stereo volume control are located on the passenger side of the shifter. And an LCD panel between the main analog gauges provides loads of information—at times too much—to the driver. Some new driver-assistance systems debut in the A7, including a lane assistant, an infrared night-vision camera, a head-up display, and an automatic parking system that can shoehorn this large coupe/sedan/wagon into, and out of, a spot only 31 inches longer than the car itself. Impressive though it may be, we were able to squeeze the car into that same spot in a fraction of the time—and, frankly, if you can’t park your car, we have doubts about whether you should be driving it in the first place. Just sayin’. It will be a while before we see the A7 in U.S. showrooms, as it’s not scheduled to go on sale here until summer. That’s about the same time its main competitor—the new CLS—arrives. Luxurious hatchbacks historically haven’t sold well in America, even if they were beautiful. (Remember the Rover 3500 and the Sterling 827SLi?) Then again, the success of the not-sobeautiful Porsche Panamera shows that luxo-hatchbacks might finally be getting the respect they deserve. With the extra utility—not to mention a base price some $14,000 lower—the A7 might just beat the CLS at its own game. — Jason Cammisa
2012 Mercedes-Benz
CLS550
Another stunner—and a ton of technology. FLORENCE, ITALY
t
HE BIG LANCIA RACING TOWARD US flashed its lights furiously as we
hustled through Firenzuola, just north of the famed Futa Pass on the route of the Mille Miglia. Was there a cop ahead? Do they do that in Europe—flash their lights for cops? Then again, I was at the wheel of a 2012 CLS550, the second generation of the swoopiest four-door Mercedes-Benz ever built. That first CLS—which debuted at the 2003 Frankfurt motor show and went into production a year later—has sold more than 170,000 copies worldwide. Some 64 percent of its European buyers chose it, Mercedes says, because of its stunning good looks, and it spawned a number of luxury four-door-coupe competitors, including the radical Audi A7 also featured for your convenience on these pages. It was just as likely that Mr.
The Specs // AUDI A7 ON SALE:
Mid-2011 PRICE:
$61,000 (est.) ENGINE:
3.0L supercharged V-6, 310 hp, 325 lb-ft (est.) DRIVE: 4-wheel
MERCEDESBENZ CLS550 ON SALE:
Mid-2011 PRICE:
$75,000 (est.) ENGINE: 4.7L twin-turbo V-8, 402 hp, 443 lb-ft DRIVE: Rear- or 4-wheel
32
Automobile | December 2010
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