Three for the Road: Luxury Grand Tourers
January 3, 2007 - By John LeBlanc

For out-and-out performance, two-seat sports cars are the thoroughbreds of the automotive world. But what if your driving needs require more of a trotter than a galloper or a high- performance car designed for four occupants and long-distance driving that also makes you look good at the same time? Here are three grand tourers (gran turismo in Italian or GTs) that share sleek coupe styling, 2+2 seating, V8 engines up front and rear-wheel drive out back. But which GT most drives like that sports car you really wanted in the first place? Read on:

THIRD PLACE: 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 500 COUPE The CLS is arguably the most beautifully proportioned and eye-catching Benz since the Mercedes SL sports cars of the 1950s and '60s. It's easily the jaw dropper of this trio. In the face of four doors, compared with the E-Class on which it's based, the CLS certainly feels like a coupe on the inside. Despite identical zero-to-100-kilometres-an-hour acceleration times, with seven gears at its disposal, the Merc's 302-horsepower V8 makes the heaviest GT here feel quicker than the Jag. Mercedes' Airmatic suspension system comes standard to allow you to toggle between chauffeur and boy racer, although the stiffest setting still coddles. Quicker steering and less body roll than an E-Class and plenty of grip give the CLS a legitimate claim to coupe-like performance. That said, the CLS also possesses the same isolated ride and certain remoteness to the controls as the well respected Mercedes mid-ranger.



WANT MORE? 2007 CLS 63 AMG, 507 hp, $128,000 BOTTOM LINE In truth, Mercedes speaks of the CLS as a coupe for those who want more room and easier access to rear seating. Compared with the parcel shelf back seats and cramped access in the Jag and Bimmer -- and with a $10,000 lower base price -- I'll buy that.

SECOND PLACE: 2007 JAGUAR XK COUPE Similar to the XJ sedan, the new XK is constructed mainly of aluminum to save weight and improve the car's power-to-weight ratio. The manumatic is carried over, but it has been retuned for sharper changing of its six gears. As sweet as the XK's exterior lines, the sounds emitted when this tranny downshifts will have any enthusiast's heart fluttering. The trouble is that the carry-over V8 with only 300 hp -- 60 less than the BMW -- leaves the Jag behind the BMW from zero to 100 km/h by over a half second. Jaguar's Computer Active Technology System controls roll and pitch by adjusting the shocks at each corner separately, blessing the XK with both high-speed composure and back road nimbleness. Steering is delicate and accurate, but compared with the 650i, the XK understeers more readily and isn't as well balanced, forcing you to work harder for similar results.



WANT MORE? 2007 Jaguar XKR coupe, 420 hp, $117,000 BOTTOM LINE Gorgeous looks, practical hatch and a nice compromise between ride and handling isn't enough to better the Bimmer. Nonetheless, according to Kate Winslet, her, ahem, proportions were Jag designer Ian Callum's inspiration for the new XK's rear styling. You decide...

FIRST PLACE: 2006 BMW 650i COUPE Introduced in 2003, the biggest change to date with BMW's 6 has been under the hood with a larger and more powerful 360-hp V8. As expected, this mill likes to rev, and it is super-smooth in doing so. In delivering the best power-to-weight ratio of this trio, the BMW engine makes the smaller eight in the Jag seem slow to respond, especially at low rpm. A six-speed manumatic transmission is a no-cost option, but with the only available manual transmission here, the 650i wins over those who like more control in their driving experience. Opposite to the Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar, the BMW feels better the harder you drive it. The throttle, steering and ride that feel heavy at around town speeds feel just right when the 650i is caned on a back road. Your only question marks may be the 650i's poor rear visibility and polarizing interior and exterior looks.



WANT MORE? 2007 BMW M6, 500 hp, $130,500 BOTTOM LINE Beyond the obvious performance advantages, the 650i has a more usable back seat than the XK, is quieter, better built and costs less.

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, www.straight-six.com

THE SPECS

THIRD PLACE: 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS 500
ENGINE 5.0 L SOHC V8
POWER 302 hp @ 5,600 rpm; 339 lb-ft of torque @ 2,700 rpm
TRANSMISSION Seven-speed automatic
TIRES 245/40R18
CURB WEIGHT 1,810 kg
ACCELERATION TO 100 KM/H 6.1 seconds
FUEL ECONOMY L/100 KM 15.1 city, 9.9 hwy
BASE PRICE $92,600

SECOND PLACE: 2007 Jaguar XK Coupe
ENGINE 4.2 L DOHC V8
POWER 300 hp @ 6,000 rpm; 310 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
TRANSMISSION Six-speed automatic
TIRES 245/45R18 / 255/45R18
CURB WEIGHT 1,665 kg
ACCELERATION TO 100 KM/H 6.1 seconds
FUEL ECONOMY L/100 KM 13.1 city, 8.0 hwy
BASE PRICE $103,000

FIRST PLACE: 2007 BMW 650i Coupe
ENGINE 4.8L DOHC V8
POWER 360 hp @ 6,300 rpm; 360 lb-ft of torque @ 2,800 rpm
TRANSMISSION Six-speed manual
TIRES 245/40R18 / 275/40R18
CURB WEIGHT 1,730 kg
ACCELERATION TO 100 KM/H 5.5 seconds
FUEL ECONOMY L/100 KM 14.8 city, 9.3 hwy
BASE PRICE $101,500

© National Post 2007. This article originally appeared in The National Post's Driving.