Mercedes-Benz E-Class

A luxury-class stalwart for many years, the E-Class has been a test bed for technology that eventually winds up in more modest vehicles.

Drivetrain: The starting point is a 268-horsepower 3.5-litre V-6 or a 5.5-litre V-8 snorting out 382 horses that drives the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission.

-Would you prefer your Mercedes-Benz E-Class with two doors or four?

That's right. This year, one of the German manufacturer's most popular model comes as a traditional four-door sedan and as a new high-fashion two-door coupe.

The ninth-generation E-Class strikes a more ambitious and distinctive form, yet remains instantly recognizable as a member in good standing of the three-pointed-star club.

The new car's roofline also borrows from the more radical-looking CLS-class sedan, which is actually based on the E-Class.

It's a bit of a toss-up as to whether the first E-Class two-door is a visual improvement over the 2009-CLKclass design it replaces.

The new E-Class shows off a cushier interior highlighted by redesigned seats with improved padding and an available massage feature.

E350-designated models come with the familiar 268-horsepower 3.5-litre V-6, while E550 versions offer a 382-h. p. 5.5-L V-8.

Either way, you get standard 4Matic all-wheel-drive on the sedan versions. Seven-speed automatic transmissions handle the shifting duties for the two engines.