2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

MAJORCA, Spain—This Mediterranean island off Spain is one of those places where you either have a lot of money or none at all. If you are one of the blessed few with a lot, driving a shiny new Mercedes-Benz is a great way to ensure that people are aware of the fact—but because Majorca is a sun-drenched island in the midst of the Mediterranean, you'll probably prefer to have not a new Mercedes-Benz, but a new Mercedes cabriolet, like the brand-new E350 or E550. The company says there's few differences between the chassis & suspension setups on the three cars, but the bottom line is that the brawny V8 in the E550 turns the automobile from a picture in to something they would not mind calling our very own. As you might expect, the Silver Arrow spent lots of time working the company's new design language in to the convertible, & the result is, well, polarizing. While the E-Class Cabriolet is over handsome from the front, the rearview could be called an acquired taste. By James Tate