Seats could use more lateral support, steering-wheel spokes are too thick.
Seats could use more lateral support, steering-wheel spokes are too thick. Surprisingly, the steering-assist mechanism is identical to that of the E430, and it remains light at most speeds. So light that the mechanism in a BMW 328i feels leaden in comparison. But it directs the E55 with such accuracy and fluency that more weight at the rim doesn't seem necessary . In fact, when you add the car's tenacious grip (0.88 g on the skidpad) and tightly tied-down body motions to the razor-sharp helm, the E55 can take on almost anything in the corners. But be warned, the driver will likely need some recalibration; the car's abundantly stiff structure and good isolation lead one to underestimate corner entry speeds. On the introductory ride-and-drive in Napa, California, a couple of drivers from other publications went off the road, and we suspect that those incidents were partly due to the deceptive ease with which this car gathers speed. What shouldn't go unnoticed in the...