Mercedes re-styles a proven formula

With the manic Mercedes Benz SLR in the final stages of production, the German automaker isn't happy with just a flagship sports coupe.

Not at all, which is why the new CLK-Class Coupé (C 209) was developed. Filling a gap between the C and E-class Mercedes, the new 2003 CLK-Class Coupés represent two-door luxury motoring, something that the automaker is touting keenly.

It would be fair to say that Mercedes wants to offer something a little sportier, but also wants to accommodate those who don't want to go all out with the stiffer ride of an AMG-enhanced model. So, in essence, the new Coupés could be described as a pleasant mix between comfort and performance.

The new look alone will sell the new CLK-Class Coupés, and other variations on the traditional Merc theme will please many. For instance, the new frameless side/rear windows give the car a more striking profile - plus they can be fully lowered for a unique al fresco look.

From the front, the Coupés look very Mercedes, with the twin-headlamp face largely unchanged. The curved roof and steeply raked windscreen add a more sporting edge, while the new-look alloy wheels with low-profile rubber add a hint of menace.

The rear-end is perhaps the only area of the car that could have been bettered. Sure, it's not ugly, but the tail lights in particular don't instantly scream Mercedes. Perhaps the order of the day was to make the Coupés look 'different' from behind. That they are...

Distronic and Keyless-Go access have been borrowed from the S-Class, the former an automatic criuse-control of sorts, which uses sensors to keep a specified distance when behind other cars. Keyless-Go access is just that - no need for keys.

There are four models of the CLK-Class Coupé to choose from, based on engine capacity. All are fairly similar in features and equiment levels, though the larger engined models get a few extras, like COMAND (Sat Nav), automatic climate control and bigger wheels.

New to the Coupés are re-jigged chassis, with Mercedes Benz claiming to have made the bodies some 40 per cent stiffer than the older models. This extra torsional rigidity makes the CLK Coupés handle more positively, depsite their 1600kg kerb weight.

Adding to the theme of better ride and handling is a redesigned suspension setup, with new three-link McPherson struts at the front and multi-link independent rear suspension, with anti-rolls bars fore and aft.

In a bid to make driving safer, the new Coupés are equipped with a host of nifty driving aids. ABS is at the top of the list, with an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) gifting the cars with improved traction. Using a number of sensors, the ESP can correct over and understeer by applying the brakes to individual wheels, and also by reducing torque to the driving wheels.

The entry level model is the CLK 240 Coupé, which derives power from a 2.6-litre V6. The fuel-injected engine is worth 240 Newtons @ 4500rpm and 125kW @ 5500rpm, with a redline of 6000 revs. The CLK 240 Coupés top speed is 210km/h, and hits 100km/h from standstill in 9.5 seconds.

Next up is one of Mercedes most popular engine capacities - the 3199cc engine, which is at the heart of the CLK 320 Coupé. Making a more credible 160kW @ 5700, the 320 is still quite bulky, recording a 7.9 second 0-100km/h run.

The CLK 500 Coupé with the new 5.0-litre V8 (up from 4.3-litres) makes a Gen III-like 225kW of power @ 5600rpm, with a similar 460Nm of torque @ 2700rpm. Like all the other CLK-Class Coupés, it's interesting to note that the engine has only three valves per cylinder - two intakes and one exhaust, which are actuated by a single overhead camshaft. This combined mechanical intrigue allows the CLK 500 to make 0-100km/h times of just 6.0 seconds.

But what would any Mercedes line-up be without a flagship AMG model? As such, the Germans lads dropped a 5.4-litre V8 into the engine bay and called it the CLK 55 AMG Coupé. This bad-boy will really impress your friends, accelerating from standstill to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds and electronically limited to a top speed of 250km/h.

To be precise, the 5439cc powerplant develops a whopping 510Nm of torque @ 4000rpm and 270kW of power @ 5750rpm. Like all the other Coupés, power is put to the ground via five-speed auto transmissions, while the AMG model comes with the fancy SpeedShift (tiptronic) feature. The AMG model also gets sports suspension and high-performance brakes.

The new and improved CLK-Class is an integral part of Mercedes' planning. For example, the CLK-Class is a proven performer: in the first year of production, 54,000 models rolled off the assembly lines. 18 months later, the figure had risen to 135,000. Today, the total stands at over 230,000.

Interestingly, around 40 per cent of CLK buyers are new Mercedes customers, which just goes to show how important the class is to the German automaker. Mercedes MD, Matthias Lührs, had this to say about the new CLK-Class Coupé: "The introduction of the attractive and elegant new CLK Coupé will ensure we continue the growth of luxury Mercedes Coupé sales in Australia.

"Thanks to the CLK's appealing design, more powerful engines, refined luxury, higher level of standard equipment and increased production supply, we predict customer demand for Mercedes Coupés to increase, resulting in a doubling of CLK Coupé sales volume during the vehicle's life-cycle."

Bold words indeed, but luxury car buyers have plenty of new reasons to get excited. The new CLK 320 and 500 Coupés will arrive in Australian Mercedes dealerships on June 28, 2002, while the CLK 55 AMG and CLK 240 will be available later in the year.

Prices:

CLK 240 $89,900
CLK 320 $114,900
CLK 500 $139,900
CLK 55 AMG $189,900