THE NEW GENERATION MERCEDES-BENZ CL-CLASS

With a design perfected through an immaculate sense of style, highly exclusive appointments and cutting-edge technology, the extensively updated Mercedes-Benz CL-Class underscores its claim to supremacy as the summit of automotive refinement. The entirely re-designed 435 hp V8 biturbo engine of the CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY, with a combined consumption of 29.73 mpg, opens a new dimension of efficiency in the luxury coupé category.

Its NEDC figures show savings of up to 23 percent over its predecessor model, CO₂ emissions having dropped from 288 grams per kilometre to 224 grams per kilometre. This significant reduction is achieved thanks to the newly-developed BlueDIRECT technology with third-generation spray-guided direct injection, with the contribution of the specially-designed BlueEFFICIENCY package of the CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY.

The package includes, among other things, energy-efficient control of alternator, fuel pump, air-conditioning compressor and power-assisted steering system, as well as the ECO start/stop function. It also features the use of low rolling resistance tyres and the energy-optimised Active Body Control system. In addition, the Mercedes-Benz developers equipped the CL-Class with state-of-the-art multimedia technology, thus helping this model, produced with a high proportion of hand-finished work, to retain its position as the epitome of quality in its class.

With the new generation of the CL-Class, the Stuttgart-based automaker focuses on fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions in the exclusive high-end segment, too. According to Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG: “The CL is the ideal ambassador for our brand. It combines in a particular degree those things that characterise Mercedes-Benz: fascination, perfection and responsibility. And with the new generation we have gone a step further, too – especially in the realm of efficiency. But in terms of design, safety, comfort and output, too – the CL shows the way forward: simply follow Mercedes”

In addition, a combination of cutting-edge camera and radar-based assistance systems unique in the luxury coupé segment, including the innovation of the Active Lane Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist systems, makes of the CL-Class a “thinking” partner of the driver. The modified Active Body Control (ABC) with crosswind stabilisation system and the Direct-Steer system also contribute to enhancing safety and driving enjoyment.

Design: a muscular, self-assured presence

The exterior appearance of the new CL-Class generation is characterised by the terse profile of the bonnet, the dynamic V-shape radiator grille and the curving headlamps – design details that discreetly but effectively emphasise the car’s elegant yet powerful lines.

The front bumper, too, presents a new design with three air intake openings and a chrome trim strip. An LED strip with chrome surround for the daytime running lights is elegantly integrated in the side openings for the brake cooling air. With their standard-fit Intelligent Light System (ILS) and Adaptive Highbeam Assist, the headlamps offer state-of-the-art illumination technology. The latest LED technology in the turn indicators and position marker lamps rounds off the car’s advanced image. The rear of the vehicle is characterised by the newly-designed tail lamps.

New V8 bi-turbo engine with innovative technology

The new-generation CL-Class also assumes a pioneering role in the drive system sector. Under the bonnet of the CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY a new V8 biturbo engine with BlueDIRECT technology delivers its impressive power. With its 4663 cc displacement, the eight-cylinder engine produces 435 hp so that despite 0.8 litres less displacement, it is still around 12 percent more powerful than its predecessor, which had an output of 388 hp. At the same time, torque was raised from 530 Nm to 700 Nm – an increase of 32 percent. Combined consumption in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), on the other hand, improves fuel consumption by 23 percent to 29.73 mpg. CO2 emissions consequently sink from 288 grams per kilometre to 224 grams per kilometre. The CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY requires a mere 4.9 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 62 mph (previous model: 5.4 seconds). Summing up: the CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY is significantly more agile, torquey and thriftier than its predecessor.

The BlueDIRECT technology package of the V8 biturbo includes a series of new developments, unique in their combination. Worthy of mention among these is the third-generation spray-guided direct petrol injection with piezo injectors and multi-spark ignition with up to four ignition sparks within a millisecond. Together both enable an innovative combustion process called “homogenous split”. Other factors contributing to the exemplary low fuel consumption continue to be the consistent use of friction-optimised pistons, piston rings and cylinder barrels, the on-demand control of oil pump and the new three-phase thermal management in the coolant circuit. The luxury coupé’s package includes the ECOstart/stop function and alternator control in accordance with the handling situation and on-board voltage with kinetic energy recuperation in overrun mode.

The CL 600, which is be a special order model in the UK boasts the 517 hp 12-cylinder biturbo engine and remains the top-of-the-line model: it accelerates the luxury coupé from a standstill to 62 mph in a breath-taking 4.6 seconds and now also complies with the Euro 5 emissions control standards.

A unique combination of driver-assistance systems

The new-generation CL-Class consolidates its position as an automotive masterwork and a technology platform of the Stuttgart-based company with the most advanced assistance and protection systems. These highly perceptive assistants convert the Mercedes model into a “thinking” partner that can see, feel and react instantly if it detects a hazard, acting autonomously to prevent accidents or to mitigate their effects. The trailblazing driver assistance systems in the CL-Class are based on state-of-the-art radar, camera and sensor technology.

Thus, in the new-generation CL-Class Active Lane Keeping Assist celebrates its premiere (at the same time as in the S-Class). If the vehicle threatens to cross a continuous lane marking line, the system actuates an electric motor in the steering wheel, causing it to vibrate briefly – giving the driver a discreet but effective warning hint to countersteer immediately. The active system springs into action if the Mercedes coupé unintentionally crosses a continuous lane marking line to the right or to the left. In this case, it intervenes by gently braking the wheels of the opposite side of the car, helping the driver to stay in the lane. In order to do this Active Lane Keeping Assist avails itself of the ESP^® Electronic Stability Program.

Active Lane-Keeping Assist evaluates information provided by a camera mounted on the inside of the windscreen. It identifies the contrast between the road surface and the lane marking lines. In addition to this, using radar the system scans the side of the roadway for crash barriers and other roadway edge markings. This Mercedes assistance system also evaluates the driver’s actions and can thus reliably determine whether the car is departing from the lane intentionally or not. For this reason, there is no warning if the driver accelerates hard just before overtaking or when accessing a motorway, or if he brakes hard or steers into a curve.

Targeted brake actuation: active Blind Spot Assist

A further innovation Mercedes-Benz offers for the CL-Class is active Blind Spot Assist, a system that makes use of a multi-stage warning concept. If it detects that a change of lane would be too dangerous, it warns the driver by displaying a red triangle in the glass of the exterior mirror. Close-range radar sensors monitor the area immediately to the side and to the rear of the car. If the driver disregards this warning and, for example, actuates the turn indicator, an audible warning also sounds. If the driver continues to ignore the warnings and comes dangerously close to a vehicle in the neighbouring lane, a novel feature of the system acts: a corrective braking intervention via ESP^® on the wheels of the opposite side of the vehicle. This causes a yaw movement about the car’s vertical axis due to the unequal distribution of the braking forces. If despite this course correction an accident cannot be avoided, the active Blind Spot Assist system can reduce the consequences of a collision through the brake actuation.

Assistants to see and be seen better

Adaptive Main Beam Assist is another standard-fit system featured by the CL-Class. This camera-based system can recognise oncoming vehicles or vehicles ahead with their lights on, and then controls the headlamps to ensure the best possible beam range without dazzling other road users. In addition, Mercedes-Benz offers the Night View Assist PLUS system for the CL-Class, featuring a special infra-red camera for pedestrian detection: as soon as the system detects pedestrians on the road ahead, these are highlighted additionally in the display, in order to catch the driver’s attention better.

The images supplied by the windscreen camera are also used by the new, optional Speed Limit Assist, which recognises speed limit signs in passing and shows the relevant speed limit in the central display and on the navigation system’s map display.

For the new-generation CL-Class, Mercedes-Benz has also improved the long and medium-range radar used by Brake Assist (BAS PLUS) and DISTRONIC PLUS proximity cruise control.

An “electronic crumple zone”: the PRE-SAFE^® Brake

Mercedes-Benz also offers another radar based system for the luxury coupé as a component of the driver assistance package PLUS in the form of the PRE-SAFE^® Brake. If the driver is distracted and fails to recognise the imminent danger of a rear-end collision or the warning signal of an assistance system, this system can intervene and brake the vehicle independently. If the driver fails to react even after automatic, partial braking action, this most recent development stage of the PRE-SAFE^® Brake activates the maximum braking pressure around 0.6 seconds before what it now recognises as an unavoidable collision — an emergency braking action that can significantly mitigate the severity of the impact. The PRE-SAFE^® Brake thus acts as a kind of “electronic crumple zone”.

Warns driver of overtiredness: ATTENTION ASSIST

Overtiredness is one of the most common causes of accidents. This is why Mercedes experts have developed the ATTENTION ASSIST system which forms part of the standard equipment of the new generation CL-Class. As the vehicle is being driven, the system continuously evaluates more than 70 different parameters in order to identify driver drowsiness and provide a warning before the dangerous microsleep phase begins. Observing the driver’s steering behaviour has proved to be a particularly strong indicator: several years of practical research by Mercedes-Benz have shown that drowsy drivers make minor steering errors which they often correct very rapidly in a characteristic way. This steering behaviour is recognised by a special steering angle sensor. Observing the driver’s eyes cannot always provide conclusive evidence of sleep since many drivers can experience micro-sleep with their eyes open.

Active Body Control reduces the effect of a crosswind

The CL-Class also meets the highest standards in terms of driving dynamics and agility. This is in part thanks to Direct-Steer, with a steering ratio that varies with the steering angle, and modified Active Body Control (ABC) with crosswind stabilisation (standard for CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY and CL 600). This latest stage in active body development modifies the wheel load distribution via the ABC spring struts within milliseconds, depending on crosswind direction and intensity, to the extent that it can largely compensate the effects of the crosswind.

The Active Body Control suspension system with which Mercedes-Benz ushered in new dimensions of driving dynamics in the preceding C 215 model series in 1999, is unique worldwide as it not only regulates roll, but pitching and squatting movements as well, ensuring a perfect harmony of comfort and handling stability. Since the introduction of this innovative system, engineers in Sindelfingen have continuously improved on it, so that eleven years later it still marks the summit of automotive engineering. In addition to crosswind stabilisation, the new suspension features an energy-optimised hydraulic pump that takes part of the burden off the engine, contributing towards reducing fuel consumption.

Additional safety and agility at the physical limits is provided by the standard-fit Torque Vectoring Brake in the new-generation CL-Class – targeted, one-sided braking intervention at the inside rear wheel when cornering. This enables the luxury coupé to turn into the bend under precise control with even greater agility.

On-board infotainment: the most advanced multimedia technology

In line with its serene character and claim to be a technological masterwork, the CL-Class also sets standards where onboard infotainment is concerned. Thus, the Stuttgart automotive manufacturer equips its flagship model with the new SPLITVIEW technology for the COMAND control and display system centrally located in the centre console. This innovative display concept allows the driver and front passenger to view different contents simultaneously on one and the same screen. While the driver e.g. uses the map-based navigation system, the front passenger can be watching a film on DVD.

The standard COMAND control and display system with Bluetooth^®, USB and SD card interfaces offers customers the possibility of exporting their stored data to other vehicles and multimedia devices. It is also possible to transfer and update navigation data. In the glove compartment Mercedes-Benz also integrates a Media Interface as standard – the interface is for mobile audio and video devices – devices such as the iPod^® and every other possible customer device.

COMAND also includes a Europe-wide navigation system whose data are stored on a 40-Gigabyte hard disc, enabling extremely rapid route calculation. Another factor contributing to a high level of navigation comfort is the detailed three-dimension map display including updates free of charge for three years. For musical entertainment COMAND provides a radio, a CD/DVD player with MP3 function, an equalizer with speed-dependent volume control and the MUSIC REGISTER with a 7.2 GB hard disc which stores around 2500 digital music files in MP3, AAC or WMA format. The system recognises music files played on CD, DVD or from the MUSIC REGISTER using its stored Gracenote® database, and shows the title, album and performer in the colour display. Another new function, Music Search, enables CL-Class drivers and passengers to search SD memory cards, USB sticks, CDs and DVDs for specific music titles and performers.

The Navigation package also includes the latest-generation LINGUATRONIC voice control system that controls the navigation, telephone and audio devices via whole-word input. Benefit: the driver no longer needs to spell out his commands but simply speaks the corresponding words as whole words when entering the destination or choosing a radio station or a music title from the Music Register, or when calling up a name from the phone book.

The further developed surround sound system with Discrete Logic7^® technology developed by Mercedes-Benz together with audio specialists Harman Kardon^® delivers an outstanding performance with three-dimensional sound as a natural 360-degree musical experience for all passengers of the CL-Class. Mercedes-Benz offers the surround sound system together with SPLITVIEW and a six-disc DVD changer as part of the Entertainment Package (standard for CL 600).

Interior: carefully selected materials and first-class finish

In the interior, too, Mercedes-Benz developers and designers perfected the CL-Class, paying careful attention to detail. A total of four different kinds of fine wood open up the possibilities for perfectly matched material and colour concepts according to your personal taste: apart from light and dark high-gloss burr walnut, there is black ash and high-gloss brown poplar (CL 600). Another particularity: in line with the central importance awarded to the concept of sustainability within the Mercedes-Benz corporate philosophy, the CL-Class employs only European wood from renewable forestry sources. Most of the wood parts are hand-made and matched individually for colour and grain by experienced craftsmen.

The seat covers of the new CL-Class are of the most exquisite quality. For this luxury model there are two different kinds of leather available which thanks to their low pre-tensioning and consequent wrinkle effect appear supple and comfortable from the very first glance. There is a choice of five tasteful colour combinations for the vehicle interior: black/black, savannah beige/cashmere beige, sahara beige/black, and the novel combinations alpaca grey/basalt grey and aubergine/black.

The multifunction steering wheel of the CL-Class has also been modified by the Mercedes-Benz designers: in future the rim and airbag module are lined with soft nappa leather as standard. The new, flatter airbag module also lends a sporty touch to the multifunction steering wheel covered in leather sewn with sophisticated double stitching.

Apart from this, Mercedes-Benz makes more use of light as a styling element in the vehicle interior. In future customers who specify the optional ambient lighting (standard for CL 600) have a choice between three lighting moods: solar (amber), neutral (white) and polar (ice blue).

Tradition: an exclusive line of ancestors

The new generation CL-Class continues the great tradition of Mercedes-Benz coupés, which reaches back to the legendary supercharged cars of the 1920s and ’30s. Since the 1950s in particular, the brand with the three-pointed star has produced an uninterrupted series of exclusive two-door cars which combine sophisticated design with trailblazing technology – every model an automotive classic. The W 188 model series 300 S Coupé which entered series production in 1952 marked the beginning. A contemporary report called it the “measure of what it is possible to achieve in automotive engineering”.

This statement has retained its full validity for all subsequent models, right down to the current CL-Class of model series C 216, because the luxury coupés from Mercedes-Benz featured – apart from their timeless design and the highest level of comfort – trailblazing innovations in automotive technology. Thus it was that in 1961 the 220 SE Coupé was the first series-production Mercedes-Benz to be equipped with disc brakes. In 1995 the ESP Electronic Stability Program celebrated its world premiere in the S 600 Coupé of model series C 140, and in 1999 the Active Body Control suspension system was introduced for the first time in the CL-Class, model series C 215. With the PRE-SAFE^® brake a further technological innovation made its debut in a large Mercedes-Benz coupé. In the new CL-Class generation, two new developments, Active Lane Keeping Assist and the Active Blind Spot Assist, will help prevent accidents or reduce their severity.

Model range

Luxury and performance

Perfect combinations: equipment packages and driver assistance systems
CL 500: great efficiency and more power
Exclusive individuality: the AMG Sports package and designo

For decades now, the great coupés from Mercedes-Benz have represented motoring refinement of the highest level. Exceptional design, craftsmanship and pioneering technology flow together, blending into a style-generating unity. The history of the great two-door cars bearing the three-pointed star goes back to the large supercharged cars of the 1920s and ’30s. The new CL-Class generation continues in this great unbroken tradition of automotive masterworks.

With targeted design modifications such as the new, more strongly pointed radiator grille, the new front bumper with integrated LED strips for the daytime running lamps and the standard bi-xenon headlamps, the Mercedes developers cultivated the poise and dynamism expressed in the design language of the two-door car in a contemporary manner. The high technological level exemplified by Active Body Control (ABC) with crosswind stabilisation sets new standards in driving dynamics and comfort. And with safety systems such as the ATTENTION ASSIST weariness recognition system, active Blind Spot Assist, active Lane Keeping assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist and automatic PRE-SAFE^® full brake application, the CL-Class takes pole position in the luxury coupé class.

This is also true of the engine line-up: the entirely re-developed V8 biturbo engine with a displacement of 4.6 litres, 435 hp output, a torque of 700 Newton-metres and spray-guided direct petrol injection in the CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY achieves top marks in its class in terms of efficiency, with a consumption of 29.73 mpg on the combined cycle. This means fuel savings of up to 23 percent over the predecessor model.

CO₂ emissions drop from 288 to 224 grams per kilometre. At the same time, output climbs by 47 hp compared with the 5.5-litre naturally aspirated engine in the preceding model.

The special order CL 600 is the renowned summit of the drive units, with its 517 hp V12 5.5-litre biturbo engine developing a torque of 830 Nm.

The high-value appointments and equipment of the luxury coupé obey the highest standards of exclusivity and individuality. An extract from the list of the car’s standard equipment:

Active Body Control with crosswind stabilisation
Adaptive driver and front-passenger airbags
Adaptive Highbeam Assist
Adaptive brake lights
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
ATTENTION ASSIST
7G-TRONIC automatic transmission (CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY)
Automatic steering wheel adjustment for entry and exit
Bluetooth^®, SD, USB, AUX-IN audio and video interface
Brake Assist (BAS)
ADAPTIVE BRAKE
AMG Sports Package
COMAND system with CD/DVD player, SD card slot, USB interface and Gracenote^® data base
DIRECT SELECT gearshift
Direct-Steer system
ECOstart/stop function (CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY)
ESP^® with acceleration skid control (ASR)
Headlamp assist
Electric parking brake
Belt tensioners on all seats
Intelligent Light System with country light, motorway mode, extended fog light function, active light function and cornering light function
Leather upholstery
18-inch light-alloy wheels
Memory package for seats, steering wheel and exterior mirrors
Metallic paintwork
Nappa leather multifunction steering wheel
PARKTRONIC with Parking Guidance
PRE-SAFE^®
Rain sensor with two sensitivity levels
Tyre pressure loss warning system
Tilting/sliding glass sunroof, electric, with PRE-SAFE^® function
Door power closing
Front and rear seatbelts with automatic comfort-fit feature
Sidebags front and rear
Heated front seats
LED daytime running lamps integrated in bumper
Telephone keypad
Cruise control
Doorhold
Four-zone automatic climate control
Front seats with electric fore/aft and height adjustment with lumbar support and PRE-SAFE^® positioning function
Tinted, sound-insulating, infrared-reflecting laminated glass all round
Windowbags

Equipment packages: substantial benefits thanks to perfect combinations

To enable drivers to benefit to the greatest extent from the advanced assistance systems and comfort elements, Mercedes-Benz offers certain innovations as packages upon request. This guarantees that the systems complement each other perfectly.

In the Driving Assistance package PLUS Mercedes-Benz mainly combines systems that can actively help to prevent rear-end collisions: the radar-based proximity cruise control system DISTRONIC PLUS, Brake Assist PLUS and the PRE-SAFE^® Brake. This equipment package also includes Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist.
An exclusive audio experience and optimum video entertainment for the front passenger is provided by the Front Seat Entertainment package. It includes the SPLITVIEW display, the 6-disc DVD changer and the Harman Kardon^® Discrete Logic 7^® surround sound system with headphones and remote control (standard for CL 600).

The CL 600: the summit of driving refinement

Mercedes-Benz stylishly underlines the exceptional status of the twelve-cylinder CL 600 with numerous distinguishing features in the exterior and interior. In addition to the model-specific radiator grille with two twin louvres, these include the V12 emblem on the flanks, model-specific, five-spoke 18-inch light-alloy wheels in a bi-colour look and a large range of standard option packages. Standard ex-factory specifications include:

Navigation package
Front Seat Entertainment package
Reversing camera
KEYLESS-GO
Convenience telephony
Anti-Theft Protection package

The front active multicontour seats and the rear seats are upholstered with particularly supple “PASSION” leather, decorated with a special V12 fluting pattern, as is the Alcantara roof liner. Among other things, the upper and lower sections of the dashboard, the door centre panels, rear shelf and ruffled pockets on driver and front passenger backrest are covered in this high-quality leather. Apart from the roof liner, the interior trim of the A, B and C pillars is also clothed in Alcantara leather. Luxury head restraints at front and rear bearing the V12 emblem also enhance travelling enjoyment. The V12 symbol on the backrests makes reference to the exclusive character of the vehicle. On entry, the V12 emblem lights up in the instrument cluster. Trim elements in fine high-gloss brown poplar wood, chrome-plated door sills and boot sill, together with the standard ambient lighting, round off the serene character of the Mercedes-Benz CL 600.

designo and designo Selection: individual and exclusive

For further individualisation, customers can now also choose from a restructured range of designo features for the CL-Class, which further underscore the exclusive hand-finish character of the luxury model. Ten different designo paint finishes can be combined with ten designo aniline leather interiors and four natural leather interiors – with practically no limitations on personal taste. For designo wood trim, customers have a choice between natural-grain maple and natural-grain matt oak. Trim in black piano lacquer and champagne white piano lacquer can also be ordered.

Two kinds of fine authentic granite trim are available for the CL-Class: Labrador blue pearl and Star Galaxy black. These trim elements are made by cutting 0.6 to 0.8 mm thin stone wafers which are then coated with an adhesive layer to ensure that every grain remains exactly where it is. These thin plates are then ground between two rollers. The result is a visually undisturbed, extremely thin stone sheet, pliable thanks to the adhesive layer applied, which enables it to be moulded around narrow edges, too.

With designo Selection, Mercedes-Benz is offering a special, high-end package of designo features for the CL-Class. Customers can configure their car according to their personal preferences and taste from the different designo aniline leather upholstery, wood trim elements and paint work available. The highlight is designo lettering in solid 18-carat gold on the rear air conditioning unit cover. This is exclusive to the designo Selection. The designo wood/leather steering wheel and the designo roof liner in black nappa leather or Alcantara in cashmere beige, anthracite or alpaca grey round off the refined atmosphere of the car’s interior.

AMG Sports package: CL-Class with a striking sporty character

The AMG Sports package with AMG bodystyling and AMG light-alloy wheels gives the luxurious two-door car an even more dynamic look. At the front the newly-designed front apron ensures an imposing, muscular appearance. Its distinguishing feature is a tapered air intake with a wider lower edge. The side skirts continue the design of the front bumper, with striking contours that find an echo in the rear apron. The independent rear bumper with a black insert is the perfect finishing touch.

Further highlights include the 19-inch AMG 5-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in sterling silver. With their broad format 255/40 (front) and 275/40 (rear), not only do they fill the wheel houses perfectly, lending the CL-Class an exceptionally dynamic presence, but also enhance its handling characteristics even more. In addition, silver-colour painted brake callipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering on the front axle wheels emphasise its sporty appearance. The CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY with AMG Sports package is fitted with 255/40 R 19 tyres on both front and rear axles. Optionally, 20-inch AMG light-alloy wheels in twin-spoke design with tyre sizes 255/35 and 275/35 are also available.

Wood trim and the wood/leather steering wheel in black ash give the high-quality vehicle interior a very special feel. The standard AMG Sports package also includes sports pedals in brushed stainless steel with black rubber studs and velour floor mats with AMG lettering.

At a glance

Technical highlights of the Mercedes-Benz
CL-Class

Driver assistance systems
Intelligent Light System: This innovative headlamp technology provides five lighting functions which are activated depending on the driving and weather conditions.	Standard***
Cornering lights: This light function provides heightened safety at junctions and when driving slowly in tight bends (a component of the Intelligent Light System).	Standard***
Active Light System: the Intelligent Light System’s bi-xenon headlamps follow the driver’s steering movements (a component of the Intelligent Light System).	Standard***
Motorway mode: from 90 km/h the entire width of the carriageway is illuminated, improving the driver’s range of vision by around 50 metres (a component of the Intelligent Light System).	Standard
Enhanced foglamps: This function pivots the offside headlamp outwards to illuminate the road verge more effectively (a component of the Intelligent Light System).	Standard***
Country mode: this function replaces the previous low-beam headlamps and provides broader and brighter illumination of the opposite road verge (a component of the Intelligent Light System).	Standard***
Adaptive Highbeam Assist: this system switches between high beam and low beam and adjusts the range of the headlamps in accordance with the distance to oncoming vehicles/vehicles travelling ahead.	Standard
Night View Assist Plus: the display in the dashboard shows a realistic grey-scale image from an infrared camera that monitors the road ahead of the CL-Class. Any pedestrians detected are additionally highlighted in the display.	Optional

Active Lane Keeping Assist: a camera behind the windscreen recognises continuous carriageway markings and gives a warning if the car unintentionally leaves its lane. If the driver fails to react, the system intervenes via ESP^®, braking one or more wheels if the vehicle crosses a continuous lane marking line, in order to prevent it straying from the lane.	Optional aspart of theDriving Assistance package PLUS
Active Blind Spot Assist: this radar-based system warns the driver before a lane-change if it detects another vehicle in the exterior mirror’s blind spot. If the driver fails to react to the warning, ESP^® triggers a targeted braking intervention in order to counteract the course which would lead to a collision with the vehicle at the side.	Optional aspart of theDriving Assistance package PLUS***
Brake Assist PLUS: this system uses radar sensors to recognise an impending rear-end collision, calculates the necessary degree of braking assistance and makes it available immediately when the driver depresses the brake pedal.	Optional aspart of theDriving Assistance package PLUS***
DISTRONIC PLUS: this radar-based proximity control system automatically helps the driver to maintain a set distance from the vehicle ahead. It can brake the CL-Class to a standstill if necessary, then accelerate again. If the distance to the vehicle ahead decreases too quickly, the system gives the driver visual and audible warnings.	Optional aspart of theDriving Assistance package PLUS
PRE-SAFE^® Brake: if there is imminent danger of a rear-end collision, this system brakes the CL-Class automatically if the driver fails to react and the collision is unavoidable.	Optional aspart of theDriving Assistance package PLUS
PRE-SAFE^®:if the system recognises a critical driving situation, it takes precautionary measures to protect the occupants. It can e.g. initiate tensioning of the front seat belts, or closing of the side windows and sliding sunroof.	Standard

Chassis, steering and brakes:
Active Body Control (ABC): active suspension system that adapts the springs to the current driving situation within fractions of a second and is able to largely compensate for the effects of crosswinds.	Standard**
AIRMATIC:the air suspension works together with an electronically controlled damping system.	Standard for CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY
ADAPTIVE BRAKE: this Mercedes brake system offers assistance functions, such as a HOLD function and Hill Start Assist, for even greater safety and comfort.	Standard
Torque Vectoring Brake: by specifically braking the rear wheels, ESP^® ensures more safety at the physical limits without any loss of agility.	Standard
Direct-Steer:a variable steering rack ratio depending on the steering angle allows more agile handling and provides more comfort when parking and manoeuvring at slow speed.	Standard
DIRECT SELECT: the 7-speed automatic transmission (CL 500 BlueEFFICENCY and CL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY) and the 5-speed automatic transmission (CL 600) are operated electronically via a lever on the steering column.	Standard
BlueEFFICIENCY measures:
ECO start/stop function: In order to reduce fuel consumption, in the eight-cylinder models the engine is switched off automatically as soon as the vehicle is motionless and the driver depresses the brake pedal. The engine restarts automatically when the driver removes his foot from the brake pedal, or depresses the accelerator pedal.	Standard for CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY ***
Recuperation: if the driver removes his foot from the accelerator pedal or applies the brakes in overrun mode, kinetic energy is recovered and fed to the battery.	Standard for CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY

Comfort:
Memory package: three memory settings are stored for both the driver’s and the front passenger seat. The settings for the steering wheel and exterior mirrors are also stored.	Standard
Active multicontour seats: depending on the steering angle, lateral acceleration and speed, the inflation pressure and volume of the air chambers in the side bolsters of the seat backrests are varied to give the driver and front passenger even better lateral support. The seats also have a massage function.	Optional (standard in the CL 600)
Ambient lighting: when driving at night, optical fibres behind the trim on the dashboard and door panels provide a pleasant lighting atmosphere in the interior. The driver can choose between lighting moods “solar”, “polar” and “neutral”	Optional(standard in the CL 600)
PARKTRONIC including Parking Guidance: ultrasonic sensors measure the length of parking spaces as the car drives past; instructions for safe parking appear in the display.	Standard
Reversing camera: the area behind the CL-Class is shown in the COMAND display, and coloured directional lines show a precisely calculated path into a parking space and display the required space.	Optional
Audio and communication:
Bluetooth interface: the mobile phone is wirelessly linked to the hands-free system.	Standard
COMAND:control and display system that integrates the audio unit, DVD player and telephone operation and also features navigation data are stored on a hard disc. Further functions include the MUSIC REGISTER and voice control.	Standard
Gracenote^®:database that recognises music tracks on a CD/DVD or from the MUSIC REGISTER and shows the title, album and artist on the colour display.	Standard
Convenience telephony: the driver and passengers are able to conduct onboard telephone conferences by mobile phone, and send or receive SMS messages. The phone is housed in a cradle under the armrest.	Optional (standard in the CL 600)
Media Interface: this universal interface allows portable audio devices to be connected to and controlled by the infotainment system of the CL-Class.	Standard
Music Search: search function that searches SD memory cards, USB sticks, CDs and DVDs for specific music tracks and performers.	Standard
Digital radio: a special DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) tuner and additional aerials allow the reception of digital radio broadcasts.	Optional aspart of the Front SeatEntertainment package
SPLITVIEW:the driver and front passenger are able to view different content on one and the same screen at the same time.	Optional aspart of the Front SeatEntertainment package(standard for CL 600) ***
Harman Kardon^® Logic 7^® surround sound system: a multi-channel system with innovative digital technology, an output of 610 watts and 14 loudspeakers provides surround-sound for every seat.	Optional aspart of the Front SeatEntertainment package (standard for CL 600)
Speed Limit Assist: a camera fitted behind the windscreen detects speed limit signs on the roadside. The relevant limit is then displayed in navigation system map display and in the instrument cluster.	Optional as part of the Navigation package (standard for CL 600) ***
LINGUATRONIC:the voice control system operates the radio, CD/DVD-player, CD/DVD-changer, navigation system and telephone.	Optional as part of the Navigation package(standard for CL 600)
MUSIC REGISTER with a 7.2 GB hard disc which stores around 2500 digital music files in the MP3, AAC or WMA format. These can be loaded from PC memory cards.	Optional as part of the Navigation package (standard for CL 600)

*Selection

*** Not available in all countries

Mercedes-Benz CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY

Engine

Number of cylinders/arrangement		8/V, 4 valves per cylinder
Displacement	cc	4663
Bore x stroke	mm	92.9 x 86
Rated output	hp	435 at 5250 rpm
Rated torque	Nm	530 at 1800-3500 rpm
Compression ratio		10.5:1
Mixture formation		Microprocessor-controlled direct petrol injection with direct-control 180-bar piezo injectors, biturbo system

Power transmission

Drive system

Standard drive system

Transmission

7-speed automatic transmission

Ratios

Final drive

1st gear

2nd gear

3rd gear

4th gear

5th gear

6th gear

7th gear

Reverse

2.65

4.38

2.86

1.92

1.37

1.00

0.82

0.73

-3.426/-2.23

Chassis and suspension

Front axle	Four-link suspension, Active Body Control
Rear axle	Multi-link independent suspension, Active Body Control
Braking system	Disc brakes all-round, front and rear internally ventilated, front perforated, electrically actuated drum-type parking brake at rear, ABS, Brake Assist, ESP^®
Steering	Rack-and-pinion with speed-sensitive power assistance, steering damper
Wheels	8.5 J X 18 ET 43
Tyres	255/45 R 18

Dimensions and weights

Wheelbase	mm	2955
Track, front/rear	mm	1601/1607
Overall length	mm	5095
Overall width	mm	1871
Overall height	mm	1419
Turning circle	m	11.63
Boot capacity*	l	490
Kerb weight (EC)**	kg	2070
Payload (basis: ready-to-drive state as defined by EC)	kg	515
Perm. GVW	kg	2585
Tank capacity/incl. reserve	l	90/11

Performance and fuel consumption

Acceleration 0-100 km/h	s	4.9
Top speed	mph	155
Fuel consumption***	mpg	29.73
CO₂ emissions	g/km	224-232

*acc. to VDA measuring method; ** incl. 75 kg for driver and luggage; *** combined

Mercedes-Benz CL 600