Style

There are just two elements that could account for that price difference: The CLS' more advanced V-8 engine and its darn appealing, elegant design. Like most new Benzes, the CLS features a large, dominant grille, in this case embedded with a gigantic three-pointed star. And of course there are optional full LED headlights. Luxury automakers are in a war to see which can use more LEDs to illuminate our roads, and the CLS comes to the fight with two stories of LED strips in the headlight cluster — to great effect.

The CLS' design trademark is the sloping roofline that many other vehicles have emulated over the years. For 2012, the car allows for a more traditional profile, albeit one dressed up with scallops running along the doors. It then radically drops off in the rear in a rounded truncation.

It's a startling effect, set off with giant taillights, yet whenever I try to describe it I end up using the word "droopy."

The CLS63 AMG has larger, 19-inch wheels, a more aggressive front bumper, a chin spoiler and quad exhaust.

    See also:

    Dashboard fuse box
    Do not use a pointed object such as a screwdriver to open the cover in the dashboard. You could damage the dashboard or the cover. ► To open: pull cover 1 outwards in the direction ...

    Accepting a call
    If someone calls you when you are in the Telephone menu, a display message appears in the multifunction display, for example: ► Press the button on the steering wheel to accept an incomi ...

    Crash-responsive emergency lighting
    The interior lighting is activated automatically if the vehicle is involved in an accident. - To switch off the crash-responsive emergency lighting: press the hazard warning lamp button. or - ...