The Mercedes-Benz C216 is the last generation for the grand tourer with name Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, produced from 2006 to 2014. It replaced the C215 platform, and was replaced in 2014 by the C217 S-Class Coupe.
Initial release (2006–2010)
The C216 body was designed by Gorden Wagener and Peter Pfeiffer.
The chassis is based on the W221 S-Class. The two-door coupé is heavier than the equivalent S saloon, weighing , and rides on a full-size 116.3-inch wheelbase (albeit 8.2 inches less than the long wheelbase S-Class, which is the only S-Class sold in the U.S.). Despite its large size, rear seat legroom is limited in keeping in the tradition of 2+2 luxury coupés, though CL has more rear passenger space than its rivals. The CL's boot is as large as that of the Audi A8 flagship saloon. Like previous CL models, the C216 features a pillarless design with no B-pillar between the front and rear side windows.
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, followed by the 28th Bangkok International Motor Show (in right-hand drive configuration).
The vehicle went on sale in Early-July 2006 in Europe (UK arrival spring 2007). Early models included the CL 500 with the 7G-TRONIC transmission, and CL 600 with five-speed automatic transmission.Engines: Powerful duo
CL 65 AMG (2008–2010) The CL 65 AMG is a version of the CL 600 with power increased to at 4,800-5,100 rpm and at 2,000-4,000 rpm. It also features vented and cross-drilled brake discs (15.4 inches front and 14.8 inches rear), frame-type sliding rear brake calipers, 255/35 ZR 20 front and 275/35 ZR 20 rear tires, forged 20-inch AMG twin-spoke wheels (8.5 inches front and 9.5 in the rear), special AMG spring struts with firmer damping, reworked ESP stability control and ASR traction control.
The 2008 model year Mercedes-Benz CL 65 AMG was unveiled at the 2007 New York International Auto Show.New York Auto Show: AMG CL65 40th Anniversary Edition
CL 65 AMG, "40th Anniversary" limited-edition (2006) The "40th Anniversary" edition CL 65 AMG is a limited (40 units) version of the CL 65 AMG commemorating the 40th anniversary of AMG, designed by the specialists of the AMG Performance Studio. It includes exclusive AMG Alubeam (Liquid Metal) body paint (from Vision GST and SL 400 CDI), AMG two-bar front grille, large under-bumper air intakes, air outlets on the front fenders and round fog lights, rear apron with a black air diffuser insert and twin V12-design tailpipes, two-tone EXCLUSIVE PASSION Nappa leather seats with new AMG V12 diamond pattern stitching, embossed V12 logos in the front head restraints, color-coordinated Alcantara roof lining, nappa leather upholstery on the airbag unit of the AMG ergonomic sports steering wheel, carbon fiber interior trim, "40th Anniversary" lettering on the center console and a "One Out of 40" badge on the handrest of the COMAND controller.CL 65 - "40th Anniversary" limited-edition model
CL 500 "Trademark Centenary" (2009) The CL 500 "Trademark Centenary" is a limited-edition version of the 2009 model year CL 500 and CL 500 4Matic commemorating the 100th birthday of the Mercedes three-pointed star and the Benz emblem, when on 24 June 1909 Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft officially registered the design of the Mercedes star, and on 6 August Benz & Cie. registered the letters "Benz", enclosed by a laurel wreath, as a trademark with the Imperial Patent Office. Changes include historic trademarks dating from 1909 in gilded plate brass, which are inset into the centre console; designo metallic graphite body colour, AMG Sports package, exclusive high-sheen 20-inch 5 twin-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels in titanium grey, 255/35 R 20 front and 275/35 R 20 rear tyres, partly hand-stitched designo aniline leather with contrasting seams in a light sand colour, wood/leather steering wheel, interior trim in shining black piano lacquer, anthracite Alcantara roof lining and black floor mats with AMG lettering and sand-coloured edging.
The vehicle went on sale on 26 June 2009.Special CL 500 model: "Trademark Centenary" - Anniversary edition with exclusive appointmentsMercedes-Benz CL500 "Trademark Centenary" Anniversary Edition
CL 550 "100 Years of Mercedes-Benz Edition" (2009) The CL 550 "100 Years of Mercedes-Benz Edition" is a limited-edition version of the 2010 model year CL 550 and CL 550 4Matic built to commemorate the 100th birthday of the Mercedes three-pointed star and the Benz emblem. It has most of the same features as the CL 500 "Trademark Centenary", including the emblems featuring the original Daimler and Benz logo trademarks in gilded plate brass inset into the center console. It was offered with both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive (4Matic) in some markets, but was only offered with 4Matic for the US market, like the standard CL 550.
The US model went on sale in summer of 2009.Mercedes-Benz celebrates iconic centennial with special CL550
Engines +Petrol enginesModelYearsDisplacementType/codePower at rpmTorque at rpmCL 500*2006–2010V8 (M 273 KE 55) at 6,000 at 2,800–4,800CL 500 4MATIC*CL 600V12 twin turbo (M 275 E 55 AL) at 5,000 at 1,900–3,500CL 63 AMGV8 (M 156 E 63) at 6,800 at 5,200CL 65 AMGV12 twin turbo (M 275 E 60 AL) at 4,800–5,100 at 2,000–4,000
BlueEFFICIENCY models include ECO start/stop function.
*CL 550 / CL 550 4MATIC in the United States.
Transmissions +Petrol enginesModelYearsTypesCL 5002006–20107-speed automatic (7G-TRONIC)CL 500 4MATIC2006–20107-speed automatic (7G-TRONIC)CL 6002006–20105-speed automatic (5G-TRONIC)CL 63 AMG2006–20107-speed automatic (7G-TRONIC)CL 65 AMG2006–20105-speed automatic (5G-TRONIC)
Performance Model0– (sec)Top speed (electronically limited)CL 5005.4CL 500 4MATIC5.4CL 6004.6CL 63 AMG4.6 (with optional "AMG Driver's Package")CL 65 AMG4.4
Equipment AMG body styling (including front bumper with enlarged air intakes, chrome-ringed circular fog lamps, two slanted struts and a smooth transition to the prominent wheel arches, AMG side skirts, AMG rear apron, rear bumper with its black insert and chrome trim strip flanked by tailpipes on either side), AMG light-alloy wheels (includes 19-inch five-spoke wheels (8.5/9.5-wide) with embossed AMG lettering, high-sheen rim flange and spokes, 255/40 (front) and 275/40 (rear) tyres) went on sale in September 2006, for CL 500 and CL 600.Exclusive dynamism for the new top coupé from Mercedes-Benz: Powerful AMG styling for the new CL-Class
New features
The Pre-Safe Brake had its world premiere on the CL-Class C216, Daimler Media: Innovation as a tradition with the first partial autonomous braking (40%, or up to 0.4g deceleration) if the driver does not react to the BAS Plus warnings and the system detects a severe danger of an accident. If the driver then immediately applied the brakes, the maximum braking force was available and – depending on the situation – the accident could be averted at the last moment. If an accident was unavoidable, the PRE-SAFE brakes reduced the impact severity and, in turn, the risk of injury to the vehicle occupants.
The Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control is able to bring the car to a complete stop, and accelerate again to the pre-set speed, to keep a pre-set distance away from the car ahead of it. Also introduced was active infrared Night View Assist, enabling drivers to view the conditions in front of the car despite the dark surroundings. Intelligent Light System headlights with five light modes, including active light function, was another feature.
In 2007, the CL added the first Mercedes-Benz Blind Spot Assist system (includes six short-range radar sensors in the front and rear bumpers). This was available as an option for the CL-Class.New in the S-Class and CL-Class: Blind Spot Assist for yet greater safety when changing lanes
An AMG Sports package for the 2009 CL-Class was available for the CL 500 and CL 500 4MATIC beginning in June 2009. This package includes a front apron with large air intakes, rear apron with a black insert and integrated rectangular tailpipe trim in polished stainless steel, AMG side sill panels, 19-inch five-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels and wide-base 255/40 (front) and 275/40 (rear) tyres (optional 20-inch twin-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels with 255/35 and 275/35 tyres), perforated brake discs and silver-painted brake calipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering (V8/V12 engine models), wood trim and wood/leather steering wheel in black ash, velour floor mats with AMG lettering, and sports pedals in brushed stainless steel with rubber studs.AMG Sports package for the 2009 S-Class and the CL-Class - Top Mercedes-Benz models featuring even more striking sportiness
From 2009, Mercedes-Benz has only been offering the CL 550 in 4Matic in the US/Canada, as a strategy to increase sales in snowy regions. While all the systems are the same, the suspension has been downgraded from ABC to Airmatic, as 4Matic is not compatible with ABC. The CL 600 and CL 65 AMG remained rear-wheel drive, though.
Marketing As part of the CL-Class launch, Mercedes-Benz Accessories GMBH released accessories for the CL-Class, including a leather wallet and business card case in black nappa based on the trim in the CL's interior, ash timber pens and umbrella handle based on the wood trim found in the car's interior, driving gloves and instrumentation-inspired wristwatch, keyring and money clip with the MB logo, and a diecast model car made by AUTOart. The accessories were available beginning in September 2006.Baubles for your Benz by Mercedes Accessories
2010 facelift
The 2010 facelift was unveiled at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed, followed by the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
Changes include: Exterior and interior: new grille, bi-xenon headlights with LED technology, LED fog lamps, revised fenders and hood, and new exhaust pipes, addition of a new interior wood trim Adaptive Highbeam Assist Attention Assist Active Blind Spot Assist world premiere Active Lane Keeping Assist world premiere 2011: first series production car with night vision-guided pedestrian spotlighting: Night View Assist Plus with Spotlight Functionhttp://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-658892-1-1354042-1-0-0-0-0-0-12639-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html New spotlight function for Active Night View Assist Plus: Enhanced safety for pedestrians can flash at any pedestrians it detects in order to warn both the driver and the pedestrians. The flashing light is directed in such a way that vehicles in front and oncoming traffic are not dazzled.http://techcenter.mercedes-benz.com/en/night_view_plus_with_spotlight/detail.html Night View Assist Plus: PRE-SAFE Brake upgrade now activates maximum braking pressure around 0.6 seconds before what it recognises as an unavoidable collision. Direct-Steer Active Body Control (ABC) with crosswind stabilisation Torque Vectoring Brake COMAND with SPLITVIEW dual view display. COMAND APS navigation system replaces DVD with 40 gigabyte hard-disk drive map.
Equipment Active Body Control suspension (standard, only on rear-wheel drive, for US market only on CL 600 and AMG)
The C216 introduced the second generation Active Body Control suspension system, referred to as ABC Plus or ABC II in technical documentation. Compared to the first generation system used on the C215 and W220, the updated system featured shorter hydraulic lines for improved response, a redesigned pulsation damper mounted directly on the tandem pump, and reduced body roll by 45%.
AIRMATIC air suspension with continuously Adaptive Damping System Plus (standard on US market CL 550 4MATIC, not for CL 600 and AMG) Nine airbags as standard ESP Dynamic Cornering Assist Traffic Sign Assist with Speed Limit Assist ATTENTION ASSIST (as standard) ADAPTIVE BRAKE (as standard) DISTRONIC PLUS Brake Assist system BAS PLUS NECK-PRO crash-responsive head restraints PRE-SAFE, PRE-SAFE Brake Active bonnet Active Lane Keeping Assist Bi-Xenon headlamps with Intelligent Light System and Adaptive Highbeam Assist