Stumbled across this little beauty the other day outside my gym up here on Cleveland's "West Side". This is a 2008 vintage Mercedes Benz CL550. 
Coupes have been a tough putt for years and sadly, Mercedes Benz discontinued the CL after 2014 so all we have left to drool over are vestiges like our uber rare grand dame here.
A coupe off shoot of Mercedes mighty S class, Mercedes Benz built the CL from 1992-2014 for people that, presumably, prioritize style and fashion above everything else. "CL" is short for "Coupe Leicht" or "Coupe Luxusklasse".
I could care less about what people think; I just like the way a big, stylish coupe looks. Practicality be damned.
The Mercedes Benz CL started out in 1992 as a two door, shortened wheel base version of the four door S class. Think 1995-1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vs. 1995-1999 Chevrolet Lumina. Might be sacrilegious to use a Monte Carlo anecdotally with regards to a Mercedes Benz but the analogy works.
The block like, dare I say homely 1992 CL's gave way to one of the best looking and under appreciated designs of the early 00's, the drop dead gorgeous 1999-2006 CL's. With an eight inch shorter wheelbase and powered only by Mercedes Benz' most powerful engines, the only issue with those cars was that the Hirnhäute at Mercedes priced them much higher than the S class sedans they were based on. Suffice to say they sold like scheisse.
That didn't stop Mercedes Benz from updating the CL for 2008 with this car that while still very appealing, wasn't nearly the head turner the 1999 vintage CL was. What's more, subjectively, this car is less handsome than its stable mate, the CLS. In fairness, though, it's rare that a two door sedan that's little more than the four door its based to an improvement of the design. Again, as good looking as this car is, it's the 1995 Camry two door to the '95 Camry four door. Wow. Two plebian analogies? The kid is two for two today.
Coupes have all but dried up these days because buyers who would have found them appealing years ago have flocked to infinitely more practical and stylish cross over sport utility vehicles. Those blasted vehicles combine the convenience and comfort of sneakers with the styling elan of stiletto heels. That said, though, stilettos will always be sexier than a pair of sneakers.
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