These cars are supremely stable in high-speed sweeping turns. Every time I went through a corner while driving through rural Maryland (in a CLK430), I felt like I could have taken it much quicker. Other cars become rolling chicanes, mere serfs lumbering along in second-rate machinery. You could get a big ticket in one of these things.

It offers sports car responses, including the most precise steering we've ever experienced in a Mercedes. It is truly wonderful on fast, sweeping roads. Just don't be rummaging around, looking for that cell phone because this car demands your attention. Its response is quicker than racecars we've driven. Road feel at high speeds is excellent, yet I found plenty of power-assist for easy maneuvering through Washington's tight underground parking garages. If there is a flaw it's that this car does everything so well that initially it seems to lack character. But the more time that's spent with it, the more the appreciation grows.

Braking performance is really impressive given the weight of this car, thanks to its big four-wheel discs and grippy tires. Go beyond the limits of the tires, and the superb anti-lock brake system (ABS) will prevent a skid, allowing you to maintain steering control. However, Mercedes claims most of us don't apply maximum braking force in emergency situations. Few people have really experienced ABS in operation and many will unconsciously release pressure on the brake pedal when they feel the ABS pulsing underfoot. To address this, Mercedes developed its Brake Assist System, which comes standard on all CLK models. How Brake Assist works: The computer that governs the antilock brake system (ABS) monitors your braking habits. It then senses when you're in an emergency braking situation, primarily on a basis of how quickly the brake pedal is depressed, and applies maximum hydraulic pressure to the brakes, up to and over the ABS threshold, even if you panic and ease pressure off the brakes. Brake Assist does not actuate under normal hard braking, such as an enthusiast or racing driver would use to slow the car from high speeds for a tight corner. It only kicks in when the driver suddenly jams on the brakes in a panic stop, the kind that occurs when you look up in heavy traffic and everyone has parked it, or the kind that occurs when a kid on a bicycle suddenly appears in front of you. Mercedes claims this system can reduce stopping distances by as much as 45 percent. It's a great feature that could save lives.

CLK320 coupe comes with a 3.2-liter V6 engine capable of propelling the 3,240-pound CLK320 from 0 to 60 mph in less than seven seconds. Rated at 215 horsepower and a robust 229 foot-pounds of torque from 3,000 to 4,600 rpm, its real strengths are low weight and exceptionally good emissions performance. A lighter engine reduces weight over the front wheels, which improves balance and handling, and this V6 weighs just 330 pounds. It also meets the requirements for California's tough Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) classification.

CLK430 is powered by a 4.3-liter V8 rated at 275 horsepower and 295 foot-pounds of torque available from 3,000 to 4,000 rpm. This is fast traffic that will keep you at the front of the Autobahn barnstormers. Step past this point and you're shopping Aston Martins that will set you back six figures.

For 2000, the CLKs come with a redesigned 5-speed automatic transmission. Its Touch Shift feature allows the driver to manually select all five gears by pushing the gear lever slightly left to downshift or right to upshift, all while in the Drive position. It isn't necessary to move the lever to another gate or selector position to make manual gear changes. Trying to operate last year's shifter manually just wasn't much fun, due to the multiple doglegs in the shift gate. When not shifting manually, the electronically controlled automatic adapts to changes in road grade, delaying upshifts on ascents for climbing power and hastening downshifts on descents for engine braking. It also adapts to your driving style.