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2007 Mercedes Benz CL Class Preview

Mercedes All New Big Coupe

Lately, Mercedes big luxury coupes have been overshadowed by some of the brands flashier products. With the new S and CLS Classes, plus the all-new GL grabbing most of the recent headlines, the brands CL Class flagship coupe seems to have been almost forgotten by the automotive press. Based on the flagship S-Class sedan, the CL has never been as popular as the brands drop top sibling, the SL, yet having remained largely unchanged since 2000 it was prime time for an update.

So redesign it they did! Now looking distinctly different than any other Mercedes-Benz, yet still an obvious family member, the all-new 2007 CL probably shares

The new CL harkens the end of the previous generations long run. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

more styling cues with the 2006 S-Class and CLS than it does with the roadster. Trading the quad headlamp design for the single-unit cluster similar to those found on other Mercedes models, while retaining the trademark grille with obligatory inset-three-pointed star, the head-on view of the new CL class front end bears a striking resemblance, oddly enough, to the Maserati  Quattroporte,

In profile, the CL is still an airy looking coupe, although the cool pinching c-pillars of the previous model have been ditched.? (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

while the profile view is almost BMW 7-series-esque, thanks to the rakish wraparound nature of the new headlights; at least when compared to the vertically upright nature of the grille.

Moving aft, the new hood is obviously devoid of the four graceful humps on either side that led to the old quad-headlight array, while the trailing edge of said hood is vented by two small engine

With somewhat S-class (or Mazda MX-5) style fender flares, the new CL has lost a lot of the previous models grace. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

vents flush-mounted close to the windshield. The two front fenders use the same aggressive fender flare design as the new S-class; a design feature echoed in the rear fenders as well. Unfortunately they arent the prettiest fenders around, and mar the cars otherwise graceful flanks. The greenhouse remains quite large and light-looking, with no heavy C-pillar to weigh down the design. The previous generation CLs C-pillars, which pinched smaller towards the beltline, are gone, replaced by more

With five combinations of wood and leather, the CLs interior is exceedingly opulent. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

conventional design. The B-pillar is, of course, absent, just as it was on the many previous models, and all four windows power down completely, giving the coupe both excellent visibility and an airy feel.

That back glass is also a design carry-over, wrapping around the rear in a very distinctive way. And thats a good thing too, because S-class-like taillights only make the somewhat nondescript rear view look even less Mercedes-like; the old models triangular taillights, at least, let you know what you were following.

But if the exteriors redesign is a

The COMAND controller nested on the center console is i-Drive-like in function, but better in operation due to a few redundant buttons on the console and steering wheel to control commonly accessed features. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

shrug-inducing affair, its only because Mercedes concentrated on the new CLs interior. Those pillar-less windows and huge backlight combine with a sunroof to make the CLs cockpit an incredibly airy one; filled with gorgeous wood trim and plenty of leather. The seats are expectedly Teutonic; that is to say theyre reportedly firm, but impressively adjustable, and feature reactive air bolstering that Mercedes calls "dynamic multicontouring", plus both seat ventilation and massage functions mean any of the four bucket seats will be exceedingly comfortable places from which to view the rapidly

The rear seat room is improved over the previous model, making these rear buckets look uber-comfy. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

passing countryside.
Five different interior color combinations are available, while automatic climate control, the COMAND infotainment system with radio and CD/DVD player, plus a glass sunroof are all standard features.

Similar to BMWs i-Drive, the COMAND system distills many of the CLs features down to one controller, with the difference being that the COMAND system is actually redundant on many features, meaning you neednt click, twirl, and slide your way through multiple menus simply to change the CD track thats currently playing. Controls on the steering wheel allow you to do just that without ever taking your hands off the wheel. Climate controls are much the same, with both driver and passenger

With a anticapatory safety system, the Benz can brake the car, roll up the windows, move the passenger, and stabilize the seats before a collision. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

able to change the settings via the central COMAND knob and pivoting COMAND screen or by simply stabbing away at buttons below the vents.

Opting for the range-topping CL600 (at least it will be range topping until the expected AMG versions debut) nets exclusive "Passion" leather, as well as specially selected Poplar wood trim pieces and an alcantara headliner. The V12 powered coupe also gets special door sills and floor mats, as well as the COMAND APS navigation system and LOGIC7 surround sound system with a DVD changer, and the keyless operation known to Mercedes simply as "Keyless Go."

In grand German style, the new CL class is packed with, as Mercedes says it, "technological innovations that no other manufacturer can match." The first of these apparently

You can bet the pillarless design took extensive engineering and reengineering to pass crash standards. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

unparalleled systems is Active Body Control, or ABC (also available via BMW, by the way). An active suspension system capable of modifying the vehicles damping to reduce body roll, dive, and squat in milliseconds, it offers more control and better handling without reducing the ride quality. At speeds upwards of 60 kilometers per hour, ABC also lowers the whole car by an imperceptible centimeter to increase stability and reduce drag.

Next up, the CL benefits from an advanced lighting system known as Mercedes Intelligent Light System. With five different settings, the system controls the bi-xenon headlights, tailoring them to suit any road. A new country road mode, for example, illuminates the drivers-side road edge more widely and brightly for a reason that, to be honest, we cant really determine. Much more logical is the motorway mode, which basically mirrors the country

One of the most inviting cars on the planet, both CL500 and CL600 models should be excellent grand tourers in the classis tradition; capable of eating miles of macadam without complaint. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

road mode on both sides of the car, illuminating the road ahead in a symmetrical cone of light. Activated automatically at 55 mph, this mode apparently extends the drivers vision by 165 feet over regular bi-xenon headlight systems, although thats something well have to test for ourselves. Also, better fog lights increase visibility in inclement weather conditions, with active cornering light functions also part of the ILS.

Finally, a complete anticipatory safety system has been incorporated into the CLs arsenal, applying partial braking and moving the passenger seat into the most favorable position should a collision occur. It also inflates the aforementioned pneumatic bolsters in the dynamic multicontoured seats for maximum support for both front passengers while the  he partial braking system, called PRE-SAFE, also closes the windows and sunroof in situations where high lateral loads are present, increasing the

This 517 horsepower CL600 is the top of the line; at least until AMG gets its hands on it. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

margin of safety should a rollover occur.

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