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There was a time that I thought Mercedes-Benz vehicles were stolid and plain. I always liked the way they performed, especially the solid ride and responsive handling, but I never thought much of them as lookers.

No more. Most Benz cars are now distinctive and attractive and look as good as they perform. The transition of the SLK sports car from wedgy anonymity to stylish attention-grabber is a case in point.

The beautifully aerodynamic CLS is another. Here’s a swooping four-seater that’s both strikingly modern and reassuringly classic, a gorgeous rendition of coupelike form done up as four-door sedan.

The 2006 CLS is a new model, notching in between the midsize E-Class and upper-end S-Class. CLS is based on the E cars, though with a lower profile, while the features and price push it way upmarket.

Another beautiful feature of CLS is its superb drivability, a touring car with plenty of power and finesse.

Mercedes calls CLS a “four-door coupe” because of its slippery shape. I’ll play along, though a sedan by any other name is still a sedan.

CLS occupies a solitary plateau among luxury cars, with only Lexus GS 430 nearing the four-door coupe category. Most cars of this ilk, such as BMW 645Ci, hang true to the coupe definition with two-door design.

The lofty price tag starts at about $65,000 and soars northward as options are brought on board.

Wealthy buyers will find CLS a classy ride for country-club living, but the vast majority of us can only watch with feigned indifference as the lovely craft coasts on by.

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Vehicle type: Four-passenger, four-door “coupe,” rear-wheel drive.

Engine: 5 liter V-8, 302 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, 339 pound-feet of torque at 2,700 rpm.

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic.

Wheelbase: 112.4 inches.

Overall length: 193.3 inches.

Curb weight: 3,812 pounds.

EPA rating: 16 city, 22 highway.

Highs: Beautiful styling, refined performance, lush interior.

Lows: Pricey, awkwardly short doors, U.S. certified gas guzzler. Pricing

Base price: $64,900.

Price as tested: $76,740.

OPTIONS

* AMG sport package, with steering-wheel shift buttons, body cladding, 18-inch alloy wheels and performance tires, $4,950.

* Premium package, including active-ventilated, multicontour seats, GPS navigation and Harman/Kardon audio system, $3,650.

* Lighting package, with active-curve lighting and headlamp washers, $1,220.

* Gas-guzzler tax, $1,300.

* Shipping, $720.

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For more on the Mercedes-Benz CLS500, go to autos.azcentral.com.

PERFORMANCE: The 5-liter V-8 offers loads of silky power, linked to a precise automatic transmission with seven speeds, no less.

Acceleration from the smallish, 302-horse V-8 may not be in muscle-car territory, but there’s lots of torque for quick getaways and plenty of flexible power across the rpm range.

The transmission adapts to driver input and works nicely with rapid shifts. In traffic, there’s some hunting among all those gears.

DRIVABILITY: For a 2-ton automobile, CLS is impressively nimble and corners with easy grace, though there is some heaviness in fast curves. The steering is wonderfully responsive, and the brakes are fiercely powerful.

Part of the handling equation is automatic air suspension that constantly adjusts for ride quality. The system also adjusts from the driver’s seat; the Sport setting is best, the softer settings feeling too mushy.

Handling is assisted by electronic-stability and traction control. The brakes come standard with anti-lock and brake assist.

STYLING: The taut, edgy design flows elegantly, with unmistakable Mercedes styling cues and an aggressively sporty stance. Hard to fault, unless you count rear headroom compromised by the sloping roof.

The doors are also awkwardly short.

INTERIOR: Fragrant leather and a broad swath of walnut trim, concise gauges and controls, and passenger-friendly adjustments.

The interior is roomy up front, a bit less so in back. A functional rear console cuts back-seat space to two seats from three, which is common practice with Mercedes’ two-door coupes.

BOTTOM LINE: Wish I could take credit for this: Another auto writer points out that CLS500 sounds suspiciously like “Cialis 500.” Well, it certainly has the sex appeal.