The three-pointed star sits low, but proudly, in the redesigned nose, which for 2006 sports the wider grille look of other Mercedes coupes and roadsters. That emblem long has been a hallmark of Mercedes coupes, making them immediately identifiable on the Autobahn, and suggesting that drivers of lesser cars skedaddle into the right-hand lane.

The coupe dispenses entirely of the B-pillar, an attractive touch reminiscent of an earlier age of sporty coupes. The rear windows slide all the way down into the body, creating an exceptionally open environment.

With its fabric top up, the cabriolet is nearly indistinguishable in silhouette from the coupe, with only the barest hint of a break in the roofline where it meets the trunk lid. The fabric top is fully lined and insulated and tucks neatly into the boot, where it fills up about a third of the trunk's limited space, which already gives up almost 2 cubic feet to the coupe's. Rearward vision is impressive for a convertible, although not the equal of the coupe. In the event of an imminent collision or rollover in the cabriolet, two roll bars deploy and lock in place within 0.3 seconds. Until needed, they are stylistically integrated into the rear-seat head-restraints.

A nice touch is the absence of any visible antenna for radio, cellular telephone or navigation system. This is made possible by replacing the conventional steel trunk lid with a composite design that allows the integration of the antennae into the lid's structure.

It's a tribute to the CLK's design that the car looks smaller than it actually is. The CLK shares its platform with the C-Class, and despite its compact appearance it's actually longer than the C-Class sedan.

Details distinguish the models: The CLK350 has neutral-tinted glass and gray vanes on its grille; the CLK500 gets blue-tinted glass, high-gloss black vanes with chrome trim on its grille, and an AMG rear spoiler; the CLK55 AMG is distinguished by a styling package that includes a front valance with three separate sections and mesh grillwork, and unique rocker panels, rear valance and alloy wheels.

The CLK350 and CLK500 are equipped with 17-inch wheels, 7.5-inch wide in front and 8.5-inch wide rear, with 225/45ZR17 tires front and 245/40ZR17 rear. The wheels on the CLK350 are a light-alloy five-spoke design and on the CLK500 are AMG-styled monoblock design. The CLK55 AMG has 18-inch front wheels, 7.5-inch wide in front and 8.5-inch wide rear, in a high-polished double-spoke AMG design, with lower profile 225/40ZR18 tires front and 255/35ZR18 rear.