I must admit that I had my doubts about the Mercedes CLS Class.

That is until I was right in front of it. Now I must admit that it really is a head turner.

Two variants are available: the 5.5 liter, V8, 382 horsepower CLS 550 and the 6.2 liter 507 hp CLS 63AMG.

Both come equipped with the seven speed automatic transmissions with Sportronic Manual Shift capability.

Optional for the CLS 550 are paddle shifters while in the CLS 63AMG it’s standard equipment.

For 2009, both trims get reshaped LED taillights, an updated twin bar grille, trapezoidal shaped exhaust tips, restyled wheels, larger heated mirrors with integrated turn signals, a revised command interface and a sportier steering wheel with the CLS 63AMG getting a flat bottom.

On the outside, it really is eye catching and really worth a double take, very few will come close.

The styling, materials and overall finish is first rate; all the panels are securely fit and the leather extremely soft.

The wooden appointments appear to be more like polished furniture than part of a car interior.

The attention to detail was above and beyond.

We were given a CLS 550 painted in Metallic Barolo Red, Black Leather interior and Laurel Wood Trim to play with.

She also came equipped with three packages- the 318 Trim, Sport and the Premium package.

Also installed were the optional Distronic Proximity Control and Parktronic system.

You can get more details from one of the Houston Mercedes Dealers.

Imagine this: It’s a dark late rainy night and you’re in the baddest part of town. A couple of guys block your way and demand you get out and handover your wallet, phone and keys to your car.

What do you do? Flip them the bird.

Providing that you’re in your Mercedes E Guard that is.

For those that just got their Mercedes S 600 Guard and think B7 armor rating is a tad too much especially if you’re just going to the 711 in Beverly Hills, then the Mercedes E Guard is just right for you.

The E Guard was created specifically for the wealthy businessman and/or famous people whose primary threats are muggers and overzealous fans and paparazzi.

The S 600 Guard’s clientele on the other hand are mostly heads of state, diplomats, royalty and the occasional drug lord if I may add.

With the exception of the drug lord, these individuals do actually face the risk from acts of terrorism each time they are in public hence the higher protection requirements.

You can think of the E Guard as the baby brother of the S Guard.

Born in the same production line as its non-armored sibling in order to ensure overall quality standards, the vehicle is then pulled out so it may receive the protective elements which are all installed by hand.

Integrated protection is what Mercedes calls it. “The protective measures integrated into the E-Class E-Guard offer exceptional levels of protection in extreme situations and against threats from the outside.

Integrated protection means that the safety features are built up from the inside out.

In order to incorporate all the precautions necessary to meet your personal safety requirements, our specialists start with the body shell.

The result is a vehicle that provides you with the best possible protection, without the exterior differing in any way from the “standard production model.”

The bad news is that you probably won’t find one of these on the showroom floor of your Houston Mercedes Dealership.

The Mercedes C 250 CDI Blue EFFICIENCY Prime Edition is powered by a new 2.2 liter diesel engine that produces 150 kW / 204 hp and 500 Nm of torque and capable of launching the premiere model from a standstill to 62mph in just 7.0 seconds, on the way to its top speed of 155mph. What is surprising is that it does the above on the cheap, on average consuming a mere 5.2 liters of fuel per 100 km or roughly 1.3 gallons per 60 miles. CO2 emissions are at a low 138 grams/km. No wonder that the new engine will replace four of Mercedes’ existing diesel power plants and will be/is installed in E, GLK Class and the much awaited E-Class Coupé.
Based on the C Class saloon of the Advantage equipment line, the Mercedes C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition comes equipped with: PRE-SAFE the preventive emergency system that cooperates with the Brake Assist PLUS in order to warn the driver if the distance between him and a car in front gets critical. This is possible thanks to radars installed on the front of the car. The PRE-SAFE system also calculates the most effective braking, so even if the driver jams on the brakes, the car automatically uses as much brake power as required for safe deceleration. If a crash is inevitable, the PRE-SAFE system tightens the seat belts, automatically closes windows, and the seats’ positions are adjusted in order to minimize the effect of the crash. The Intelligent Light System that adapts itself to the weather and driving conditions and increases the visibility by up to 50 meters. AGILITY CONTROL package with situation-responsive shock absorber control and 16-inch light-alloy wheels as standard or at a no cost option, 16-inch light-alloy wheels in sporty 7-spoke design and 17-inch light-alloy wheels in 5-twin-spoke design with wide base tires are available are also available.
Also included as standard equipment among other things is the Audio 20 infotainment system that has a keypad to enter telephone numbers and radio frequencies, as well as a Bluetooth interface that connects the mobile phone wirelessly with the hands-free feature and floor mats have the words “Prime Edition” on it just in case your passengers didn’t notice.

The Mercedes S600 guard is the flagship of the Mercedes-Benz Guard range.

At first and even second glance, it appears that you’re just looking at just another S600.

This inconspicuous look is mainly due to the fact that the armoring was integrated in the vehicle production process and not as an “afterthought”.

In fact, Mercedes engineers began studying this design consideration more than 2 years before the first non-armored production car came off the line.

Powered by a 5.5 liter, v12, biturbo engine that produces 512hp and 830nm of torque, the S600 Guards’ top speed is electronically regulated at 150mph.

Not too shabby considering its curb weight of 8455lbs.

This is 3000lbs. heavier than the regular S600 whose top speed is 155mph and yet has the same v12 engine.

Again the fact that the armoring was incorporated into the production process rather than after enabled Mercedes engineers to tweak the engine in order to properly and efficiently handle the additional 3000lbs.

In addition, the engineers also redesigned the chassis again to cope with the extra weight and maintain the “exceptional level of comfort that Mercedes cars are renowned for”.

The following were the primary focuses of the redesign:
• Reinforcement of the links between the chassis components and the body shell ;
• Specifically targeted modification of the chassis components themselves;
• An additional steel spring on the rear axle to support the air suspension;
• Larger twin-caliper front brake discs, for outstanding deceleration whenever and wherever required;
• Electronic Stability Program-to compensate for the additional/extra weight and requirements of an armored vehicle.

ESP by the way is basically a system that assists the driver remain/regain control of the car when it gets into a skid.

What it does is that it gathers data from the steering wheel, ABS and the gyroscope then either/or activates the brakes in the front or rear wheels in order to stabilize the car when cornering, accelerating or decelerating.

MSRP stands for Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price is the suggested price by the manufacturer to the dealer/retailer. Sometimes it’s also called “List Price” or Sticker Price”. It’s the price you usually see stuck on the windshield of the car on display at the dealership. This is what usually catches your eye next to the car itself naturally. What this price does not include are transportation to the dealership cost, registration, miscellaneous fees and taxes. Though you may be able to get a discount off the MSRP you may quite possibly still be shelling out more due to the above charges.
True Cost to Own on the other hand is the cost to own over a five year period. The following items are factored in when computing this amount:
Cost per Mile
Cost of fuel
Depreciation
Financing
Insurance
Fees and Taxes
Maintenance Repairs
For example the 2009 Mercedes CLK550 Cabriolet and the Mercedes SLK55 AMG Roadster. The CLK550 has an MSRP of $64,800 while the SLK 55 is at $65,700. The Roadster is $900 higher yet the Total cost to own or TCO for the AMG is $85,929 and the CLK 550 is $95,972 or $10,043 more than the “pricier” ($900) SLK 55. The lesson here is that one should not take things at face value. Always ask your dealer for the TCO before making a decision. It may come out to be more expensive in the long run.
So what’s the difference between MSRP and True Cost to Own? In one phrase: A lot.