| Mercedes-Benz CL (C215) | |
| Manufacturer: | DaimlerChrysler |
| Assembly: | Germany: Sindelfingen |
| Production: | June 1998[1] – February 2006 |
| Layout: | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Related: | Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W220) |
| Class: | Grand tourer (S) |
| Body Style: | 2-door coupé |
| Wheelbase: | 28851NaN1 |
| Length: | 49931NaN1 |
| Width: | 18571NaN1 |
| Height: | 1390- |
| Weight: | 1865-[2] |
| Designer: | Peter Arcadipane, Bruno Sacco (1995) |
| Predecessor: | Mercedes-Benz C140 |
| Successor: | Mercedes-Benz C216 |
The second generation CL-Class used the C215-chassis designation and was manufactured and marketed by Mercedes from 1998–2006 as the company's flagship model, a two-door, four-passenger coupé.[3]
Based on the 1998–2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W220), it uses an 80NaN0 shorter wheelbase. Its unique unibody construction used a steel floor pan, chassis rails and A pillars along with a bonded aluminium roof and rear wing sections, magnesium door frames and composite plastic used for the boot/trunk and front wings.
Sales in Germany started in August 1999 for the CL 500 V8.
The C215 exterior design and active suspension was previewed by the Mercedes-Benz F200 concept in 1996.[4]
Model variants included the:
Exterior design produced a [5] for regular models and 0.29 for AMG.
C215 was the second car (after the W220 S-Class) with Distronic: the first worldwide radar-assisted Autonomous cruise control system. It was the first car in the world with both low beam and high beam (Bi-Xenon) High Intensity Discharge headlamps.[6]
Standard equipped included hydropneumatic suspension, the Active Body Control or ABC system. It is technically more advanced than standard Airmatic air suspension found on the W220 S-Class sibling, and keeps the car level even in fast corners, provides a comfort and sports setting. Driver controls can enable the system to increase the car's ground clearance in three increments for driving on difficult terrain. The suspension will lower the vehicle automatically at higher speeds.
From 1999 through 2003, the V12-equipped cars featured a cylinder deactivation system called Active Cylinder Control. The feature was dropped on introduction of the 5000NaN0 bi-turbo V12. This system allowed the CL 600 to achieve better fuel economy than the comparable CL 500 when not (option for the V8), especially on the road when six-cylinder operation could be activated. Conceptually, the engine is two Mercedes six-cylinder series engines mated to a common crank with separate engine monitoring systems.
Cars with the Designo option were available in exclusive colours and with custom interior appointments, including an optional natural stone veneer.
In 2003, engine availability was revised, and the cars were upgraded with Pre-Safe precrash system and a DVD-based navigation system vs CD-based COMAND system. The CL 55 AMG became supercharged allowing the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.27 sec according to Motor Trend and the V12 CL 600 had turbochargers added and a slight engine capacity reduction, from 5786 cc to 5513 cc. Both cars produced 5000NaN0. Albeit the CL 600 Bi Turbo official power figures were understated to preserve sales of the CL 55 AMG Kompressor models. The more powerful CL 65 produced 6120NaN0. The top speed of the car was limited to 250abbr=onNaNabbr=on.[7]
Standard equipment included front and rear side curtain airbags. In total, the C215 features 8 airbags: 2 frontal (driver and passenger), 4 side airbags (one for each passenger, optional for rear seats) and 2 window-airbags. LED brake lights became standard.
The CL 63 AMG was based on the CL 600. These were produced in limited quantities for one month and offered exclusively by AMG, and only to selected customers in Europe and Asia, allegedly Heads of State. The CL 63 AMG was the rarest C215 CL of all, and only 26 examples were built in November 2001 (plate 51), some delivered in the UK and one for France registered in March 2002. They had a price of US$270,000. One of them was offered for sale in Warwick in 2022.[8] [9]
In 2000, Mercedes-Benz presented the CL 55 AMG F1 Limited Edition model. With production limited to only 55 numbered examples, they sported lighter carbon-ceramic brake discs (a world production car first[10]) with special eight-piston Brembo calipers. The model was based on a standard naturally aspirated CL 55 AMG with identical performance but better stopping power. It was available only in metallic silver with black and silver leather interior with an option of sports bucket seats. F1 Limited Edition logos can be found on the illuminated door sills and on the carbon-fibre finished centre console along with a series number.[11] [12]
As with all major German manufacturers (except Porsche) Mercedes electronically limits their cars to 2500NaN0.
| Model | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–100 km/h (62 mph) | Top speed | CO2 emissions g/km | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL 500 | 5.0 L V8 M113 | 3060NaN0 at 5600 rpm | 4600NaN0 at 2700–4250 rpm | 6.5 seconds | 2500NaN0 | 285–320 | |
| CL 600 | 5.8 L V12 M137 | 3670NaN0 at 5500 rpm | 5300NaN0 at 4250 rpm | 6.1 seconds | 2500NaN0 | 321 | |
| CL 600 (from 2002) | Twin-turbocharged 5.5 L V12 M275 | 5000NaN0 at 5000 rpm | 8000NaN0 at 1800–3500 rpm | 4.8 seconds | 2500NaN0 | 353 | |
| CL 55 AMG | 5.4 L V8 M113 | 3600NaN0 at 5500 rpm | 5300NaN0 at 3150–4500 rpm | 6.0 seconds | 2500NaN0 | 310 | |
| CL 55 AMG (from 2002) | Supercharged 5.4 L V8 M113 | 5000NaN0 at 6100 rpm | 7000NaN0 at 2750–4000 rpm | 4.8 seconds | 2500NaN0 | 317 | |
| CL 63 AMG | 6.3 L V12 M137 | 4440NaN0 at 5500 rpm | 6200NaN0 at 4400 rpm | 5.5 seconds | 2500NaN0 | 338 | |
| CL 65 AMG | Twin-turbocharged 6.0L V12 M275 | 6120NaN0 at 4800–5100 rpm | 10000NaN0 at 2000–4000 rpm | 4.4 seconds | 2500NaN0 | 357 |
According to Daimler,[13] the C215 was produced in the following numbers:
Total production of the C215 CL-Class was 47,984 units (excluding 63 AMG model).