Mercedes launches new CL coupé
More technology, more power, more weight...
2006 Mercedes CL-class coupé
It will be, burbles the Mercedes press release, "the culmination of a Mercedes-Benz coupé tradition going back over 50 years. The two-door model combines peerless exclusivity and charismatic design with the sort of cutting-edge technology that no other manufacturer can match worldwide."
It includes all the technology Mercedes can deploy these days, much of it first seen in the S-class, including its Active Body Control (ABC) suspension system, the automatic light system including corner illumination, and anticipatory occupant protection as standard, such as the brakes that activate automatically before an imminent rear-end collision. There's also the now established systems such as park assist and night view assist with infra-red headlamps.
Two engines are available, a V8 and a V12. The V8 powerplant in the CL 500 delivers 388bhp and generates a maximum torque of 391lb-ft from 2,800 rpm, outperforming the existing V8 unit by 26 per cent in terms of output and 15 per cent when it comes to torque. It's equipped with four-valve technology, variably adjustable shifting camshafts, a two-stage intake module and tumble flaps in the intake ducts. The CL 500 accelerates from zero to 62.5 mph in a creditable 5.4 seconds, 0.9 seconds faster than the outgoing model.
The biturbo V12 under the bonnet of the new CL 600 generates 17bhp more, with output now 517bhp and maximum torque on tap is up 22lb-ft to a stonking 612lb-ft from 1,900 rpm up to 3,500 rpm. The new CL 600 accelerates from 0 to 62.5 mph in 4.6 seconds (previous model: 4.8 seconds). Despite the performance boost, the V12 engine is claimed to be 0.6 mpg more efficient than the outgoing model.
Mercedes-Benz has combined the standard-fit automatic transmission with the new direct select gearshift: the driver can select the transmission settings "P", "N", "R" and "D" by nudging a lever on the steering column. Operating commands are transmitted electronically by wire.
It weighs 2,185Kg, some 200Kg more than the current model.
Interior
Mercedes aims for a club atmosphere. Five colour combinations are available; automatic climate control, the COMAND system with car radio, a CD/DVD player and a glass sunroof are standard.
In the top-of-the-line CL 600, the cabin is trimmed with leather, poplar and an Alcantara roof liner with quilted seams. The standard specification includes dynamic multi-contour seats with a massage function and seat ventilation, the hard-disc navigation system COMAND APS, the LOGIC7 surround sound system with DVD changer and the keyless access and drive authorisation system.
The car's bigger than its predecessor: 75 mm longer, 14 mm wider and 20 mm higher and boot capacity grows by 40 litres to 490 litres.
It also looks different. For the rivet counters, the exterior gets the hallmark Mercedes radiator grille with wide chrome louvers, fully retractable side windows, a panoramic rear window, and the new headlight cluster shape.
Want one? Mercedes hasn't confirmed UK prices and specs yet but the outgoing model starts at £73,700 for the CL500 and continues on up to an eye-watering £98,795 for the CL55 AMG. That's before options...
And I'm not sure about this cutting edge gear selection method; sounds awfully like a yank-tank column shift to me!
Yes shocking power output : a 5L V8 should be closer to 450bhp as a minimum.
I suppose it's typical of Merc's slackness in developing engines, compared to Porsche and BMW they're seriously behind.
Yes shocking power output : a 5L V8 should be closer to 450bhp as a minimum.
Totally shocking indeed, I mean BMW do so much better with their 4.8l with 360-odd bhp and Porsche with their 340bhp 4.5, utterly terrible. I bet the new AMG 6.3 unit really sucks with it's 7000rpm redline and 500bhp.
I'd rather have Cayenne Turbo - technically superior in every way..oh and its cheaper! or wait for the Panamera..
M 5.0 V10 507bhp (M5) = 101bhp/Litre (28% higher than Merc)
Porsche 5.7 V10 612bhp (Carrera GT) = 107bhp/Litre (35% higher)
The example that you should have chosen is the AMG 3.2 Kompressor with 353bhp, but then that's forced induction and opens the door for comparisons such as:-
Porsche 996 GT2 3.6 Flat6 475bhp = 132bhp/Litre
And I'm not sure about this cutting edge gear selection method; sounds awfully like a yank-tank column shift to me!
That's exactly what I thought
A higher RPM produces more HP but less torque, for a heavy car you'd want torque.
Not true. It produces PROPORTIONATELY less torque, but absolute peak torque is usually the same or greater, for a given capacity, from a performance engine as from a cheap engine like the old Merc V8.
Edit: Just seen Dinkel's pictures. God is that boring. It looks like an amalgam of the new S-class, old CL, and current CLK. Not an original design feature on the whole car, looks like the design team finished it in a week and spent the next two years playing PGR online.
A higher RPM produces more HP but less torque, for a heavy car you'd want torque.
An engine that revs high allows you to put shorter gearing on the car, so the torque transmitted to the wheel remains the same. And the peak torque figures often quoted are misleading, as it's the spread of torque that's important.
"Power" means the effect of how hard the engine is turning multiplied by how quickly it is turning. Imagine two treadmills, one has a Cheetah running really quickly on it, the other a Grizzly Bear ploding along. Which would be harder to stop turning? The Grizzly is heavy, but the Cheetah is fast. Thats the high-revver (high specific output) versus big capacity (big peak torque) concept in a nutshell.
The new 388bhp Merc V8 is heavier and somehow worse than the equivalent and less powerful BMW unit? I just don't see how you can say Merc's engines are poor, pretty much all their current engines are at least a match for their rivals.
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