The second generation of the CL-Class used the C215-chassis designation and was manufactured and marketed by German automaker Mercedes from 1998–2006 as the company's flagship model, a two-door, four-passenger coupé.

Based on the 1998–2005 W220 S-Class, it uses an 8-inch (203 mm) 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 model.

The exterior design and active suspension for the C215 were previewed by the Mercedes-Benz F200 concept in 1996.

Model variants included the:

• V8-powered CL 500
• V8-powered CL 55 AMG (later powered by a supercharged V8)
• V12-powered CL 600 (2000-2002)
• 5.5-litre V12 Bi-Turbo CL 600 (2003-2006)
• limited production CL 63 AMG (26 examples only)
• limited-edition 2000 CL 55 AMG F1 Edition (55 examples only)
• limited production (777 total) 6.0-litre V12 Bi-Turbo CL 65 AMG (2004-2006)

The car has a drag coefficient of Cd=0.28 for regular models and 0.29 for the AMG models.

Features and equipment

The C215 CL-Class 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.

Standard equipment 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 levelled even in fast corners. It also 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 the introduction of the 500 PS (368 kW; 493 hp) bi-turbo V12. This system allowed the CL 600 to achieve better fuel economy than the comparable CL 500 when not istself [sic?] (option for the V8), especially on the road when the 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.

Safety

In 2003, the engine were revised, and the cars were upgraded with the 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 seconds according to Motor Trend and the V12 CL 600 had turbochargers added along with a slight reduction in engine capacity, from 5,786 cc (5.8 L) to 5,513 cc (5.5 L). Both engines are rated at 500 PS (368 kW; 493 hp). 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 has a power output of 612 PS (450 kW; 604 hp). The top speed of the car was limited to 250 km/h (155 mph).

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.

Comfort and convenience

• Optional Distronic cruise control, which could maintain a set distance between the CL-Class and any vehicle in front.
• Speedtronic adjustable speed limiter for not exceeding a set speed on roads with speed limits.
• Optional Keyless Go, a smart key entry and startup system.
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers.
• Light sensors to turn the headlights on and off automatically, depending on lighting circumstances. The instrument display and the COMAND screen's backlight and colour also adjust automatically depending on the ambient light situation.
• Parktronic visual and audible parking aid, with sensors in the front and rear bumpers. Also, the passenger side mirror can swivel down automatically when engaging reverse, to help see the curb.
• Automatically heated exterior mirrors.
• Fully automatic climate control system with pollen and charcoal filters and optional separate rear-seat climate controls.
• COMAND system combines the controls for audio systems, the television, the navigation and the telephone. COMAND based cars offer higher quality audio compared to the Audio 10 system.
• Optional BOSE sound system.
• Summer Open/Close - Ability to open and close all four windows and the sunroof at the same time upon entry and/or exit from the vehicle.
• Self opening and closing trunk.
• Self-closing doors.
• Electrically adjustable seats are standard. Optional were the memory function for the seats (standard in many countries on the larger engine models) and the multi-contour backrests with massage function.
• Easy entry/exit function.
• Auto-dimming interior and driver's side exterior rear view mirrors to prevent being dazzled by cars behind.
• Bi-xenon headlamps
• Optional Linguatronic voice recognition system which can be used to control the audio system, navigation system, and a cellular telephone through voice commands.

Models

The CL 63 AMG was based on the CL 600 V12 model. These were produced in limited quantities for one month and offered exclusively by AMG, only to selected customers in Europe and Asia, allegedly Heads of State. The CL 63 AMG is the rarest C215 model produced, and only 26 examples were built in November 2001. Some were delivered in the UK while one was delivered in France, registered in March 2002. They had a price of US$270,000. One of them was offered for sale in Warwick in 2022.

Special editions

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) 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.

Engines

As with all major German manufacturers (except Porsche) Mercedes electronically limits their cars to 250 km/h (155 mph).

Production

According to Daimler, the C215 was produced in the following numbers:

• CL 500 (1998–2006) - 32,224
• CL 600 (1998–2002) - 6,348
• CL 600 (2002–2005) - 2,255
• CL 55 AMG (2000–2002) - 2,217
• CL 55 AMG (2002–2005) - 4,163
• CL 63 AMG (2001) - 26
• CL 65 AMG (2003–2005) - 777

Total production of the C215 CL-Class was 47,984 units (excluding the 63 AMG model).

References

External links

• Kleemann CL60