Mercedes-Benz with headquarters in Germany makes luxury and performance vehicles that span the scale in size and type with multiple options for power and traction.

The vast collection includes souped-up performance variations in many categories built by the Mercedes super-tuner AMG. But there are three new Mercedes classes for 2006 -- the elegant CLS Class of four-door coupes, the large-scale R Class sport tourer wagons and a new generation of designs for American-built M Class of sport-utility vehicles.

Two striking new models with sculpted bodies emerge in the 2006 Mercedes line to forge the new CLS Class. Described as a four-door coupe, the sleek and elegant CLS sorts in size between mid-size E Class and full-size S Class sedans. Part of the structure for CLS comes from the E Class but the design draws graceful styling of a sporty coupe with low sweeping roofline.

There are two models in the series with CLS500 and a powerful CLS55 AMG. The former pulls from a Mercedes 5.0-liter V8 tuned to 302 hp, while the latter merits the AMG 5.5-liter supercharged V8 cranked to 469 hp. Both use the 7G-tronic seven-speed TouchShift automatic transmission.

New R Class sport tourer cars combine the driving manners of a sports sedan with a wagon-type vehicle and the cabin of a big Mercedes luxury car. The R350 and R500 can carry up to six people in first-class comfort in a vehicle with the sticky tire traction of a pavement-hugging all-wheel-drive (AWD) SUV.

In a cabin with lavish appointments, there are three tiers of seats with a pair of individual buckets set in rows one and two and three. R350 takes its name from its 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces 268 hp. R500 packs a 5.0-liter V8 that runs to 302 hp. Transmission is the Mercedes 7G-tronic TouchShift automatic. A height-adjustable Airmatic air suspension system with active damping system (ADS) is on option chart, along with a video entertainment system, Harman/Kardon audio system and panorama glass sunroof.

New American-built editions of the M Class of sport-utility vehicles from Mercedes-Benz score a make-over with a second generation of designs for ML350 and ML500 based on a unibody structure that measures about six inches longer and three inches wider than first-generation models. Each version is a sensuous study drawn in curvaceous sheetmetal and shiny chrome. A new scheme for the five-seat cabin draws on fine leathers, polished hardwoods and brushed aluminum accents.

ML350 employs the new 3.5-liter V6 engine with 268 hp. ML500 packs the Mercedes 5.0-liter V8 for 302 hp. Transmission with either plant is the 7G-tronic TouchShift automatic. Both models employ full-time AWD equipment with three open differentials -- front, rear and center. Then Mercedes adds a four-wheel adaptation of the electronic traction control system dubbed 4ETS. Also aboard is the Mercedes alphabet soup of computerized vehicle controls.

Both hard and soft tops apply to mid-size CLK Class cars. Convertibles, derived from the hardtop coupes, are cut to airy drop-tops by German car crafter Karmann. Three two-door coupes appear this year, as do three convertibles. Trims for each include the CLK350 with a new 3.5-liter twin-cam Mercedes V6 for 268 hp or CLK500 with the 5.0-liter V8 zipped to 302 hp. CLK55 AMG goes further with a 469-hp 5.5-liter supercharged V8 by AMG, even bigger wheels plus heavy-duty brakes and shifter paddles on the steering wheel for hands-on transmission control.

Convertibles seat four in luxury. A cloth soft top, in multiple layers draped over an aluminum frame, quickly tucks beneath a metal bonnet by motorized means. With the top down, CLK convertibles look slick and aggressive as the bonnet shows nacelle blisters trailing behind rear seatbacks like ones once worn by vintage race cars. (CONTINUED...)