear seats are no place for tall adults even with the extra legroom provided.

This said, those that fell in love with it, either the CLS 550 or the CLS 63AMG, seem to be all too forgiving about these “small oversights”.

If you’re after practicality and sensibility, get an E class.

If you want to make a statement the CLS is for you is what they would say. I strongly agree.

Whichever way you lean, you should take a test drive to cmare them at one of the Dallas Mercedes-Benz Dealerships

Some call it “an MB with an identity crisis” while others refer to as a crossover with an attitude.

Whatever its called fact is this is one sweet ride. Those that have been smitten by its sexy and hitech profile don’t mind its few shortcomings.

So what if the doors are slightly smaller than a sedan and what if outward viewing is slightly limited?

It’s a coupé aint it?

The 2009 Mercedes CLS class has two variants-the CLS 550 and the CLS 63AMG.

This year the CLS class got a few touchups:

• Reshaped LED taillights;
• Updated twin-bar grille;
• Trapezoid shaped exhaust tips;
• Restyled wheels;
• Larger heated mirrors with integrated turn signals;
• A Revised command interface;
• Sportier steering wheel (flat bottomed in the SL 63AMG)

For the CLS 550, standard appointments would be:

• Harman Kardon audio system with a CD changer;
• Leather upholstery;
• 18 inch wheels;
• Sunroof;
• Electronically adjustable air suspension;
• Satellite radio;
• Auxiliary audio Jack;
• Tilt/telescoping steering wheel

Three optional packages are available for the CLS 550:

The AMG Sport Package, Premium Package and Trim Package.

To check on the lowest pricing available for the Mercedes CLS contact your Dallas Mercedes Benz Dealer.

Though not as armored and as powerful as bigger brother, the S 600, the E Guards’ VR4 (formerly B4) level armor is capable of stopping 9mm, .357, and .44 Magnum rounds , 12 gauge shotgun slugs and hand grenade shrapnel.

The intended clientele are wealthy businessmen and celebrities who may have to fend off the occasional mugger, carjacker and/or overzealous paparazzi.

The new E Guard was intentionally designed to look almost exactly like its standard non-armored sibling so as not to give the bad guys a chance to plot against you.

Weighing in at a hefty 4717lbs, the E Guard is 860lbs heavier than the unarmored version.

To cope with the additional weight of the protection features, the suspension and brake system had to be redesigned.

The E Guard now comes with a special level II AIRMATIC air suspension system for the front axle and a multi-link independent suspension, anti-squat and anti-dive, stabilizer for the rear.

17 inch wheels with run flat tires are also standard. Electronic control and restraint systems designed to assist the driver in critical situations have also been recalibrated.

Aside from the above, the E Guard can also boast of hitech systems:

• Adaptive Brake – Replaced the reportedly unreliable SBC (Sensotronic Brake Control) system.

• Direct Control – Brings more driving comfort, accurate and easy steering manipulation.

• Intelligent Light System – The Intelligent Light System adapts itself to the weather and driving conditions and increases the visibility by up to 50 meters.

• NECK-PRO head restraints – This systems improves safety after a rear-end collision by moving the latter forward by 4 centimeters and 3 centimeters upwards.

• PRE-SAFE – The preventive emergency system called PRE-SAFE cooperates with the Brake Assist PLUS in order to warn the driver if the distance between him and a car in front gets critical.

This is possible thanks to radars installed on the front of the car.

The PRE-SAFE system also calculates the most effective braking, so even if the driver jams on the brakes, the car automatically uses as much brake power as required for safe deceleration.

If a crash is inevitable, the PRE-SAFE system tightens the seat belts, automatically closes windows, and the seats’ positions are adjusted in order to minimize the effect of the crash.

Now remove the 120 mm M256 smoothbore cannon then take out the road wheels and tank treads and put the three pointed star in front. Viola! The Mercedes S600 Guard.

Seriously, the S600 is Mercedes’ answer to VIP protection.

Heads of state, the rich and famous, dictators, despots, royalty, drug lords and the plain paranoid are but a few of their clientele.

In the past companies such as International Armoring Corporation and Armormax would take a brand new, fully assembled vehicle straight out of the lot, strip it down to its shell then retrofit the armor and protective equipment.

What Mercedes did instead was to include the armoring in the production process.

Speaking of armor, the S600 Guard has a Level IV or B7 protection rating.

This means that his majesty is safe from 9mm to 5.56mm to armor piercing 7.62 X 51 NATO rounds striking the car to grenade shrapnel and other explosive devices underneath the vehicle.

Also built in are Michelin PAX system Run-flat tires, an integrated fire-extinguishing system and a self-sealing fuel-tank.

Probably the biggest advantage one gets from factory installing the protection as opposed to aftermarket armorers is that Mercedes can fine tune the v12 512hp byturbo engine to handle the additional 3000 lbs without any discernible loss of comfort or handling.

Despite all the structural reinforcements and protection, what comes out at the end of the production line looks just like any other run of the mill S600.

That is until you open the doors and get a look at the roughly 3 inch thick polycarbonate glass that is.

I arrived 2 days ago. The MTR (Subway) station is about a block or two from the hotel where I’m going to be staying in.

Parked on the driveway were 3 black Mercedes Benz’s- 2 S550’s and a S600.
All apparently well maintained and polished, the sunlight bouncing off the hoods.

While checking in I found out that the 3 cars were the hotel limousines. I also found out that the 2 550’s were 4matics.

The manager didn’t know how much they cost here but back home it has an MSRP of $92,350 and the S600 $147,450.

Asked how Mercedes Benz is doing here and the lady says that the Mercedes Benz is one of the more popular brands of cars here especially for limousines.

She offered to chauffer me for the day in one of the 550’s.

The roads here aren’t as wide as those stateside but surprisingly there wasn’t any traffic to speak of but I guess you really wouldn’t mind not since you’re in a cabin which is just simply luxurious.

The 5.5 382hp V8 engine of the 550 was just purring even when accelerating.

The ride as expected was extremely quiet and smooth. More to follow.

Mercedes Benz Pullman S600 or some say Mercedes Benz S600 Pullman was first launched in 2006.

Pullmans were actually those railroad sleeping cars equipped with luxurious appointments and originally made by the American Pullman Palace Car Company.

Mercedes Benz started making vehicles with “special protection” way back in 1927. Emperor Hirohito of Japan rode in a 770k.

What really makes this car really special is the way it’s built.

Instead of retrofitting the armor into the vehicle as it would have been done in the past, Mercedes Benz it into the body thus adding further reinforcement.

The S600 is powered by a v12 byturbo engine which produces 380KW/517 hp, has run flat tires and has Level IV (B6/B7) protection. Governments, heads of Stae, royalty and the rich are impressed with the level of protection, comfort and entertsainment that they get when inside the car.

It’s like having your own Abrams M1 or Bradley IFV.
The only difference is that it doesn’t weigh that much and the sound system is better!

The only drawback – you might not find this on the showroom floor of your Mercedes-Benz dealership

When the car came, I did not expect that it was a Mercedes Benz. I was about to chastise him for being a so inconsiderate when, as if reading my mind, he told me that it is one of the new models of Mercedes Benz. And being the idiot that I am when it comes to cars (and a lot of other things), I did not get what he meant and just mumbled about all the negative car issues that I could think of.

Then, he interrupted and said, “You know, sometimes it helps to do some reading. FYI, almost thirty-eight percent of the new Mercedes Benz models consumes less than 6.5 liters of fuel for every a hundred kilometers.”

“Oh, really? Er, why not let me try it out for a test drive.”

Maybe you should try one out and your local Mercedes-Benz dealer.