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| Photo and photo text: Auto Bild Additional background retouching by MBEP webmaster |
Articles from "Auto Express", "Automobile Magazine", "Auto Bild" and "Auto Motor und Sport"
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| Photo: Auto Express Photo text: AutoBild |
Next up is the enlarged 5.0-litre V8 unit, boasting 320bhp
- a 12bhp increase - and then there's the all-new 5.8-litre V12 engine,
which produces a mighty 400bhp. Linked to this will be the latest specification
five-speed automatic gearbox with adaptive driving patterns. Carrying the
latest powertrains is an all-new rear-wheel-drive platform, with improves
suspension and steering set-ups. New air-filled dampers are said to give
superior low-speed ride comfort and high-speed body composure, while an
electronic control system is expected to enhance the technology-laden appeal
of the V12 flagship.
Added to this will be Mercedes comprehensive catalogue
of standard-fit driving aids. These include the ESP (electronic stability
control), which keeps the car stable in extreme conditions by independently
feeding braking pressure to each wheel by the way of the anti-lock brakes'
sensors. In addition, there is Mercedes patented Brake Assist system plus
ASR traction control, which stops the rear wheels from spinning during
acceleration.
According to our inside information, Mercedes engineers
set out to give both the S-Class
and CL models a more sporty feel on the road. The major suspension and
steering revisions provide more feedback for the driver, less body roll
and, with a much lower overall weight - thanks to the use of costly but
lightweight materials - there is less inertia and pitch in corners, and
not as much dive during braking. Another plus point is the coupe's greatly
reduced overall bulk. Though the wheelbase remains the same, body length
has been reduced by cutting back the overhangs, while width and height
dimensions are also down slightly.
Inside, the CL gets an interior design which, though
different to the S-Class's,
shares new features with the saloon. Included among them are electronic
analogue dials and instruments which remain blank and cloaked in darkness
until the ignition is switched on; they then light up in a similar fashion
to those of Toyota's Lexus models. A new "Command" centre brings touch-screen
and speech activation to the driver. This optional device is based on a
screen which operates everything from the music system and television to
the telephone and APS (Auto Pilot System) satellite navigation. Features
such as electronic climate control, plus buttons for the cruise and speed
controls mounted on the steering wheel, will also be fitted.
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| Photo: Auto Express Photo text: MBEP webmaster |
Although the latest German GT is smaller externally, it
remains a spacious four-seater, with a boot large enough to carry luggage
for a full complement of passengers. On top of the superb standards of
active safety, the big Merc will protect its occupants with the addition
of front and side-impact airbags, plus head-bags, which run the length
of the doors' windows. Design staff have been testing airbags for the rear-seat
passengers, and there's a possibility that these will be fitted in the
backs of the front seats in order to provide facial and chest protection.
Despite all the obvious improvements that the still-secret
CL displays over the current model, any rise in that car's British Pounds
72,040 - 107,040 price range is expected to be kept to a minimum, thanks
mainly to improved cost-cutting methods used during a speeded-up development
cycle. However, the new model is not likely to reach the UK until early
2000, which will leave plenty of potential buyers to face an agonising
wait, as it is clearly a massive advance over the existing CL coupe. The
new car, looking and sounding better than ever, seems set to boost CL sales
worldwide in a big way.
End of article
Many thanks to Colin from the UK for sending the article and the
photos from "Auto Express"!
Article from "Automobile Magazine"
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| Photo: Automobile Magazine Additional background retouching by MBEP webmaster |
According to an older article from "Auto Bild" the new C215 S-Class coupe will have a twin-exhaust, air-suspension, electronic stability programme ESP, ASR, air-condition, radio, alloy wheels, electrically adjustable seats, new head-airbags, multi-function steering-wheel and pop-out monitor for GPS-navigation system. In the beginning there will be the two eight-cylinder engines 430 and 500 as well as the twelve-cylinder 600. Later on the V6-engine with 224hp will follow.
Translation of an article from "Auto Motor und Sport" written by Birgit Priemer
With Different Eyes
The shape of the headlamps of the new CL shows at the
first glance that Mercedes after the S-Class
now also wants to execute a radical change of image with the big coupe:
The up to now bulky symbol of luxury shall mutate to an elegant sports
car
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| Photo: Auto Motor und Sport
Additional background retouching by MBEP webmaster |
Photo: Auto Motor und Sport
Add.background retouching + two-piece mounting by MBEP webmaster |
If there would be fashion shows in the automobile scene
after the example of Haute Couture-designers then the models this autumn
would present double round headlamps as actual fashion line on the catwalk.
after all in the automobile year 1999 three upper-class
sedans with this striking face debuted simultaneously: Jaguar S-Type, Rover
75 and the big Mercedes coupe.
Head of Daimler designers Bruno Sacco, copied as often
as famous colleagues from the fashion field, may praise himself to have
this trend newly discovered already at the beginning of the 1990's and
for a while having developed to a trademark of E-Class
and CLK.
Now the four-eye face shall help to save the image of
the CL, which is shaken a b little bit. After all the two-door as well
as the similar S-Class ((W140)) with the last model change turned out much
too big and too squared and henceforth rolled through the country with
the doubtful image of a car for the elder gentleman.
But that's over now. Mercedes jumps onto the actual fitness
wave and presents a a lithe and lissom car as successor which with his
charm shall approach a brand new clientele: Sports car buyers which until
now only had eyes for Porsche, BMW and Jaguar.
The two-door deliberately sets-off from the design of
the S-Class,
too, which with elegant flow of the lines shall fill the role of the status-conscious
upper-class sedan. The face of the CL rather reminds on the also sporty
oriented CLK whilst in the area of the grille even reminiscences of the
SL
are found.
The successor of this on the other hand, that seems to
have decided, from 2001 orientates on the optical appearance of the CL.
The more dynamic design of the big Mercedes coupe the
designers above all reach through a lengthened overhang at the front (four
centimetres more than at the S-Class)
and a short rear, which out of stylistic but also out of aerodynamic reasons
finishes with a small spoiler lip which houses the third brake light.
The roof of the CL stretches like a tightly drawn bow
over the passenger compartment and leads into a big panorama window in
the rear, which together with the small C-pillar shall allow a good all-round
visibility. The final optical point set two big, striking rear lights which
on the right and on the left do drag around quite a bit around the rear.
With the new sports dress Mercedes wants to increase
the sales figures of up to now 5.000 units per year to roughly the double,
above all by a high conquest rate from other car manufacturers: Roughly
60 per cent of the customers shall be lured from the sports car grounds
of Porsche 911, Jaguar XK8 and BMW 8-series, whilst 40 per cent of the
sales share shall fall to the usual customers.
These one of course doesn't want to loose despite the
rejuvenation process although the CL drivers will have to get used to a
completely new car. In principle the only reminiscences to the predecessor
is the name.
The new vintage, on sale from autumn 1999, does not only
seem to be more delicate, but indeed is: Seven centimetres shorter, five
centimetres smaller and also five centimetres lower it brings roughly 250
kilogrammes less weight on the scale - consequence of a high use of lightweight
materials in the areas of the lids, doors and chassis.
Talking about chassis: Despite the eight centimetres
shorter wheelbase the CL bases on the platform of the S-Class,
but isn't equipped with the new air suspension of the four-door. For the
sports car Mercedes developed a completely new system under the abbreviation
ABC (Active Body Control). That is a conventional steel suspension, but
is controlled via a special hydraulic unit. The cylinders (one per each
steel suspension) belonging to it at ground bumps build up pressure at
lightning speed and thus prevent pitch- and roll-movements of the body.
The advantage against air suspension: The process is much faster and thus
decisively contributes to the sporty character of the CL which shall rush
through winding routes without mentionable sway.
If the system finds favour it shall later on be offered
for the S-Class,
too, but only as an option. In return the coupe takes over from the four-door
the long option list with options like Distronic (automatic distance control)
and Keyless-Go (access to the interior via a chip card) and the majority
of the instruments in the interior. A huge number of electronic displays
can also be found again in the two-door whilst the center console was designed
a little bit different in its shape. Another interior difference to the
S-Class:
The security belts in the CL are directly integrated into the seats. The
different leather covers, manufactured high-quality with double stitches
on their edges correspond to the sporty character.
Despite the small shrinking process in view of the dimensions
passengers do find enough space in the coupe - plenty of in the front and
even in the rear to such an extent that also grown-ups feel comfortably
accommodated on longer routes. Consequence of a very good foot- and acceptable
head-room. To reach the rear seats no contortions are necessary. The front
seats glide to the front automatically if needed and thus ease the entry
to the rear.
That despite the aimed for sales increase the CL will
not lack exclusivity is certain. Because in the first time the Mercedes
can be had in two powerful versions only: As CL 500 with 306hp strong eight
cylinder and as CL 600 with the new twelve-cylinder which from 5.8-litres
develops roughly 400hp and then will move into the S-Class,
too. The prices will vary between roughly DM 178.000 ((USD 93.700 assumed
USD 1 = DM 1.90)) and DM 230.000 ((USD 121.100)) - thus no reason to view
the CL with different eyes in this way, too.
Birgit Priemer
End of article - translation by MBEP webmaster
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