A Crossover to Your Heart By merging western styles with the perspective of traditional Chinese painting, we've got cubism. By crossbreeding paddy, we've rewritten our knowledge on a major food source. In the same way, Mercedes-Benz is now reshaping our definitions on saloon and coupé by presenting the brand new CLS 350. A Joyful Mystery Just imagine that a CLS 350 is coming your way. Your brain would probably go chaotic, rendering you unable to define the signals coming through the optic nerves. With four doors, it is supposed to be a saloon. But the impression of a swift coupé is so strong that it leads you to question the first definition. To say that it is not a 4-door saloon, however, is plain ignorance of the obvious elements of a limousine. Take a closer look to unveil its true identity, you may first find that the boomerang shaped headlights have something in common with other Mercedes-Benz models, while the similarity is underlined with an unfamiliar and unique spirit. Sweeping backward a bit from the headlights, your vision is immediately captured by a sharp line running from the front wheel arch that draws your eyes straight towards the rear end of the car. This fast forward eye motion only further confirms your unfamiliar feelings on the subject, urging you to step back a bit to revise the previous impressions. Unfortunately, the whole picture turns out to be even harder to grasp as you discover that the line running along both sides of the vehicle are actually supporting the high waistline and low roof profile normally found on coupés, as are the powerful contours of the A and C pillars. And at the moment of believing in what you see, another inspection from the rear reveals hints of neo-classic saloon styling again throws you back to a state of uncertainty. The feeling is strange indeed, but what makes it even more interesting is that the contrasting signals turn up a comforting scene so persuasive that one would start to believe this is actually the way it should be. By the time you sit in the cabin, the same kind of strange feeling pops up again. While the electrically adjusted front seats give you the genuine feeling of a luxury sedan, the high waistline and the centre console splitting the front seating area into two obvious halves remind you of experiences from a coupé. As this idea flashes by, you again recognise that you are enjoying a generous amount of head room typical of a saloon. Turning your attention to the rear seats, it is no longer a surprise to find a comfortable seating area which is again split into two independent units by the raised propeller shaft tunnel - another exclusive feature of a sporty vehicle, only this one is able to accommodate a child safety seat with no fuss. With a trunk volume of up to 500 litres, the hidden drawer in the rear compartment and the optional roof rails to expand the luggage carrying capacity, the CLS 350 is unquestionably a saloon. But then again, the deep depressions and side supports of the seats are obvious cues of the cornering power of this vehicle. At first glance, you may think that the CLS 350 is 'just' a crossover between coupé and saloon. But crossover itself is only a method. The key to success is to apply it correctly. From the exterior and interior design of the CLS 350, it is not hard for us to see that the designer has achieved such a goal by finally weaving the two into a single natural whole. To put it simply: the CLS 350 is not the result of just stuffing contradicting ideas into the same place. The Force Behind the Mystery The melding together of saloon and coupé in form is not an easy task, not to mention supplying the most suitable powerplant and drivetrain to finish the transformation of the Mercedes-Benz CLS 350. The heart of the CLS 350 is a 3.5-litre V6 engine capable of delivering 200kW at 6000rpm, which is almost equivalent to 272bhp. Between 2400 and 5000rpm, this 6-cylinder unit can maintain a maximum torque of 35.7kgm or 350Nm. These figures might not sound fearsome, but power unleashed through 7G-TRONIC automatic gearbox unique to Mercedes-Benz is already enough to thrust the car from stand still to 100km/h within 7 seconds, with the top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h. Both figures are at least on a par with most coupés, and one should not miss the point that the CLS 350 runs a lot smoother than most coupés. This smoothness, of course, has something to do with the genuine character of a V6 engine. And the 7G-TRONIC transmission system plays an important part in this performance. This advanced system not only provides a smooth and linear change between gear ratios, but is also smart enough to skip any unnecessary ratios when shifting down, thus lowering the fuel consumption and emission levels. This is why the CLS 350 achieves an average fuel consumption of 10.1 litres/ 100km in the combined test cycle. To cope with the robust power, the Mercedes-Benz has armed the CLS 350 with the latest technology both in terms of active and passive safety. For instance, there is the Sensotronic Brake Control System (SBCTM), the Electronic Stability Programme (ESPR) with built-in tyre pressure warning system, the optional bi-Xenon headlights with the Active Light System that can steer the light beams into the corner as the vehicle turns, and the multi-function steering wheel that allows the driver to concentrate on the road all the time. Besides all these, first rate passive safety is integrated to all classes bearing the 3-pointed star. On the driving pleasure front, the CLS 350 is a good match with the top of the range Mercedes-Benz models, and the AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control) is probably one of the most desired options. With a single touch of the control button, this semi-automatic suspension control system can adjust the hardness of the air spring to cope with your driving style. Its Adaptive Damping System also provides 4 different damping programmes to smooth out all the bumps on the road while you sit comfortably in an environment perfectly controlled by the 4-zone THERMOTRONIC climate control system. If the generous choice of equipment gives you difficulty in making up your min