For 2011, Mercedes has retooled their E-Class to increase acceleration, steering dynamics, and comfortability in order to give their stellar convertible a more fun, playful feel than its predecessors. Roadfly TV and host Jessi Lang recently spent some time with the E550 trim, having a blast with its super-quick V8 engine and its gorgeous droptop stylings.

The E550′s engine packs a punch (and a beautiful engine roar)–a 382-horsepower 5.5-liter V8 with 391 pound-feet of torque, nearly 120 horses more than its less expensive trim, the E350. 0-60 times were clocking at around 4.6 seconds, and a top speed restricted to 130 mph. Coupled with a 7-speed “Touchshift” automatic transmission, the E550 gives the driver enthusiast something to really sink their teeth into.

The cabriolet’s soft-top lowers or raises in about 20 seconds, giving you the open air excitement that complements the E550′s quickness. With the soft-top up, cabin noise is much quieter than you would expect, much thanks to the many layers of fabric found woven into the top. With the soft-top down, Mercedes’ new creation, the AirCap–an automatic wind deflector–you’ll hardly get any wind in your face. And Thankfully, trunk-space isn’t hindered like you would expect in a convertible–you’ll be getting just as much room as you would find in any other standard E-Class vehicle.

The interior of the E550 features two highly adjustable driver and passenger seats with lumbar support. This center stack design is identical to those found in the rest of the E-Class lineup; a thunderous Harman-Kardon audio system, a highly responsive and adaptive climate control system, and atypical navigation/infotainment screens. Aside from the comfortable and driver-oriented seats, the thumping audio system and awesome climate control, really the only gripe here is that the rest of the interior amenities are on the plain side.

Altogether, Mercedes might just have what they were hoping for when they designed this for 2011–a new classic. The E550 Cabriolet is fast, luxurious, and a hell of a lot of fun to drive, with or without the top down.

Hosts Jessi Lang and Steve Hammes checked out the all-new 2010 Mercedes Benz CLS 63 AMG, the ridiculously powerful sports sedan whose class, the CLS, is being marketed by Benz as a “four door coupe”. Although this seems like a contradiction, once you see the 63 AMG for the first time, you realize that its sleek, sporty styling, while managing to fit itself into a four-door frame, rewrites the rules on both coupes and sport saloons.

Mercedes’ CLS lineup has been known for both its power, sportiness, and luxury, and the 63 AMG is the culmination and pinnacle for all three. Under the hood, the 63 AMG has a naturally-aspirated 6.3-liter V8 engine that gets an insane 507 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. This power will get you a blazing-fast 4.3 seconds in the 0-60 test, a drop in 1.2 seconds from the closest model in its lineup, the CLS 550. However, all this power comes at a steep price: you’ll be looking at 12 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway, and that’s with premium gas.

The handling is a thrill as well. The AMG-tuned suspension also takes things to the next level, with stiffer shocks and stabilizer bars–controlling this car is a thing of beauty. Taking to the curves of the backroads gives you confidence and drives at a level which Steve Hammes calls, “Like a star athlete on game day.” The 7-speed automatic transmission comes with paddleshifters on the steering wheel and seems to shift slightly faster than the base CLS models.

Our test car came with the performance package, which rounded up the price another $9800. The package came with 19″ alloy wheels, a limited slip differential, larger front brakes, a track-calibrated suspension system, and a sport steering wheel. All AMG branded. And with this package, the speed limiter was raised from 155 to 186 mph.

The interior is a little less than expected out of a hundred-thousand dollar sports saloon, the electronics are outdated and the backseat feels a little cramped. But the 63 AMG is still luxurious, and one buys this car for the German engineering, the beauty of its exterior, and its incredible driving experience, not the minor gripes that can be found inside the cockpit.

And the CLS 63 AMG is no cheap car, either. The base 63 AMG starts at $97,950 while our test car, with that performance package, came in at $116,775. On either, though, tack on the steep $2600 gas guzzler tax charge.

Although the CLS models are on the cusp of a redesign, this year’s 63 AMG is an incredibly tempting and powerful marriage of luxury sedans and sport coupes that is hard to resist.