Mercedes-Benz CLS550 2012

Although it’s still a striking car, the CLS places equal emphasis on its bevy of safety features. There are nine standard airbags and no fewer than 12 assistance systems. New among these are three active systems to help with parking, staying in the appropriate lane, and monitoring blind spots. The ­latter doesn’t merely alert a driver to a car in a blind spot; it uses the brakes to tug the CLS away from an approaching vehicle.

More important to enthusiasts, Mercedes is using its new 4.7-liter, direct-injection twin-turbo V-8 in place of a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter engine. (It seems that Mercedes’ naming conventions have followed BMW’s lead, in that they tell you ­absolutely nothing about what’s underhood.) This engine made its debut in the CL550, where it was rated at 429 horsepower. In the CLS, the power is down to 402, although that’s still 20 more horses than in the previous CLS550. The old engine made 391 pound-feet of torque, which grows here to 443, available from 1600 rpm.

Mercedes claims the twin-turbo engine is 10 to 15 percent more fuel efficient, thanks to the smaller displacement, direct injection, and a stop-start system that will not come to the U.S. on this engine, instead waiting to appear on the upcoming AMG model. The engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive will be available later. Performance should remain similar to that of the previous model; the last CLS550 we tested managed the 0-to-60-mph sprint in 4.7 seconds. But by  the middle of next year when the car launches here, it’s likely that Mercedes also will introduce the CLS63 with a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8 making about 550 horsepower.

The air suspension and continuously variable damping combine for a plush highway ride. Ultimately, however, it lacks a convincing degree of athleticism: Though precise and linear, the new electric power steering provides far more feedback than does the chassis, which is pretty inert.