I have always been a huge fan of the CL line of Mercedes since 2004. They’re rare, powerful, and one of the last full-size sports-tourer coupés.  Mercedes made some terrible design changes between 2005 and 2011 but everything is OK now because the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4Matic is a gorgeous beast. I prefer it to the 2-wheel-rear-drive-only V-12 CL600 and the juiced-up, steroid-addled CL63 and CL65:

Via Autobog’s Review: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4Matic

The biggest change for the 2011 CL550 is the implementation of the automaker’s new 4.6-liter twin-turbocharged V8. (Yes, it would make sense for Merc to change the car’s name to CL460, but let’s not get into that. This is the same company that put “6.3″ badges on all of its 6.2-liter V8-powered AMG cars, after all.) This smaller-displacement, forced-induction powerplant cranks out a healthy 429 horsepower at 5,250 RPM, and more importantly, 516 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 RPM. Compared to the old naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8, the new engine is good for increases of 47 hp and a whopping 125 lb-ft.

This new base engine has 51 more foot-pounds than the old 6.2-liter AMG engine, and thus, it helps the 2011 CL550 dash to 60 miles per hour in just 4.8 seconds. That’s impressive for a 4,619-pound luxury barge that sends power to all four wheels. A standard 2,978-pound Porsche Boxster Sisn’t even that quick.Straight-line power is fantastic and all, but the CL550 really starts to show its big bones when you enter a corner. Mercedes has fitted the CL with its new Direct-Steer speed-sensitive steering system, and while it’s great for long, swooping curves down tree-lined, two-lane country roads, the amount of body roll is alarming when trying to take a sharp right-hander faster than the suggested speed sign recommends. Even so, if you decide to try to get the CL frisky, the now-standard 4Matic all-wheel drive will keep the big coupe firmly planted to the road.

Every other part of the CL550′s dynamics – namely, the brakes and the throttle response – are more honed for this sort of country-cruising grand touring rather than serious performance. That’s fine, because the 550 handles these tasks beautifully – it’s perfectly poised for relaxed afternoon drives and effortless long-distance hauls. The CL550 is more appropriately suited for a waltz than the CL63, the latter of which would be more at home acting as a bouncer in a mosh pit.

How cool is this Suzuki DR650SE enduro with an after-market 30 liter safari tank. That’s 7.9 gallons of fuel which translates to just about 434.5 miles of riding on one tank at 55 mpg:

Here’s a spy photo of a late-design, pre-production version of the next BMW M5 via Autoblog:

What do you think?  Here’s a gallery of more photos for you, too.

No, I didn’t lose her to a wreck or to being stolen, I left her behind when I left Honolulu, Hawaii.  I abandoned her, so maybe she’s alive and happy somewhere, with another driver.  Aw heck, I was just feeling nostalgic about my automobiles.  First, the 1974 Triumph TR6 roadster and next my 1980 Mercedes 300D and then my 1997 Land Rover Discovery and even my 1989 Honda Civic hatchback if I am feeling very nostalgic.  Oh, and who can forget my fearsome and deadly 1982 Yamaha XJ1100 Maxim? (Man, that was the most irresponsible thing in the world and I loved it!)

This is not the same car, just the same model, though mine was the famous British Racing Green (BRG) color.  I think I really just love the yellow fog lamps and the knock off wire wheels which mine didn’t have. OK, this is a superior example and my car was held together with love and bubblegum.  However, I did bring her up to over 130mph with the top down on H1 at around 3am and it felt amazing and exhilarating and I was pretty sure she was going to shake apart or explode!

Don’t listen to the haters who say that there was a huge hole in the firewall to the engine venting scalding air to the passenger seat or that there were holes in the floor through which you could see pavement or that the car could overheat or that the Lucas electrical system broke all the time.  What’s the thing about Lucas electrical systems being the prince of darkness?  Or that my forehead stuck over the top to the windshield and that I didn’t fit.

Don’t believe anyone who said I almost killed myself in the car as I drove too fast and too recklessly on winding Tantalus road, even if they suggest that I ever hit a wet patch and spun 540 degrees, settling into my own lane as though nothing had happened, proving God and that God was British all in one fell swoop — all without stalling the car or losing my clutch or getting out of gear (well done, lad!).

Do not believe any of these things.  Not that they’re untrue but they all paint me in a very terrible way and I would rather not be painted that way.  I have always been responsible and mature.

OK, I know you want to know what that bike looked like, right?

I rented a full-sized car from the Enterprise at the Hotel Nikko on Mason in San Francisco to do a day trip to Guy Kawasaki’s house for a fundraiser. All they had was a big lacquer black, leather-swaddled, Chevrolet Tahoe LT.

They gave it to me for the same price and I was in heaven. OK, she was nothing like my BMW, but as I reported before, whenever I get my hands on an American truck, my heart leaps! The truck was a flex-fuel truck with an V8. There was plenty of rock-solid stability all the way up to 90. While I am spoiled by my 5-series german sedan, with its precise steering and its on-rails handling, the sloppiness in the wheel was OK because this is a Very Big Truck. The Chevy Tahoe 12:28:07 feels a lot less urban cowboy or yuppie than it does proper ranch-owner or construction company owner. This is a blue collar vision of a good time and of arrival. This is also a vision of the world that would fit in well in a motorcade — it is gorgeous enough to replace that Towncar if you have to impress clients picking them up at the airport. It feels larger than it looks from afar. I think it’s a bit smaller than the Chevy Suburban and the Ford Expedition. But I could be wrong. I don’t know if I will trade my gorgeous, well-loved, 2001 e39 530i BMW in just now. But, if I need another vehicle, I will surely consider adding this gorgeous behemoth to the stable, let the greenies be damned!

I would but a 2010 version of this chopped, jacked, and customized Ford Bronco. Land Rover has the Defender 90, Toyota has the new FJ, Toyota has both the Tacoma and the 4Runner. The Ford Explorer?

The Ford Expedition has nice shoulders and the correct big heavy-duty truck DNA; however, unlike the Defender line of Utes by Land Rover that comes in various lengths: 90, 110, 120, and 130, there’s only long and longer when it comes to the Expedition.

A two-door, short-wheelbase, Expedition would be awesome.

David Gelles and I stumbled upon this 80s-era E28 BMW M5 parked on the street in San Francisco and both fell in love. San Fran is the home of quirky, awesome, and rare classic cars.

I have been reading every month that BMW is losing its heart and spirit, losing its spirit of driving, its passion for naturally-aspirated engines and tight handling for turbos and assisted steering — going for heaviness, luxury, softness, sloppiness, and technology over its driving and sport heritage.

The R and RS Audis have taken away the motorsport badge from BMW and Mercedes’ AMG badge does heavy, fast, and luxurious much better than Beemer ever will.

I stopped buying 5-series cars at the E39 body style, last made in 2003, and consider the latest 5s and 3s to be derivative and lacking the heritage and inspiration — quickness and handling — that had made BMW the epitome of the driver’s car with maybe the high point being the BMW Z3 M car — a car that was so powerful and mad that it was fiercely irresponsible — in a good way — and offered so many horses and torque for its size that the driving shaft would sometimes just commit hari-kari.

Oh well, it looks like I will be buying “classic” from now on. To me, the only car that hasn’t lost its heritage is the Porsche 911.

Audi, congrats to you for stealing, eating, and keeping BMW’s lunch with your fantastic RS4, R6, and supercar R8 of Iron Man fame.

Sorry, BMW, I only say this because I love you and I very well expected to keep on buying 5-Series for life — but probably not any more — I hear the electronically-assisted steering on the new fives is a Bavarian heresy!

While I do miss my 1997 Land Rover Discovery, RIP, I have nothing but pride and excitement for my 2001 E39 BMW 530i, bought used from BMW. She’s fast, tight, quick, handsome, timeless, reliable, and not getting long in the teeth even after 89k miles and almost a decade since she was born. I just bought another two years of registration in Virginia on her and feel an explosion of pride every time the valet drives up. In fact, I am so besotted that I find myself checking out other E39 5-Series BMWs — it’s a handsome sedan. My ode to my 5.

Before I had some time to sit in a Bentley Continental GT and read about it and see the various and sundry interpretations and versions of this most douchebaggy of sleds, I considered it an appalling manifestation of the descent of Bentley into mediocrity.

But no, the Continental GT is one hell of a gorgeous — albeit heavy — coupé. I mean, check out this Continental Supersports — one of the most elegant sportscoupe anywhere.

Fast, quick, tough, and endlessly expandable.  The GT is also evolving into a more beautiful car, unlike many of its competitors.  What do you think?

BMW‘s official unveiling ceremony isn’t until Monday, but a few authentic shots of the all-new “F10″ BMW 5 Series are floating around cyberspace. These three low resolution images only give us a frontal glimpse of the upcoming 5 Series sedan, apparently as it does a dress rehearsal for its big show at the beginning of the week.

Our first sans-camouflage observation says it looks much like the 5 Series GT, its close sibling (nobody was expecting any radical styling departure anyway). Thanks to its “sport sedan” role, the new 5 Series four-door sports a slightly more aggressive flair to its front facade and side styling.

In case you were wondering, the little black buttons just ahead of the front wheels are side view cameras, just like those found on the 7 Series. We’ll reserve further judgment until Monday, when they pull the rest of the tarp off. Thanks for the tip, Brandon!