The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

17 W ednesday , N ovem ber 24, 2010 O A KVILLE BEA V ER w w w .o akvillebeaver .co m Mercedes-Benz Cabriolet a luxurious four-passenger tourer Story and photos by Lorne Drury Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine The Mercedes-Benz E-Class lineup for 2011 has something for everyonecoupe, sedan, wagon and cabriolet. For many people, the favourite of all is the cabriolet, tested here as the E550 model, fea- turing a 5.5-litre DOHC V8 making 382 hp and 381 lb/ft of torque. An E350, with a 3.5- litre DOHC V6 engine is also offered and it produces 268 hp and 258 lb/ft of torque. The E350/550 Cabriolet is no sports car, but it is a sporty grand tourer that can accommo- date four adults in comfort. And unlike many convertibles today, especially of the retractable hardtop variety, the E350/550 has some usable trunk space. In fact, a hockey buddy of mine moved into an E550 earlier this year after the lease expired on his sports car. As Tony explained it, he was looking for an upscale convertible that had trunk space for two sets golf clubs, his hockey equipment and also room for some luggage when road trips were involved. Pickings are slim in this area, and although he misses his sports car, Tony is happy with his choice of the E550 Cabriolet. With the optional Premium Package ($3,200), my E550 tester priced out at $80,700. Meanwhile, the E350 starts at $67,900. Both feature rear-wheel drive and seven-speed 7G-Tronic automatic transmis- sions. Design wise, the E350/550 has a sleek, yet muscular look. As Mercedes-Benz says in its literature, the true measure of a design is how long it can endure without appearing dated. Only time will tell, but its unlikely that the 2011 E-Class Cabriolet will lose its luster any time soon its simply an attrac- tive design from all angles. Mercedes-Benz has been in the luxury con- vertible business for years so they know how to do it right. If you want examples, take a look around the E-Class Cabriolet. Perhaps the neatest feature is the Aircap, part of the Premium Package available on both the E350 and 550 models. It includes a power-operated wind deflector with mesh netting that extends above the windshield frame to divert airflow over top the passenger compartment. Aircap also includes a retractable draught stop between the rear headrests. All these work at the press of a button. With the windows up and the Aircap in oper- ation, even a drive along a high-speed free- way can be done without driver and passen- ger getting buffeted around in the cabin. The E-Class Cabriolet is really a four-seasons car, unlike many convertibles, and you can extend your topless motoring experience into the cooler weather thanks to the Mercedes-Benz Airscarf system. This system keeps your upper body toasty with air vents mounted in the head restraints that warm air to the shoulder and neck area of the driver and front passenger. The system also works with cool air in hot weather. The top itself on the E-Class Cabriolet also helps with the open-air experience. It is very thick and well sealed, resulting in a fairly quiet cabin with the top up. While still a fab- ric roof rather than a retractable hardtop, it can be opened and closed in about 20 sec- onds at the touch of a button, even while the vehicle is in operation up to 40 km/h. Get caught in a rain shower, you can start raising the roof while youre slowing down to pull over. The roof, available in three colours, can also be raised and lowered from outside through the key fob. As well, the power roof folds in such a way that trunk capacity is still one of the best in the segment 390 litres (14 cu ft) with the top up and 300 litres (11 cu ft) with top down. There is also a standard trunk pass-through, allowing for longer items like skis and hock- ey sticks to be easily transported. Continued on page 18 Mercedes-Benz E550Cabriolet 2011At A Glance: BODY STYLE:Four-seat luxury con- vertible.DRIVE METHOD:front-engine, rear- wheel drive.ENGINE:5.5-litre DOHC V8 (382 hp, 381 lb/ft of torque.FUEL ECONOMY:14.3L/100 km city, 9.0L/100 km highway.PRICE:$77,550, as tested $80,700.WEB SITE:www.mercedes-benz.ca The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is available with two engine choices, a 3.5-litre V6 or a 382 hp 5.5-litre V8 on the E550. 345 Speers Rd. (at Dorval), Oakville 905-842-9299 Valid at all GTA locations. any oil change package $8OFF Expiry: Nov. 30, 2010 Code: 5724