Vehicle Overview The CL-Class is a two-door equivalent of the German automaker’s high-end S-Class sedan. The CL-Class competes with the Bentley Continental GT and BMW M6. It gains a number of new options for 2009, including a parking assist system designed to make it easier to parallel park the CL-Class.
New for 2009 4Matic all-wheel drive debuts in the CL-Class lineup for 2009, along with the parking assist system and a blind-spot monitoring system.
Exterior Bulges around the wheels, a sculpted ridge along the lower sill and a subtle bodyside crease distinguish the current CL from its predecessor. The body measures a whopping 199.4 inches in length, making it as long as most full-size SUVs. The CL-Class’ competitors, the Continental GT and M6, are considerably shorter — by as much as 10 inches in the case of the Bentley.
Dual stainless steel exhaust with chrome tailpipe finish
Standard power moonroof
Xenon headlights include washers
New 18-inch, seven-twin-spoke wheels on V-8 CL550 4Matic
AMG Sport Package with front/rear aprons, side skirts and 19-inch wheels
Rear-wheel-drive CL550 no longer offered
Interior CL-Class coupes accommodate up to four occupants and have bucket-like rear seats. With 104.2 cubic feet of passenger volume, the CL-Class is nearly as large on the inside as the S-Class sedan, and is far roomier than the M6 or Continental GT.
Paddles shifters replace button for manual gear shifting
Heated front seats
11-speaker Harman Kardon stereo
Power-closing trunklid
Ventilated front seats optional (standard on the CL600)
Comand control system
Burl walnut wood trim
Under the Hood Typical of Mercedes-Benz, the CL-Class maintains a rich powertrain selection for 2009:
382-horsepower, 5.5-liter V-8 (391 pounds-feet of torque)
510-hp, twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-12 (612 pounds-feet of torque)
518-hp, 6.2-liter V-8 (465 pounds-feet of torque)
604-hp, twin-turbo 6.0-liter V-12 (738 pounds-feet of torque)
Five- or seven-speed automatic transmission
4Matic all-wheel drive available
Self-leveling suspension system standard
Safety
Side-impact airbags for both rows of seats
Side curtain airbags
Antilock brakes
Electronic stability system
Automated collision-mitigation braking system, which prepares passengers for impending impact
Optional adaptive cruise control adjusts speed automatically to maintain a preset distance behind the vehicle ahead
Parking Guidance, which assists in parallel-parking maneuvers, optional with adaptive cruise control
Optional Blind Spot Assist, available with adaptive cruise control
