News in Birmingham from the Edgbaston and Harborne Observer

Well it's not a building, it's a car, but it is almost as big as a building. The Chrysler 300C promises to never pass unnoticed – its highly distinctive front end with the striking bold grille and long bonnet will certainly turn heads, and frighten lorry drivers.

Chrysler’s 300C is engineered to offer a smooth, luxurious ride while maintaining a feeling of control and confidence. Effort was also focused on minimising noise, vibration and harshness, resulting in a driving experience that is smooth and quiet.

The well appointed interior features satin silver accents. All models feature a dark and light slate grey leather interior.The 300C has best-in-class rear legroom of 1020mm, which means it offers more interior space than the BMW 7-series (more total interior volume, front leg and shoulder room and more rearpassenger leg room) and the Jaguar XJ8 (more total interior volume, front shoulder and head room, and rear head, leg, shoulder and hip room).

The 3.0-litre V-6 CRD engine is part of an impressive powertrain lineup. The 3.5-litre V-6 engine delivers high output but, for the ultimate in performance, Chrysler 300C customers can choose the 6 litre SRT-8. The only criticism of this magnificent car is it's thirst. You can expect to get around 14 miles to the gallon in town traffic. Although, if you really do want economy, you could always buy a Punto and keep it in the boot.

Standard features on the Chrysler 300C include Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and an all-speed Traction Control System, front and rear side-curtain airbags, xenon High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and a rear park assist system. Air-conditioning and heated leather driver and front passenger seats also come as standard on all vehicles in the range. The 300C 5.7-litre V-8 Hemi comes with an extra £3175 of standard equipment (sunroof; GPS sat-nav with 6-disc CD; seven speaker premium sound system) compared to the other cars in the range. Another nice feature is it's auto-reverse windows. A sensing system automatically engages and reverses the window down to help prevent injuries. Now you can order that “drive thru” meal in total safety.

In the UK, the Chrysler 300C is covered by Chrysler’s three-year, 60,000 mile warranty. Prices start from £26,250 on the road.

The CLS-Class – the first four-door coupé from Mercedes - combines the sleekness and looks of a coupé with the luxury and practicality of a saloon. Now you can get your pulse racing, and still have space for four adults and their luggage.

Now before we get too technical on the definition of "coupe", I was told a long time ago that coupe didn't mean "two doors" and was in fact to do with the downward sloping of the roof. My dictionary doesn't agree with this but nevertheless, I'm on Mercedes' side on this one. Maybe one of our cleverer readers can put all of us right on the matter?

As well as looking stunning from the outside, the CLS-Class is, as you would expect, a wonderful looking car on the inside. High quality finishes mark out the CLS-Class Coupé as a truly luxurious car. It boasts fine woodtrim and leather/fabric upholstery. And there’s plenty of extra space. It offers generous accommodation for four adults despite the car’s rakish side rofile.

Under the bonnet of the CLS 350 lies a newly developed Mercedes V6 engine boasting 272 hp. Complemented by the standard-fitted 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission, this achieves top-class values for acceleration and fuel consumption. The new CLS 320 CDI V6 diesel, with the same 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission, delivers an equally impressive drive. With acceleration of 0 to 62.5 mph in only 7 seconds, this car is a beauty with a beast of an engine. And it’s one that has elevated the concept of diesel power to its next level. The maximum torque of 510 Nm is available at engine speeds as low as 1,600 rpm and remains constant all the way up to 2,800 rpm. Meaning a perfectly smooth-running drive, yet one with undiluted, charismatic power.

Eight-cylinder comfort and sports car performance are offered by the CLS 500. Its V8 engine, with 306 hp and a torque of 460 Nm, accelerates from standstill to 62.5 mph in just 6.1 seconds, interacting perfectly with the standard seven-speed automatic transmission. In the CLS 55 AMG, the proven, hand-built engine pulls out all the stops with 476 hp, peak torque of 700 Nm and a 0-62.5 mph in an impressive 4.7 seconds. Teamed with the five-speed automatic gearbox with AMG Speedshift, this makes a thrilling combination.

All of Mercedes-Benz's know-how has gone into creating an incredibly safe drive. 4-link front suspension and optimised multi-link rear suspension underpins the handling and control of the CLS-Class Coupé. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with Brake Assist (BAS) and the latest-generation ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) with Acceleration Skid Control (ASR) all come as standard giving you excellent stability and control whatever the driving conditions. The tyre pressure loss warning system is also standard for the CLS-Class and invaluable in the early detection of slow punctures as well as flat tyres.

So how much does a car like this cost? Who cares. You buy one because you can, and because you want to. You've probably had a hard day running IBM or something and your bottom deserves a treat, so you put it in a Mercedes. It's as simple as that.

Oh price, between about £42,000 and £72,000, but that does include a full tank of fuel.

Chrysler Building...

Mercedes Magic