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The lap of ultra luxury is intoxicating, especially when it’s inside a slinky coupe body that is powered by 382 horses. The evidence? The all-new Mercedes-Benz CL550.

This sleek and slinky two-door is essentially a scaled-down S-Class sedan, distinguished by a curvaceous body, sweeping rear window and an 8-inch-shorter wheelbase. In addition to the velvet wallop of its silken V-8, the CL has a seven-speed automatic transmission and a host of electronic gadgets.

The new engine is so smooth you might think it is an electric turbine, and the transmission is a paragon of smoothness. Moreover, if you’re looking for power overkill, the CL600 has a 510-horsepower, twin-turbo V-12. A sport-tuned AMG version will top the chart.

Compared to the longer S-Class, what the CL550 relinquishes in back-seat space it gains in maneuverability and grace. Its shape is fluid, it has a magic-carpet ride and everything about it is a reminder that premium luxury cars are a cut above. Buyers expect the best of everything: gobs of power, Bluetooth telephone, voice-activated navigation system and state-of-the-art safety and security features. The CL550 has them all.

One of the most interesting options is Night View Assist. Infrared lights are mounted in the headlight housings. When Night View is switched on, these special lights enable the onboard infrared camera to see through the darkness as if it were daylight. The electronic speedometer display suddenly becomes a small video screen with the speedometer numbers in a strip underneath. In the city, Night View illuminates sidewalks, driveways and distant areas with great clarity, and I discovered that it was remarkably helpful when I had to find a new school out in the far reaches of suburbia on roads that did not have streetlights. Night View enabled me to see way beyond the range of the headlights, and that was comforting on twisting, narrow roads.

The CL’s cabin looks much the same as that of the S-Class. At night, fiber optics accent the door panels with a tiny orange glow, and strategically placed LEDs do the same throughout the rest of the cabin. Lighting technology has advanced to the point that designers can create a feeling of ambience inside a vehicle without being distracting.

Soft leather, polished wood and bright trim work in harmony to convey elegance. The seats are a good example of how the CL550 cossets its occupants. The multi-cushioned front seats can be adjusted individually to fit a wide range of occupants. Optional seats have a pulse mode to help relieve fatigue on long drives, and they can be set to inflate the outside cushions slightly when the car turns.

The COMAND system that contains the navigation, audio and other vehicle settings is displayed in a hood in the center of the dash. This system is operated with a mouselike knob on the center console, and while some of the operations can be frustratingly tedious, COMAND is way more intuitive than BMW’s system.

The CL’s suspension is almost as smooth as the engine, yet the car handles almost like a sports coupe when pushed hard. Active Body Control virtually eliminates the normal pitch and roll of cornering, accelerating and braking. A hydraulic piston on top of each coil spring actually regulates the action of the spring and counteracts body motions. The sport setting enables the suspension to keep the car flat in turns.

Safety is a huge priority, and the S-Class raises the bar for safety features. Brake Assist Plus uses the same front-bumper radar sensors as the cruise control. When it detects that you are closing in on an object too quickly, it gives an audible warning to brake. When you hit the brake pedal the system then applies maximum braking force. The CL600 is equipped with adaptive brake lights that flash rapidly during emergency braking.

If the Pre-Safe sensors recognize an impending accident, the safety belts tighten, the seat bolsters inflate and the windows and sunroof begin to close.

Price

The base price of the test car was $100,675. Options included the Distronic Plus cruise control, heated steering wheel, active ventilated seats and Night View Assist. The sticker price was $110,925.

Warranty

Four years or 50,000 miles.