Save When You Purchase Multiple Reports

Save When You Purchase Multiple Reports

Pounding the point home is the CL's hardtop design: As with all of its predecessors since 1958, there is no central B-pillar aft of the doors to break the sleek lines of the body. With the windows down, the look is sexy and the view out is panoramic, recalling cars of the Fifties and Sixties when hardtops were in vogue.Where the current CL breaks most from tradition is in its sheer excess. Pricey and pretty as they were, the big Mercedes coupes of the Fifties, Sixties, and even Seventies were compact compared to contemporary U.S. The current line qualifies as truly massive, in size, weight, and horsepower.The current generation CL was completely redesigned for the 2007 model year. The CL 550 comes with a powerful 382-horsepower 5.5-liter V8. The CL600 packs an insanely powerful 510-hp twin turbocharged 5.5-liter V12.For 2008, Mercedes added two more choices from its AMG performance division: the ridiculously powerful 518-horspower 6.2-liter V8, and the preposterously powerful 604-horsepower 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12.

Securing the right exterior proportions meant making the CL significantly shorter than the S-Class, upon which it is based. This results in a close-coupled, intimate interior, the kind historically associated with coupes from time immemorial. We'd call the rear passenger area cramped, though similar models from BMW and Bentley actually have even less rear legroom. The CL is for being seen in. Its interior is sumptuous and inviting, dressed in the finest materials and tailored to perfection. Burled walnut, supple leather, brushed aluminum and designer-quality knobs and switches are everywhere you look and touch. The standard equipment list bulges with luxury items no one actually needs but almost anyone would love to have, from a Harman/Kardon 600-watt, 11-speaker audio system to soft ambient mood lighting. 103,100) is powered by a 382-horsepower 5.5-liter V8. 146,900) packs a 510-horsepower twin turbocharged 5.5-liter V12. 197,000), with 604 horsepower and a stupendous 738 pound-feet of torque from a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12.

3,000.Standard CL equipment is comprehensive. The seats, doors and instrument panel are all leather covered; burled walnut wood trim is used liberally. 1950) for the CL 550 includes heated and ventilated front seats and a keyless entry system. 5290) includes Premium I equipment and adds multi-adjustable front seats fitted with pneumatic chambers that adjust cushion firmness and lumbar support. Also part of the Premium II package are a night vision system with an in-dash screen, and a rear backup camera. 460) is also available. 5630) adds special aerodynamic pieces and larger, 19-inch wheels (18-inch wheels are standard). 1010).The CL63 comes with the contents of Premium I, the heated steering wheel, and the body kit; and makes 20-inch wheels standard. 425). Buyers seeking even more exclusivity can choose among three Designo Edition combinations of exterior color and interior leather and trim (Mystic White, Espresso, or Graphite).Most of the above are standard on the CL600.

The only options it offers are the iPod kit, the two optional wheel choices, and the designo editions. There are high expectations for cars in the CL's rarefied league, which consists of a very few automobiles and includes the BMW 6 Series and Bentley Continental GT. Ultra-luxury coupes are a statement of style and panache, capability and quality, and they ought to look as expensive as they are. Mercedes has been making range-topping coupes for many years, and it knows the game. The CL's styling does not disappoint.From nose to tail, the CL is something out of the ordinary. Seen from the front, it's instantly identifiable as a Mercedes-Benz from its three-slat grille, long a staple of Benz sport models and SUVs. The famous three pointed star emblem is front and center and as large as a dinner plate, just to be sure you don't mistake the CL for any other brand.

Pulling open the door is the moment of truth in an ultra-luxury coupe. Buyers in this class are expecting sumptuousness, high-end materials and sophisticated design that convey the promise of being coddled. Everyone who looked inside our CL550 test car uttered an involuntary "wow." It's beautifully designed, richly appointed and finished with a fanatical attention to detail. Take another car. This is apparently okay in this class: The Bentley Continental GT and BMW 6 Series have even less rear legroom.Cargo room is just the opposite. The trunk is deep, commodious and finished in a handsome gray carpet. Under the trunk floor is a shallow but still useful cargo tray, and under that a full-sized spare. Liftover height is about average, and the electric powered opening-and-closing feature is always appreciated. The Mercedes-Benz CL550 we tested is a swift and smooth ride to be sure, but we'd stop short of calling it a sports sedan.