It doesn’t happen often that you attend the launch of a new car, or range, and the least powerful engine in the line-up is a 4,7-litre V8 biturbo delivering 320 kW and 700 N.m! Then again, the other engines in this particular line-up are a 5,5-litre V8 and two V12 biturbos! But, that was exactly the case at the local launch of new Mercedes-Benz CL-class.
Let us run quickly through the facts. The most important models here are the CL500 and CL63 AMG. Why? Because these are powered by two brand new engines that we will soon be able to drive in other Mercedes-Benz models.
Under the bonnet of the CL500 is the new 4,7-litre V8 biturbo BlueDirect engine. The other new engine can be found underneath the bonnet of the more aggressively clad CL63 AMG. This 5,5-litre V8 biturbo develops around 400 kW and 800 N.m. Maybe you think that is not enough… If that is the case, you can order the car with the AMG performance package. This increases the power to 420 kW and 900 N.m. and raises the top speed from an electronically limited 250 km/h to 300 km/h.
Both these engines now feature electronic direct injection. Making use of high pressure piezo injectors, in the case of the 4,7-litre V8, the electronics can tell the injectors to spray up to five times before combustion takes place. The amount of spray will depend on several factors, for instance, throttle position and engine load.
Mercedes-Benz has pointed out that although the performance on these smaller capacity engines have increased, they were still able to bring fuel consumption down significantly. According to them the CL63’s 5,5-litre V8 will only use 10,5 litres/100 km.
On that point, Mercedes-Benz also has plans in place to reduce the AMG performance arm’s average fuel consumption by 2015, with a resultant drop in CO2 figures to only 205 g/km compared to the average in 2008 of 345 g/km.
The third engine in the line-up is the CL600’s 5,5 V12 biturbo that develops 380 kW and 830 N.m. This engine hasn’t received any technical updates. The most powerful engine in the range is the monstrous CL65 AMG with its 6,0-litre V12 biturbo. Delivering a little more power than previously, the rear tyres now have to face 463 kW and 1 000 N.m.
It is always better to work your way up the power hierarchy, so it was the CL500 that I first jumped into at the local launch. Actually I was a passenger at first, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially in this type of car. Having driven CAR’s current Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec only a couple of days ago, one can be excused for thinking for a minute you are sitting in an S-class. The centre console, infotainment display and the whole cabin is similar to Mercedes-Benz’s top of the range luxury saloon.
As always, you go through the slightest curve in the road and the side bolsters in the soft seats gets pumped up to offer you a decent level of support. It can be turned off though, it you are not in the mood to be touched by the seats.
After experiencing the quietness and relaxing effect the CL has on its passengers, it was my turn behind the steering wheel. Somehow I thought that 320 kW and 700 N.m just wasn’t going to be enough for the entry-level model. But I was wrong. Pull away with a high level of enthusiasm, and the tyres will chirrrp as the seven-speed 7G-Tronic gearbox hooks second. This car is plenty fast enough!
Next up I had to drive the CL600. This 5,5-litre V12 biturbo engine develops 380 kW and 830N.m. But it is a remarkably different experience to V8 models (the one on which I will report in a minute). It is heavier, and you can immediately feel it. The extra four cylinders not only make this an even more of stress-free experience, but that whole car comes across as more like an elephant, compared to the two rhinos. As we all know an elephant can attack, and if you plant your right foot it is the combination of the power and torque that sees the electronic speedometer needle swing past in quick increments of 20 km/h.
It was the AMG model that I really couldn’t wait to drive. Not only because this is the first time we got to experience AMG’s replacement for the loveable 6,2-litre V8, but I was keen to find out whether they got the exhaust note right. As soon as turbos are put on an engine manufacturers usually struggle to get any proper sound from the engine or exhaust. Thankfully this is not the case here. While the engine idled I blipped the throttle and I am more than happy to tell you that it sounds basically the same as the 6,2. I guess that is what Mercedes-Benz meant when they said during the media presentation that the exhaust tone has been “sound engineered”.
On the highway and the back roads leading to Carletonville, the AMG model just felt that little bit more dedicated. A tad firmer, a bit more responsive. Obviously the inside of the car contributes to this feeling. The centre console and certain areas in the door is draped in carbon fibre (optional though), half the steering wheel (same with the roof and pillars) are covered in suede leather. The seats offer more support, although they are, for example, much more luxurious and comfort orientated than the AMG seats found in the C63- and E63 AMG.
The new 5,5-litre V8 engine revs with the same level of dedication as the 6,2-litre naturally aspirated V8. You have to concentrate to find any level of turbo lag and compared to something like the CL600, the AMG, which is lighter and has that bit more power, is the faster one. We did a couple of in-gear acceleration runs and on all four occasions it was the AMG model that left the CL600 behind. But that’s not really what these cars are about.
Sitting in the traffic I could almost not be bothered. The distronic plus cruise control was keeping me safely behind the traffic in front of me, I could barely hear any noise from the outside while I was being kept cool in the luxurious cabin, in my face and even derriere-side. The stop/start system (standard on the CL63 AMG) even cuts away the distant running sound from the engine. Cruising is what these cars do best. One of the ultimate Johannesburg to Cape Town cars? I will be first in line…
The pricing for the four CL models range from R1 619 000 for the CL500 to R2 443 000 for the CL65 AMG.