+ Click to Enlarge STATUS WITH STYLE: The 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class retains the classic fully-retractable side windows with no B pillars.

February 26, 2007

The seventh-generation Mercedes-Benz CL-Class luxury coupé, launched today in the Western Cape, comes with an alphabet soup of safety and comfort features – but more importantly it has the muscle to back them up.

It's available with a choice of two V8 engines, the first being a five-litre CL500 delivering a claimed 285kW and 530Nm from 2800rpm which, Merc says, is 26 percent more power and 15 percent more torque than the previous model.

It has four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, a two-stage intake module and tumble flaps in the intake ducts; Merc says it'll take the CL from 0-100km/h in 5.4sec, 0.9sec quicker than the previous model.

Then there's the AMG-developed, 6208cc CL 63 engine, rated for 386kW at 6800rpm and 630Nm at 5200rpm which, AMG says, is the highest specific output and specific torque of any naturally aspirated production eight-cylinder engine.

It also says the CL 63 will sprint to 100km/h in 4.6sec and top out at an electrically limited 250km/h.

Whichever engine you choose, it will lay down the power through a 7-Gtronic semi-automatic transmission with a new "direct select" gearshift: the driver can electronically select the transmission settings "P", "N", "R" and "D" by nudging a lever on the steering column.

The 2007 CL is 75mm longer than its predecessor at 5065mm, 14mm wider at 1871mm and 20mm higher at 1418mm – most of which Merc says is inside the cabin; the boot has also grown 40 litres to 490 litres.

The CL has some classic Stuttgart coupé design cues brought smartly up to date, such as the reverse-tapered C pillar, fully retractable side windows with no B pillar and a large, curved rear window.

Inside, the CL is all about wood trim and soft leather – in five colour combinations – with automatic air-con, Comand central accessory control, radio/CD/DVD player and a glass sunroof.

New "integral" seats incorporate all the seat-belt components for maximum comfort and protection, while electric motors adjust the fore-aft setting, the angles of the squab and backrest, seat height, head restraint and thigh length. The front seats also have adjustable pneumatic lumbar supports.

The range-topping CL 63 AMG Exclusive Passion version also has brushed stainless-steel door-sills and AMG sports seats with massage function and seat ventilation, a Comand APS hard-disc navigation system, Logic7 surround sound with DVD changer and keyless access and drive authorisation.

Electrickery

The CL comes with a full suite of safety and driver aids, starting with roll/pitch control that uses sensor signals and hydraulic cylinders on the axles to reduce pitch and roll when pulling away, cornering and braking, allowing softer suspension, says Mercedes-Benz, without wallowing.

The system will lower the body at more than 60km/h to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve stability.

A new braking aid is part of the (optional) Distronic cruise control; it will warn the driver of an imminent collision and calculate the braking pressure needed to avolid a crash – which is applied as the driver hits the brake pedal.

If the driver doesn't react to the visual and audible warnings, it will slow the car automatically using about 40 percent of total braking power – which should wake him up.

If the driver then applies the brakes, maximum power is available.

Parking assistance

Radar sensors measure the length of a parking space when driving past and show on the cockpit display whether there is sufficient space.

Once reverse gear is engaged, the display shows a symbolic representation of the parking manoeuvre; guide lines show the required steering angle and indicate the path into the parking space.

Bottom line

There's a lot of zeros in the CL's prices - here's how they pan out:

Mercedes-Benz CL500 - R1 240 000
Mercedes Benz CL63 AMG - R1 615 000

Optional Distronic following-distance radar will add R17 200 and infra-red night vision assistance R18 000.