Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2005

Most Wanted Coupe Over $45,000

Winner: Mercedes-Benz CL-Class

The Mercedes-Benz CL is an uncompromising coupe that earns its praise with every trip behind the wheel. It's an artful blend of performance, technology and classic luxury that will impress even the most spoiled car buyer. Although available in several power iterations ranging from the base 302-horsepower CL500 to an asphalt-smoking 604-hp CL65, the choice of engine is virtually the only option as every CL comes fully loaded. This flagship coupe offers so much more than any competitor that it's in a segment virtually unto itself.

Honorable Mention: BMW 6 Series

The 6 Series coupe is back after a 14-year hiatus from the BMW lineup. It's a phenomenal work of engineering that combines such highly advanced features as Active Steering, Active Roll Stabilization, Active Cruise Control and an optional Sequential Manual Gearbox along with progressive German styling. As a complete package, the 6 Series is refined beyond reproach, but its insistence on endless technological gadgetry keeps it from toppling the aging but still sensational CL.

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