Once dowdy, Mercedes-Benz sedans and coupes have become the dandies of automotive styling with chiseled profiles, thin aerodynamic noses and enough gadgets to satisfy hyperactive adults. Styling certainly sets the new mid-level E Series Coupe apart from the crowd. The test car was a stark white E550, Mercedes near top-end V-8 packing coupe. I'd pick another color, but the car was stunning, even in its Good Humor trim. Mercedes has torqued up the performance to coincide with its luxury look and feel. Under the sloping hood there's a boisterous 5.5-liter V8 with a hefty 382 horsepower. That's Chevy Corvette territory in a more elegant package. But the Benz still kicks out the ponies like nobody's business, scorching the highway entry ramp and blazing away from stoplights, especially when you press the dash button engaging the Sport mode. You'll pay $54,650 for a sport coupe, the base on the E550 coupe; a sedan version goes for $56,300. If want more speed, there's the E63 AMG model that puts a 518-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 into the engine bay - for an amazing $85,500. There's really no compromise or disappointment on the performance side as Mercedes uses a silky shifting 7-speed automatic to tame the powerful, racy-toned V8. Grip is good from the rear-drive car, of course there's stability and traction control to help there. Handling is a nice blend of sporty efficiency and smooth feel. The wheel is on the heavy side, but the car remains super flat in high-speed cornering and while not as precise feeling as a BMW, it's very responsive. Ride is where the Benz errs on the side of racy, over comfort. The stiff suspension, a three-link system up front and five-link in back, is tough to take at times. Like many race-tuned sports coupes and sedans, the problem is mostly with abrupt large bumps and cracks. Hit a big rubber expansion joint and hold on as the jolt is felt throughout the car. Mercedes boasts a continuously variable damping system, but it doesn't seem to react quickly enough to our really rough roads. The car didn't feel quite as heavy as I'd expected. Most German cars have a massive feel to them, from a weight perspective. The E550 weighs in at 3,783 pounds, about 200 fewer pounds than a full-size Taurus. (Welcome to china rubber expansion joint manufacturer)