The tri-star marque of Mercedes-Benz mounts on the prow of elite luxury and performance vehicles from Germany.

New Mercedes models for 2005 include a direct-injection diesel for the E Class mid-size sedan, a fresh design for the SLK Class of snappy two-seat roadsters, and a souped-up performance version in many categories built by the Mercedes tuner AMG. There's even an exotic Gran Turismo sports car in production through McLaren, Benz's Formula One partner from Britain.

Mid-size luxury cars from Mercedes include four-door sedans and five-door wagons with powertrains extending to a high-performance V8 and the new diesel. E320 CDI is the diesel-powered sedan for 2005, available in 45 of the 50 United States. It totes a 3.2-liter in-line-six with common-rail direct injection (CDI) and turbo-charging. The plant produces 201 hp plus substantial torque, and fuel economy scores run well above 30 mpg for highway cruising. 4Matic AWD equipment is available on the E320 sedan and wagon or the E500 sedan but it's the standard traction mode this year on E500 wagon.

The performance sports sedan is E55 AMG. It packs a 5.5-liter V8 by AMG with supercharger and inter-cooler on tap. Power soars to 469 hp with a five-speed Mercedes automatic featuring the manual TouchShift mode. E320 as a sedan with rear-wheel-drive (RWD) traction is the volume model for the E Class. It draws from a naturally-aspirated 3.2-liter V6 that delivers 221 hp. The E500 sedan and wagon get a 5.0-liter V8 rated at 302 hp with the seven-speed 7G-tronic automatic.

Both hard and soft tops apply to mid-size CLK Class cars. Convertibles, derived from the hardtop coupes, are cut to airy drop-tops by German car crafter Karmann. Three two-door coupes appear this year, as do three convertibles. Trims for each include the CLK320 with a 3.2-liter Mercedes V6 and CLK500 with the 5.0-liter V8 tied to the seven-speed Mercedes automatic. The CLK55 AMG goes further with a 5.5-liter supercharged V8 by AMG, even bigger wheels plus heavy-duty brakes and shifter paddles on the steering wheel for hands-on transmission control.

Convertibles seat four in luxury. A cloth soft top, in multiple layers draped over an aluminum frame, quickly tucks beneath a metal bonnet by motorized means. With the top down, CLK convertibles look slick and aggressive as the bonnet shows nacelle blisters trailing behind rear seatbacks like ones once worn by vintage racecars. Also posed behind rear seatbacks are loop-like roll bars that can pop up instantly if on-board motion sensors detect potential rollover movement.

This new scissor-door supercar -- dubbed the SLR McLaren -- is based on a monocoque structure made from ultra-stiff carbon-fiber composites and it carries a supercharged aluminum 5.4-liter V8 engine hand-built by Mercedes-Benz's performance gurus at AMG. The plant peaks at an incredible 617 hp as teamed with a five-speed Mercedes automatic with one-tap clutch-less TouchShift feature. The price tag's equally incredible (well over $400,000), but only 100 issues will make it to the U.S. each year.

Compact-size C Class cars by Mercedes skew from an affordable sports coupe and practical station wagon to a powerful high-performance model crafted by AMG. Between these extremes are sport variations plus optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) equipment -- called 4Matic in Mercedes nomenclature with 40/60 percent front/rear torque split. The Mercedes compacts feature new package styling for 2005 with a revised front grille and headlamps, a new tail treatment with fresh lamps on rear corners, cabins upgraded for cushy seat designs and new gauges in the instrument panel.

Sport models show up as C230 Kompressor sport coupe or sedan, and C320 sport coupe or sedan. Each wears special body cladding and larger wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, six-speed close-ratio manual transmission and thickly bolstered front sport seats. The 4Matic equipment applies as an option to C240 and C320 sedans. Luxury compact models are the C320 sedan and wagon, each with a V6 powertrain. A new C Class performance sedan, the C55 AMG, gets a hand-built AMG V8 that jumps to 362 hp.

Read our Review: Mercedes-Benz C320 Coupe
Read our Review: Mercedes-Benz C320 CDI

These Mercedes roadsters have seats for only two in a luxurious cockpit crowned by a sleek hardtop that, at the tap of a console switch, folds through electro-hydraulic muscle and tucks below the trunk lid. Design for the roadster, in part homage to the original Mercedes gullwing 300SL but also a projection into the future of sophisticated automobiles, scores among the most artistic to come from the tri-star brand. For 2005 there are four editions - the SL500 and SL600, plus the performance-driven SL55 AMG and new SL65 AMG.

The SL500 draws from a 5.0-liter V8 that delivers 302 hp through the Mercedes seven-speed TouchShift automatic. SL600 gets the 5.5-liter bi-turbo V12 with inter-cooling to push the power up to 493hp, and SL55 AMG has the AMG supercharged V8. The new SL65 AMG runs with the 12-cylinder AMG bi-turbo worth 604hp.

Elite full-size Mercedes sedans continue in four RWD editions - the S430, S500, S600 and S55 AMG, with 4Matic AWD versions for S430 and S500. With fitted seats and touches of polished hardwoods plus fine leather decorating the cabin, these big sedans envelop riders in a staggering array of sophisticated controls and perks to make life in the fast lane not only comfortable but also secure.

There are many mechanical systems working latently for protection, including devices that stabilize forward movement and tire traction, smart brakes and adjustable suspensions, and up to eight air bags. All issues carry the Mercedes PreSafe tool that instantly rigs the vehicle for an unavoidable impact by activating electric seat belt tensioners and moving the passenger's front seat to optimum safety position.

For power, the S430 uses a 4.0-liter V8 at 275 hp, but the S500 goes further with the single-cam 5.0-liter V8 cranked to 302 hp. Both engines link to the 7G-tronic seven-speed automatic transmission. The S600 stocks the bi-turbo 6.0-liter V12 ripped to 493 hp, and AMG's supercharged V8 drops into the S55 AMG. The performance-geared AMG model also has redundant SpeedShift buttons mounted on the steering wheel, plus racing-derived brakes.

Elite full-size Mercedes sedans continue in four RWD editions - the S430, S500, S600 and S55 AMG, with 4Matic AWD versions for S430 and S500. With fitted seats and touches of polished hardwoods plus fine leather decorating the cabin, these big sedans envelop riders in a staggering array of sophisticated controls and perks to make life in the fast lane not only comfortable but also secure.

There are many mechanical systems working latently for protection, including devices that stabilize forward movement and tire traction, smart brakes and adjustable suspensions, and up to eight air bags. All issues carry the Mercedes PreSafe tool that instantly rigs the vehicle for an unavoidable impact by activating electric seat belt tensioners and moving the passenger's front seat to optimum safety position.

For power, the S430 uses a 4.0-liter V8 at 275 hp, but the S500 goes further with the single-cam 5.0-liter V8 cranked to 302 hp. Both engines link to the 7G-tronic seven-speed automatic transmission. The S600 stocks the bi-turbo 6.0-liter V12 ripped to 493 hp, and AMG's supercharged V8 drops into the S55 AMG. The performance-geared AMG model also has redundant SpeedShift buttons mounted on the steering wheel, plus racing-derived brakes.

Mercedes builds mid-size SUV wagons that drive like fine sedans and feel as comfortable, but there's also ample cargo space in the back plus go-anywhere attributes of four-wheel-drive (4WD) wagons. Entry to the series comes from the ML350 with V6 power, while the ML500 stocks the 5.0-liter Mercedes V8. A full-time 4WD system on both models does not lock axles to maintain traction in slippery situations, but senses a slipping wheel electronically, then brakes the slippage and redirects power to wheels with better grip. New trim options include the M Class Special Edition, which puts a power dome on the hood with silver grille and aluminum roof rails. The cabin adds deluxe wood trim in birch burl or dark walnut.

Top-flight full-size coupes, with fluid lines on an exaggerated hood sweeping over the pillar-less roof to an elongated tail, crown the Mercedes line. Powertrains borrowed from S Class sedans apply to three versions - the CL500 and CL600 plus CL55 AMG. But there's more - the new CL65 AMG. It brings a hand-built AMG 6.0-liter 12-cylinder engine with twin turbos attached to push the power curve over 600 hp. Stopping power matches the muscle on CL65, as it scores an AMG-built compound braking system with two-piece rotor and hub assembly.

The new SLK Class of two-seat roadsters arrive on an expanded platform with keen body sculpting, a pop-top lid that stows in the trunk and two sophisticated powertrain options. The SLK 350 gets a new 272 hp 3.5-liter V6 with variable camshaft control and a sporty six-speed manual shifter or high-tech seven-speed 7G-tronic Mercedes automatic. The SLK 55 AMG is the top performer fitted with a massive AMG 5.5-liter V8 and the 7G-tronic automatic plus alloy AMG wheels up to 18 inches in diameter. The body size of SLK expands in length and width to carve more space for the two-seat cockpit.

The chassis is stiffer than before with redesigned suspension components producing more responsive handling traits. The substantial list of standard safety equipment includes adaptive frontal air bags and side air bags plus solid steel roll bars tucked behind the seats. Options extend to a deluxe surround-sound audio system with 380-watt amp and 11 speakers. The SLK earns a nifty new feature focused on a rider's neck: The Airscarf neck-level heat vent concealed in the headrest is the first of its kind.

From a Mercedes assembly plant in Graz, Austria, the hand-crafted G Class wagon rolls out in limited numbers as a no-compromise off-road SUV capable of venturing far away from pavement where conventional 4WD vehicles dare not tread. The G500 carries every mechanical armament - a full-time 4WD system, traction control, vehicle stability system, three differential locks (center plus rear and front), anti-lock brakes and electronic brake force distribution (EBD) - then flexes muscle from the Mercedes 5.0-liter V8.

Despite a rugged exterior design and the hardware of an ultimate off-road warrior, the G500 has a cabin lined with luxurious appointments like leather-clad seats and trim in burl walnut wood. Joining the G500 in 2005 is a new performance variation, the G55 AMG. It carries an AMG-built 5.5-liter V8 with supercharging and inter-cooling to generate 469 hp.