Straightline

The car enthusiasts news blog from Inside Line

Paris auto show: Mercedes-Benz CL 550


It didn’t look so hot sitting next to the CL 63 AMG, but the CL 550 coupe is still a pretty flawless piece. The "standard" engine has a mere 382 horsepower while the CL 600 gets a 510 horsepower V12. Add to all that power a shape that isn't as in your face as a Bentley Continental GT and there's not much to dislike about Mercedes new flagship coupe. Want to get picky? Take a look at the nose. New pedestrian crash test standards forced the designers to add some space under the hood making for a slightly chunkier snout. They compensated for it by raising the truck to maintain the profile but it's still not as sleek as it could have been.

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7 Comments

mercedesman1 says:

05:04 PM, 09/28/06

Thats gorgeous loved it since the first pics were posted!!! I want one!

ahightower says:

08:07 PM, 09/28/06

Fortunately you can buy the poseur AMG body kit and wheels straight from the factory. Even for an R-class. Nobody will know the difference!

cwalton1 says:

09:16 AM, 09/29/06

Ed, what's with the "CL 500" badge on the car? Did M-B forget to update its photos once the 550 broke cover?
 
--Chris

andy1102 says:

12:07 PM, 09/29/06

It's a beautiful car, much better than the outgoing CL. But, there is still something about the old Mercedes SEC from the 80's - that car had presence.

mercedesfan says:

04:02 PM, 09/29/06

cwalton1,
 
In Europe the new 5.5-liter, is still labeled as the 500 (E500, S500, SL500, CL500) because the 500 designation has so much history. Our version will be badged the CL550.

fst1 says:

10:31 AM, 10/ 1/06

mercedsfan is right. In Europe they still use the "500" designation for cars with the new engine while we label them as 550s.

balkanboy1 says:

06:11 PM, 10/ 1/06

Overweight,overpriced,and no personality....just a big but expensive blob of fat with no character. Long gone are graceful SEL big Benzes coupes from 80s...

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