2008 Mercedes Benz CLK

CAR ONLINE | PARIS FRANCE - - Mercedes’ CLK will be sportier, funkier and posher, when the third-generation coupe arrives in March 2008. The two-door shares its platform with next year’s new C-class saloon, with power coming from four-, six- and eight-cylinder engines crowned by a 600bhp flagship DTM version. A cabriolet version will follow. What it does and how it looks The CLK adds a sporty lustre to the C-class family – and is a licence to print money for Benz. It’s a tad cheaper to produce than an identically equipped four-door, yet its premium price yields around $10,000 more revenue per car. The bigger CLK speaks the same funky design language as the forthcoming C- and E-class models. The details are far more modern than today’s two-door, from the split, angular headlamps to the character line running along the side. The rear window dips slightly into the more muscular side panels. Again, there’s no middle pillar and the windows are frameless. This CLK’s proportions are more imposing, too. The nose is longer and taller, and the bonnet more sculptured. The stretched roof looks more elegant, and flows into a chunky boot. Soft-top drop-top The CLK convertible is expected in autumn 2008. While BMW is moving to a folding tin-top roof for its imminent 3-series cabriolet, the Mercedes sticks with the classic canvas roof. Merc’s product planners believe it is classier and easier to package neatly, and they’re confident that the CLK’s drop-top will be as refined and secure as a coupe-cabrio roof. The other advantage is that the centre of gravity is not skewed when the lighter roof is up. Under the skin Being twinned with the C-class, the CLK is naturally rear-wheel drive, although with four-wheel drive potential. Its roots rule out some plush gadgets such as air suspension or active ABC anti-roll bars. But tech-heads are still spoiled for choice. The Presafe II safety system, Distronic plus cruise control, night vision, Comand II control system, Bi-Xenon plus lamps and active seats all figure. Also mooted are ceramic brakes for the AMG versions, and a twin-clutch automatic transmission to match VW’s seamless ‘box. The engines are largely familiar, none more so than the base model’s ancient supercharged 1.8-litre four. This may be replaced by a new turbocharged 2.0-litre that’s in the pipeline. Another new fourpot is the diesel that powers the CLK 250 CDI, kicking out a mighty 205bhp. The engine room Model Engine CLK 200 Kompressor 180bhp supercharged four CLK 280 245bhp V6 CLK 350 272bhp V6 CLK 500 388bhp V6 CLK 63 AMG 503bhp V8 CLK AMG DTM 600bhp bi-turbo V8 CLK 250 CDI 205bhp four 252bhp V6