Mercedes Benz CL500 and CL55

2001 July: The Mercedes CL55 AMG went on sale in Australia from $345,500 ($au). The `55' denotes a 5.5-litre (actually 5439cc) version of the CL500's V8 engine.

For that stratospheric price you get lots of technology, lots of wood and leather trim inside, and the more powerful engine, 18" wheels (v. 17" on the CL500), uprated brakes and sports transmission.

2000 March, A Mercedes-AMG CL55 (right) doing duty as the Formula 1 pace car at the recent Melbourne Grand-Prix. The 5-litre V8 produces 265kW and 8-piston racing car brakes have been fitted with 380mm/315mm discs. The suspension has been stiffened and lowered. It uses Active Body Control (ABC), as fitted to the road cars, a form of electronically controlled adjustable damping which controls and reduces body roll.
- 4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html

2000 March, Auto Bild magazine gave the Mercedes-Benz CL coupe the award for Europe's No. 1 Car. "[...] a jury representing 12 countries" chose the CL coupe over 29 rivals. The CL500 went on sale in Australia in March 2000, rrp $278,500.

A new Mercedes-Benz CL500 coupe was shown at the 1999 Sydney Motor Show (started 15 September), prior to going on sale in Australia in early 2000. The CL500 is powered by a 5-litre alloy V8 giving 225kW of power. The car's looks are quite modest and under-stated (unlike the SLR), in keeping with the rest of the M-B range, although modern and with new xenon headlights. Aluminium, magnesium and plastic have been used to reduce the car's weight. A "smart card" is used to gain access - there is no key as such. Touch the car and it unlocks, press a button on the gear lever and it starts (if you have the card).

1999, November, details of a new `CL55 AG' model (right), based on the CL500 but with the 5 litre engine enlarged to 5.5 litres. The power increase is said to reduce the 0-100km/h time from 6.5s to 6.0s.

CL55 AMG, 1999

Maker's data:

loa: 4993mm, width 1857mm, height 1398mm, track 1577mm/1578mm, turning radius 5.75m
weight 1865kg, payload 450kg
CL55
- 5439cc, V8, petrol, 97.0mm x 92.0mm, c.r. 10.5:1, 3-valves/cyl, mpfi, 265kW at 5500rpm, 530Nm at 3150-4500rpm
- transmission, 5a (3.59:1, 2.19:1, 1.41:1, 1.0:1, 0.83:1, rev 3.16:1), diff 2.82:1
(CL500
- 4966cc, V8 petrol, 225kW, 460Nm at 2700-4200rpm)
suspension active damping indep/indep, brakes disc/disc ABS ESP ASR BAS (as per V12 CL600)
tyres 225/55 R 17 on 7.5x17 wheels, fuel tank 88L + 11L

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