Review
Mercedes has a long tradition of building coupes from the same set of mechanical underpinnings as the S Class saloon, so the arrival of a two door CL based on the current S doesn't come as a surprise.
As with previous incarnations, the basic ingredients are simple enough: strong design, plenty of space and engines shared with the upper reaches of the saloon range. This CL's styling is far more forceful than that of the previous model, with the S Class derived front and rear end treatment working well with the coupe's lower, sportier profile.
The interior is also similar to that of the S Class, meaning extremely high quality materials and strong design. Even the more basic CL 500 gets full leather upholstery, satellite navigation, active suspension and five-mode adaptive bi-xenon headlamps - the range-topping CL600 is loaded with pretty much every extra known to man.
On the road, adaptive suspension helps to disguise the CL's near two-ton bulk, with the system using high-pressure hydraulic fluid to counteract the effects of cornering and braking. The result is flat cornering yet a compliant, comfortable ride over rougher surfaces - but the CL's light-feeling steering denies the driver much in the way of dynamic involvement. It's definitely a luxurious GT rather than a supercar.
The V8 powered CL500 has serious performance, but the range-topping twin-turbo V12 CL600 is astoundingly rapid, although with a pricetag that practically puts it into contention with the Bentley Continental GT. Running costs for both versions will be massive.