Mercedes-Benz Cars. All About Mercedes Cars

Mercedes-Benz Cars. All About Mercedes Cars

The Mercedes-Benz W209 cars have been produced since 2002. They are sold under the CLK-Class model names. The W209 is based on the W203 C-Class. It replaced the C208 CLK-Class after 2004 which were the first car to carry the CLK moniker. The W209 is available in two body styles, a coupe and a cabriolet, and with three engines available, a V6 (CLK320 in 鈥?4, CLK350 thereafter), V8 (CLK500), and supercharged V8 (CLK55). The cabriolet (Designated with an A, as in CLK500A) features a fully automatic retractable soft top covered by a metal tonneau that can be raised and lowered from outside the vehicle using the key fob. The CLK is designed to fill the mid-luxury market position for coupes and convertibles. It is Mercedes-Benz鈥檚 only 4-seat cabriolet. Its direct competitors in the cabriolet market are the Volvo C70 and the Lexus SC430, although it is available with larger engines than any of its direct competitors. The CLK is positioned midway between the BMW 3 series coupe/cabriolet and the 6 series coupe/cabriolet.

The CLK is a superlative vehicle whose handling is exceptionally precise even under extreme cornering, road, and weather conditions, and whose performance is equal to the fastest readily available sports cars on the market. Performance is electronically limited to 135mph in the CLK350 and CLK500 models, and to 155mph in the CLK55 model. The electronic limitation is felt as a point at which the car simply won鈥檛 go faster, not as an artificial fuel cutoff that can cause bucking as in some vehicles. Both the 5-speed (鈥?4 and 鈥?5) and 7-speed automatic transmissions are so smooth that shifting is noticeable only unusual driving conditions. The cars have a manual sport/comfort mode switch that sets the transmission to start in 2nd gear and shift earlier in comfort mode. The new 7-speed transmission ads about 20% better fuel mileage in real driving conditions over the 5-speed with no loss in performance, although the additional shifting can be noticeable. The 5-speed CLK500 gets an average of 15mpg in real city driving conditions, whereas the 7-speed CLK500 get an average of about 18mpg under the same conditions. Both add about 3mpg for highway driving. The W209 was introduced in 2002. At introduction, it was available with a 3.2 liter engine, a 5.0 liter engine, and a 5.5 liter engine. The 2004 CLK was the last Mercedes Benz automobile to use the venerable D2B (Digital Data Bus) optical fiber media system introduced a decade earlier. The most obvious problem with this system was the clearly obsolete CD-ROM based navigation system.

It鈥檚 the fifth generation of the car Mercedes bigwigs acknowledge as the heart of the company. No pressure here, then. Although it looks very much like a larger C-Class or smaller S-Class, worryingly so depending on your point of view, the latest E-Class is a stellar technological statement. It鈥檚 also bigger and roomier than the previous model, but uses high-strength steel and aluminium in its structure to reduce weight. The big-selling axis of the range, the 220d, also gets a radical new all-alloy four-cylinder diesel engine, the upshot being a car that weighs 100kg less than the model it replaces. There鈥檚 also a 350d, with further versions to come. A car that blends sumptuous materials elegantly, to create an ergonomic design that provides a supremely comfortable and sophisticated driving environment. The distinctive S-Class has inspired the wraparound dashboard in the E-Class Saloon, with other standard features including rich leather upholstery and ambient lighting.

The all-new infotainment system makes its debut in the E 350 d model (optionally available on the E 220 d), combining the advanced functionality of COMAND Online system with Media Interface and touchpad. Another noteworthy piece of technology includes the touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons which control the entire infotainment system using smartphone-like finger swipes. The E-Class is a full five seater, and although the transmission tunnel restricts room in the middle slightly, the E-Class still offers enough space for five fully grown adults on shorter journeys. That鈥檚 thanks to the comfortable seats and, for the driver and front passenger, plenty of adjustment. A softer chassis setup compared to rivals means the E-Class focuses on comfort more than sportiness, floating nicely over rippled roads. However, the big body and chunky C-pillars mean rear visibility over the shoulder isn鈥檛 the best - but with features like blind spot assist available, there鈥檚 enough safety tech to help out here. That enlarged body means there鈥檚 lots of room inside, so the E-Class offers good storage. All of our E-Class cars are regularly maintained by Mercedes-Benz and feature many high-spec accessories. Wherever you want to travel to in and around London, this marvellous Mercedes chauffeur car will be perfect for the task. From chauffeur-driven Heathrow airport transfers to business and 鈥渁s directed鈥?private hire this certainly beats a black cab for comfort and luxury.