NEW FACELIFT MERCEDES-BENZ CL-CLASS LAUNCHED, PRICED FOR SA

When it comes to Mercedes-Benz coupes, one cannot possibly go any higher than the CL-Class, now refreshed with a number of touches that catapult its facelift status towards something that could seriously be called all-new. Such is the pace of change at Merc that it would be criminal for the CL not to benefit from such waves of innovation.

Innovation is the word set to be frequently used by the Daimler company this year as it celebrates 125 years of existence. It was in February 1886 that the patent for Karl Benz’s three-wheel motorised cart was filed with German authorities. That date is often referred to as the birthday of what we now know as Daimler, and indeed the motor car itself.

The new CL epitomises the sporting and luxurious nature associated with Mercedes-Benz. One door on each side, but four seats in total for the occupants. Performance is not sacrificed at the altar of practicality, or vice versa. With a total length of just over 5 metres, the car exudes a long flowy silhouette. The wheelbase of almost 3 metres is about the same as found in the S-Class, so in terms of interior space you are getting S-Class living with coupe styling.

From the outside Merc has gone back to the drawing board and redesigned pretty much everything from scratch. Headlights are bold and sculptured, bulging lines slant downwards from the bonnet and rendezvous at the front grille which is probably busier than traditional Benz style. LED daytime running lights are prominent and the three silver arrows encompassed in a bigger ring. Convex and concave shapes appear on the side where they sometimes overlap, like the bottom side ones. The CL looks in motion even as it stands parked. The rear end sees new zigzag lights, new reverse lights, a raised boot lid, chrome detailing and two separate trapezoidal pipes for the CL 500 BlueEfficiency (four from the CL 600 upwards).

At the launch my experience was confined to two out of the four models; the CL 500 and the CL 63 AMG. Hopefully there will be a chance behind the wheels of the other two, namely the CL 600 and brawny CL 65 AMG. As for the baseline CL 500, a new engine replaces the old naturally aspirated 5.5-litre V8 whose 285kW was pretty decent for its time. Since things have moved on and everyone is now using smaller turbocharged engines, innovators Mercedes-Benz would not be left behind.

And so the new CL 500 uses an all-new 4.7-litre biturbo (two, same sized turbos) V8 engine making a classy 320kW of power at 5250rpm. Torque is a bubbling 700Nm made between 1800rpm and 3500rpm. Interestingly or not, the old E 55 AMG used a 5.4-litre supercharged for its 350kW and 700Nm. All power is sent to the rear wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox. Claimed performance figures are as follows: 0 – 100km/h in 4.9 seconds, top speed 250km/h, average fuel consumption 9.7 litres per 100km. We averaged quite a surprising 10 litres per 100km during a somewhat spirited drive along the Gauteng’s western region. C02 emissions are said to be 228 g/km.

The CL 500 is responsive to throttle inputs, expectedly feels a little distant from the driver in terms of steering, but never feels alien. I also sampled the CL 63 AMG, my first time tasting the all-new 5.5-litre biturbo V8 engine. In fact this is the first model to receive this engine in the South African market. From a numbers point of view it’s simply astonishing. Maximum power is 400kW at 5500rpm, while torque is a boastful 800Nm achieved between 2000rpm and 4500rpm. It features direct petrol injection using piezo injectors and has Start/stop technology as a fuel-saving method. Start/ stop only works in Eco mode though.

The 0 – 100km/h sprint is done in 4.5 seconds, and top speed limited to the usual 250km/h. An AMG performance package that costs up to R71 800 will put an extra 20kW under the bay for 420kW, as well as an extra 100Nm to take you up to 900Nm in the torque stakes. Top speed will also increase to 300km/h. Merc’s favourite 7-speed MCT Speedshift gearbox is fitted, and plants power to the rear wheels. Speaking of wheels, these are 8.5 Jx19 up front and 9.5 Jx19 at the rear, with 255/40 R19 and 275/40 R19 wheels front and rear respectively.

While it may be slightly muted at startup, the CL 63 AMG kicks up a storm at full glory and sounds just like the car you want it to be: all bravado, yet never over the top. That’s left to lesser siblings like the C 63 AMG or the SL 63 AMG.

As stated earlier, what I didn’t experience were the CL 600 and CL 65 AMG. The latter uses the same 5.5-litre V12 with a biturbo system, blowing out 380kW and 830Nm. The hard-hitting CL 65 AMG has a 6.0-litre V12 biturbo sending out 463kW and an electronically-limited 1000Nm of torque. Incidentally these two cars get the old 5-speed automatic gearbox instead of the 7-speed MCT.

Merc prides itself in being innovative, with a number of industry firsts attribute to the brand over the past 125 years. With the new CL it’s no different. Included in the package are systems like the PRE-SAFE braking, Active Lane Assist which gently returns the car into the right lane if it detects an unscheduled deviation (such as a suspected drunk driving or slight driver sleepiness), Nightview Assist and Parktronic.

Interior innovations include the Splitview COMAND screen which allows driver and front passenger to watch two different things on screen. Remember that entertainment such as movies switch off as soon as the car starts moving. They say driver cannot be distracted by them. Every other mobile castle-style indulgence offered by the S-Class can also be found in the new CL. There I count things like Bluetooth cell phone connectivity, reversing camera, electric rear roller blind, a TV function, a rear-seat entertainment package and an electric sunroof.

Being atop the coupe heap at Mercedes-Benz means the CL has to deliver on every front, from design elegance to style to performance. Value for money is relative of course, at this level anyway. Figure buffs will notice the price of one of the cars is quite similar to that carried by the SLS AMG. Whether both cars attract the same type of customer would be pure speculation on my part. Nevertheless one cannot ignore price at any level. And comparisons will be made.

Other than that, the new facelift CL-Class range offers so much more than a mere botox injection, but cuts through into something much deeper. For all intents and purposes this is an entirely new car. Does it deliver on expectations? Absolutely. Actually, it more than does.

CL-Class Pricing

CL 500 BlueEfficiency (R1 618 900)

CL 600 (R2 107 280)

CL 63 AMG (R2 130 610)

CL 65 AMG (R2 443 300)