2008 MERCEDES-BENZ NEW CAR MODEL GUIDE

Make more parking space on the lot for this line from Mercedes-Benz of Germany, which enters 2008 with even more vehicles for its diverse collection. The products, clustered in alphabetical classes by size and style, include sophisticated two-seat sports cars, sporty two-door coupes and four-door sedans, rakish convertibles and muscular sport utility wagons. Also available are souped-up performance versions of many models under the Mercedes super-tuner label AMG. Two noteworthy new Mercedes vehicles are the compact-size C Class sedans — which earn generational change for 2008— and the CL Class of full-size, over-the-top, super-luxury coupes.

S Class
These deluxe, full-size Mercedes sedans rank among the world's most sophisticated and luxurious cars. Styling for the S Class is bold and angular, with a structure cast on a long-wheelbase platform. This creates massive personal space in a five-seat cabin that is stocked with every conceivable luxury feature. The S550 packs a dual-cam, 5.5-liter V8, which displaces 5.5 liters. The plant also develops 382 horsepower through the 7G-tronic seven-speed TouchShift automatic transmission. The ultra edition S600 stocks a 5.5-liter Mercedes V12 with 510 horsepower, while the new S63 AMG extracts 518 horsepower from AMG's hand-built, 6.2-liter V8.

CL Class
Drawing from the S Class sedans, this Mercedes line offers top-tier, full-size coupes with fluid lines sweeping up an exaggerated hood and over the pillar-less roof. There are four different treatments for the 2008 models. The CL550 employs the 5.5-liter V8 with 382 horsepower from the S550, as the CL600 acquires twin turbos, boosting the plant's output to 510 horsepower. The new CL63 AMG nets 518 horsepower from AMG's 6.2-liter V8, while the top-of-line CL65 AMG with its 12-cylinder AMG bi-turbo soars to 604 horsepower. A 2008 limited-production CL65 40th Anniversary Edition glows for you in Liquid Metal paint.

E Class
Mercedes' mid-size E Class cars include four-door sedans and five-door wagons with an eco-friendly diesel or the super AMG sports sedan and wagon. The E320 BLUETEC brings a clean-burning, 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 worth 210 horsepower. However, the E350 stocks a 3.5-liter, twin-cam V6 for 268 horsepower, while the E550 a the 5.5-liter V8 at 382 horsepower. The E63 AMG rips through all of this with AMG's 6.2-liter V8 dialed to 507 horsepower. Optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) equipment works on both E350 and E550 models. Additionally, a new AMG Sport kit for the E350 and E550 sedans offers AMG aprons and wheels, plus the AMG steering wheel with shift paddles.

C Class
In 2008, the compact-size Mercedes C Class cars show new designs with angular body styling and a long list of electronic gear for safety, performance and comfort. There are three V6-powered models — the C300 Sport, C300 Luxury and C350 Sport. These are all rear-wheel-drive (RWD) vehicles, though optional AWD equipment — dubbed 4Matic — is available for C300 models. The 3.0-liter V6 for the C300 Sport and Luxury models puts out 228 horsepower, while the 3.5-liter V6 in the C350 Sport makes 268 horsepower. The 3.0-liter plant is a flex-fuel engine capable of burning either E85 ethanol or gasoline.

CLS Class
Described as a four-door coupe, the elegant CLS balances in size between the mid-size E Class and the full-size S Class sedans. Part of its structure comes from the E Class, while the CLS design draws graceful styling from sporty coupes with low sweeping rooflines. The two models available are the CLS550 and powerful CLS63 AMG. The CLS550 pulls from the Mercedes 5.5-liter V8 tuned to 382 horsepower, as the CLS63 AMG uses AMG's high-performance 6.2-liter V8 cranked to 507 horsepower. Both models use the 7G-tronic TouchShift transmission. Also new for 2008, is satellite radio service and 18-inch spoke wheels.

CLK Class
Hard or soft tops work on this sporty, mid-size Mercedes two-door car. The convertibles, derived from hardtop coupes, were cut to airy drop-tops by German car crafter Karmann. Three two-door coupes appear this year, as do three convertibles with two powertrain upgrades. The CLK350 continues with its 3.5-liter twin-cam Mercedes V6 for 268 horsepower. The CLK550 stocks a 5.5-liter dual-cam V8 zipped to 382 horsepower, while the CLK63 AMG Cabriolet contains AMG's 6.2-liter V8 metered to 475 horsepower with shifter paddles for hands-on transmission control. The racy CLK63 AMG Black Series coupe nets and incredible 500 horsepower from its 6.2-liter V8.

SL Class
These elite Mercedes roadsters have a two-seat, luxe cockpit crowned by a hardtop lid that tucks into its trunk. Design after the roadster, the SL Class is in part homage to the original Mercedes gullwing 300SL. Four models continue on this year— the SL550 with the 382 horsepower, 5.5-liter V8, the V12-based SL600, the SL55 AMG and SL65 AMG. The SL600 uses its V12 boosted to 510 horsepower, while SL65 AMG runs with a 12-cylinder, AMG bi-turbo at 604 horsepower. The SL55 AMG has a supercharged, AMG 5.5-liter V8 stretched to 510 horsepower.

SLK Class
The two-seat roadsters stock a pop-top lid that stows in the trunk. There are three engine options available for th SLK Class. The entry-edition SLK280 shows a 3.0-liter, dual-cam V6 for 228 horsepower, whiel the SLK350 totes the 268 horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 with six-speed manual shifter or seven-speed 7G-tronic automatic. The top performing SLK55 AMG earns a 5.5-liter AMG V8 for 355 horsepower through the AMG-modified 7G-tronic automatic. A luxe option available is the deluxe, surround-sound audio system with 380-watt amp and 11 speakers. The SLK also puts a nifty feature focused on a rider's neck, the Airscarf neck-level heat vent concealed inside the headrest.

M Class
The made-in-America M Class SUV by Benz has a unibody structure and full-time AWD equipment with three open differentials — front, rear and center. Mercedes then added a four-wheel adaptation of the electronic traction control system labeled 4ETS. The five-seat cabin installs fine leathers with trim in polished hardwoods and brushed aluminum. The ML350 employs the 3.5-liter V6 for 268 horsepower. The new ML550 wears AMG body styling and bundles the 5.5-liter Mercedes V8 with 382 horsepower. The powerful ML63 AMG gets the 6.2-liter AMG V8 for 503 horsepower, as the diesel-rigged ML320 CDI delivers 215 horsepower.

GL Class
Birthed in a Mercedes assembly plant in Alabama, the full-size crossover utility vehicle (CUV) rides on a unibody platform. It brings the sticky tire traction of a pavement-hugging AWD wagon with three different engine options. The GL450 has a 4.6-liter V8 for 335 horsepower and the Mercedes 7G-tronic automatic transmission. The GL320 CDI uses the clean-burning, 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 with 210 horsepower, while the new GL550 leaps with a muscular 5.5-liter V8 pumping 382 horsepower. The AWD device has three open differentials and ties to the 4EATS traction controller.

R Class
The sport tourer cars of Mercedes-Benz combines the driving manners of a sports sedan and the cabin of a premium luxury car in the package of an AWD wagon-type vehicle. Three tiers of seats all offer a pair of individual buckets. The series creates to two trims for 2008 including the R350 with its 3.5-liter V6 producing 268 horsepower, and the diesel-powered R320 CDI, which musters 221 horsepower and superb fuel economy scores. The 2008 R350 is available with AWD or new RWD traction. Also, the series offers seating for up to seven.

G Class
From an assembly plant in Austria, the hand-crafted G Class wagons roll out in limited numbers as the ultimate, go-anywhere off-road SUV. Each carries every mechanical armament imaginable including a full-time, four-wheel-drive (4WD) system, traction control, vehicle stability system and three differential locks. The luxurious five-place cabin with leather seats offers up a DVD-based navigation system. The G500 draws from the 5.0-liter Mercedes V8 ranked at 292 horsepower, and the G55 AMG carries the AMG 5.5-liter V8 with supercharging, inter-cooling to generate 493 horsepower. New cabin gear for 2008 editions include revamped instruments, rearview camera and hands-free telephone interface.

SLR Class
The scissor-door, supercar SLR McLaren is based on a monocoque structure made from ultra-stiff, carbon-fiber composites. The car carries a supercharged, aluminum 5.4-liter V8 engine hand-built by the performance gurus at AMG. The plant peaks at an incredible 617 horsepower as it teams with a five-speed AMG automatic and its one-tap SpeedShift feature. For 2008, the too-cool coupe is joined by a new drop-top roadster variation featuring a semi-automatic lid, which opens or closes in under 10 seconds.

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