It seems a shame to dissect the CLS styling into a series of elements, but the words sleek" and "cut" come to mind when your eyes sweep across the low-slung bodylines. Its "coupe-ness" emanates from the rapidly descending slope of the C-pillar, which blends into muscled flanks pulled taut by the pronounced shoulder line that sweeps back from the rounded form of the front wheel arch. Frameless side windows and large door surfaces give the car a tall-waisted stance that helps from a dynamic arch from front to rear, as though the car has been stretched by the wind. It's hard to believe that a tilt/sliding glass sunroof will fit within the arching roofline, but it does.

A variation on the distinctive noses of recent Mercedes, the front end of the CLS thrusts visually forward with prominent grille slats, a deeply wedged hood and fenders that dive steeply into the distinctive headlamp cluster. At the rear, the deep bumper forms a coupe's characteristically muscular butt, braced by two chromed exhaust pipes.

The CLS55 AMG can be identified by deeper front and rear aprons, sculpted door sills and staggered-width 19-inch AMG five-spoke wheels. Ride height of the CLS55 AMG is nearly a half-inch lower."

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