Effective now, reductions of up to $10,000 are available across the model range. The CLS 550 offers up a $6,000 discount, while an S450 4Matic offers an $8,000 incentive. Customers after the legendary Mercedes Benz SL-Class models will benefit from a $10,000 incentive. In some circles, the SL makes a fantastic Christmas present.

These incentives are intended for those paying cash for their vehicles- though adjustments to finance rates have been made to reduce them to as low as 3.9 percent. Participating dealerships will also waive the first months lease payment and security deposit, while absorbing 1% of the GST on all models.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, Mercedes-Benz Canada CEO gave a statement earlier in the week:

“These competitive Manufacturer’s Direct Dealer Incentives have and will continue to provide customers and prospects a most sound rationale to purchasing their Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Canada. In keeping with our on-going commitment to offering competitive rates and prices in the Canadian marketplace, these offers truly represent unprecedented value for our customers.”

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Mercedes is trying to get back to the over-attention to detail for which their cars used to be known. Examples abound in the CLS: A black dashboard topper for the beige interior, which all but eliminates dangerous windshield glare. A “max cool” button for the air conditioning system. Frameless door glass.

And then there’s the center console armrest: It’s double-hinged to open left or right, so either driver or passenger can reach the contents with ease. Once inside there’s enough room to sit comfortably, but the fact that you have to scoot your toes in under the front seat presents an additional challenge when trying to get out. All in all, aside from the individual temperature controls, the back seat accommodations aren’t any better than Mercedes’ own E-Class. And while the E seats five, the CLS only accommodates four.

Driving the CLS takes some getting used to. The driving position is somewhat awkward because the steering column is offset slightly to the right, a consequence, I would guess, of taking a car based on the E-Class platform and widening it by two inches. The added width, the CLS is as wide as a Mercedes S-Class, makes the CLS feel like a much bigger car, but the turning circle is remarkably tight: The CLS can pull a U-turn on small residential streets. The rear-wheel-drive CLS550 is powered by a new 382 horsepower 5.5 liter V8 with a 7-speed automatic. Acceleration is brisk, passing is effortless, and the CLS is remarkably quiet at all speeds.

Regardless of which suspension mode you select the CLS is very stable in sudden swerves. The fun factor isn’t very high, though, even with the suspension in sport mode. If you really love to drive, try the CLS550’s big brother, the CLS63 AMG, provided the $96,000 price tag doesn’t put you off.

You can’t help but love the way the CLS looks, even if it does seem to evoke the ire fellow motorists. But from the inside you’ll barely notice the CLS’ more rakish styling. You will, however, notice the offset steering wheel and the challenge of driving a wider car, provided you aren’t too busy apologizing to your rear-seat passengers for not warning them to watch their heads as they got in. 

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The Mercedes CLS is roughly the same size as the E-Class sedan, with which it shares a number of major components. Yet the CLS-Class has fewer variants than the E-Class and it occupies a higher range on the price scale, with more standard luxury equipment. What distinguishes the CLS most readily from other Mercedes sedans is its four-seat cabin and gorgeous exterior styling. It comes in two varieties: powerful and crazy powerful.

For 2007, the CLS line features new V8 engines. The baseline is now the CLS550, powered by a 5.5-liter V8 introduced in the full-size S550. This engine is considerably more powerful than the one it replaces (in last year’s CLS500), yet without a decrease in fuel-economy ratings. The super-fast 2007 CLS63 AMG gets a new, hand-built 6.2-liter V8. With 507 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque, the CLS63 is one of the most powerful four-door cars available. For 2007, the CLS63 also gets a new seven-speed automatic transmission, replacing the five-speed previously used in AMG cars.

While both CLS models offer performance, it’s styling that distinguishes the CLS. Technically, the CLS is a sedan because it has four doors. Mercedes calls it a four-door coupe, and that’s a good description. The swoop-roof, pillar-less CLS has the graceful, sensuous, feel of a coupe with the rear-seat access of a sedan. Whatever it’s called, it may be the most visually appealing four-door on the market. Those great looks come with a slight penalty in terms of interior space, of course. The CLS only has four seats with four seat belts, while the E-Class cars have five.

In terms of technology, however, the CLS gives up nothing. Its air-spring suspension automatically gets firmer or softer depending on road conditions. A vast array of Mercedes safety features come standard, including rear-passenger side-impact airbags and one of the most advanced skid-management systems in production. More than 70 percent of the steel in the body and frame is galvanized, high-strength alloy, and even the paint is advanced. The clearcoat layer is impregnated with tiny ceramic particles, increasing resistance to scratches by 300 percent compared to conventional finishes, according to Mercedes.

The CLS is unique among luxury sedans. It’s a must-see for drivers willing to exchange a rear center seat for a load of curb appeal. The 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 ($66,900) is powered by a 382 hp 5.5-liter V8. The CLS550 comes with leather seats with three-position memory, four-zone automatic climate control, a 12-speaker harman/kardon audio system and hand-rubbed wood trim.

Safety features that come on all CLS models include front multi-stage airbags, side-impact airbags for front and rear passengers, front and rear curtain-style head protection airbags, seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, ABS with Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program, a roll-over sensor, low-tire warning system and Tele-Aid emergency telematics.

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