4th place Lexus GS450h
0-60 in 5.5 seconds
1/4 mile 14.1@103mph
skidpad 0.81 g's
Lane change 63.0 mph
70-0 in 176 feet
70 cruise...66 dba
overall gas 20 mpg
Steering 2, Brake 2, Handling 7, Ride 9, fun to drive 11, total points 175
3rd place Mercedes Benz E550 Sport
0-60 in 4.8 seconds
1/4 mile 13.4@106 mph
skidpad 0.84 g's
Lane change 58.8 mph
70-0 in 170 feet
70 cruise...67 dba
overall gas 17 mpg
Steering 3, Brake 3, Handling 7, Ride 8, fun to drive 17, total points 197
2nd Place BMW 550i Sport 6 speed Auto
0-60 in 5.2 seconds
1/4 mile 13.7@104 mph
skidpad 0.89 g's
Lane change 65.1 mph
70-0 in 161 feet
70 cruise...66 dba
overall gas 17 mpg
Steering 5, Brake 4, Handling 10, Ride 9, fun to drive 22, total points 209
1st Place Infiniti M45 Sport
0-60 in 5.9 seconds
1/4 mile 14.5@100 mph
skidpad 0.85 g's
Lane change 63.6 mph
70-0 in 160 feet
70 cruise...69 dba
overall gas 16 mpg
Steering 5, Brake 4, Handling 9, Ride 9, fun to drive 21, total points 210
The price difference of 550i vs M45 resulted in 1st place for M45.
Weight and weight distribution front/rear
BMW 550i 4048 lbs, 50.1/49.9
Infiniti M45 sport 4082 lbs, 53.6/46.4
Lexus GS450h 4183 lbs, 50.4/49.6
Mercedes E550 sport 4039 lbs, 51.8/48.2
Lexus GS450h
Highs: uptown interior, user friendly secondary controls, delivers on performance -hybrid promise.
Lows: Numb steering, endless cycling of CVT, asthmatic powertrain sounds.
Verdict: Engineering that's easy to appreciate in a car that's hard to love.
Mercedes Benz E550
Highs: Megawatt muscle, understated good looks, seven-speed automatic.
Lows: Flaccid handling responses, noisy HVAC system, seven-speed automatic manual mode.
Verdict: A superb cross-country ride, but hold the decreasing radii.
BMW 550i
Highs: Unerring dynamics, seductively smooth power, superb seats(comfort seats).
Lows: Exasperating iDrive, skimmpy small-object stowage, clutch-your-heart price.
Verdict: A flawless driving machine diminished by pricey options and an infernal device.
Infiniti M45 Sport
Highs:Playful spirit, sports-car steering, excellent chassis, lots of room, best buy of the bunch.
Lows: Chessy Alumalook plastic dashboard trim, lane-departure warning system.
Verdict: Even without the price advantage, a top-notch, no-excuses player in the luxo-sports-sedan game.
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Now, is it me, or does 4.8 seconds to 60 mph seem outrageously quick for an E550!?!?!?
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