He engines in the CLS550 and CLS63 AMG, for example, are shared with the E-Class and are connected to Mercedes' familiar seven-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability.
Overall, though, for the luxury car buyer who desires distinctive styling, strong performance and a sumptuous interior, the Mercedes-Benz CLS is easy to recommend.
Current Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class The Mercedes-Benz CLS is available as the CLS550 or the CLS63 AMG. As the rear-wheel-drive CLS is meant to be a relatively exclusive and upscale car, Mercedes hasn't bothered to offer a V6-powered model. Rather, the lineup starts with the CLS550. Paddle shifters are standard on the CLS63 and optional on the CLS550.
The CLS63 AMG needs only 4.4 seconds to hit 60 mph. In reviews, we've noted that the Mercedes-Benz CLS cars offer plenty of entertainment value to go along with their gorgeous exteriors. Used Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Models Mercedes-Benz introduced the stunning, performance-oriented CLS500 sedan in 2006. As the CLS500's name suggests, it came with a 5.0-liter V8 rated at 306 hp. In that first year, Mercedes also offered the 469-hp CLS55 AMG. These models were superseded by the CLS550 and CLS63 AMG for 2007.
We usually see women behind the wheel of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class. The original SLK debuted in 1996 with a four-cylinder powerplant and all of 136 ponies. The SLK gained some testosterone with its first facelift in 2000. While the exterior was still rather tame, the chick car jokes ceased in 2001 with the introduction of the 354-horsepower SLK 32 AMG.
The reality that AMG could stuff its hand-built 5.4-liter V8 under the hood made the second-generation SLK a serious performance car.
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Classrides on the same 95.7-inch wheelbase. In the States, we will eventually get two of three available engines for the new SLK: the 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and the naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6. Four-cylinder models will be called the SLK250, while V6 models gets the SLK350 badge.
2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class engineers use the crankshaft position sensor to know which cylinder has stopped closest to the optimum position for re-starting the engine. Mercedes-Benz literature claims 6.4 cubic feet with the roof lowered and 10.1 cubes with the roof raised. The SLK's hallmark retractable hardtop comes in three varieties: solid steel panels, a tinted roof section or with Benz's trick new Magic Sky Control electrochromatic roof section. (Geek Note: Magic Sky Control uses a similar principle to Delphi's Magnetic Ride Control dampers that control the flow path of damper fluid.)
The imperfect roads on Tenerife presented a less-than-ideal surface that worked to shake and rattle the SLK. Short-wheelbase cars can feel skittish, but the SLK simply doesn't. Even at full throttle with every foot-pound of torque twisting the rear half shafts, the SLK350 felt unshakable and secure.
The SLK senses the understeer and helps to mitigate it by adding a measured amount of braking to the inside rear wheel, helping to increase the car's yaw rate and make it rotate more easily.
Unfortunately, the ESC on the SLK350 cannot be completely disabled. Even with ESC on, the SLK remained a remarkably fun steer. In all, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class driving experience was a good one. First, we're looking forward to some time behind the wheel of the lighter SLK250. The SLK350's smaller-engined sibling could end up being the better of the two offerings – that is, until the V8 AMG model enters the mix.
Mercedes-Benz AMG Ditching the gull-wing doors and roof in favor of conventional doors and a soft top has required Mercedes to stiffen the body, resulting in the Roadster being 40 kg (88 lbs) heavier than the coupe ... but it can still go from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 317 km/h (197 mph).
The open-top SLS Mercedes-Benz AMG sports the same 6.3-liter V8 engine as its gull-wing counterpart with a peak output of 420 kW (571 hp) at 6,800 rpm and maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4,750 rpm. Mercedes says the flush, gap-free transition between the outer roof skin and the bonded rear window of heated single layer safety glass helps keep wind noise to a minimum. At 243 kg (535.7 lb), the Roadster's weight-optimized aluminum spaceframe is only two kilograms (4.4 lb) heavier than the Coupe model.
The Roadster also sees a new Mercedes-Benz AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension available as an option. Mercedes will also be making the new suspension system available as an option on the Coupe in the future.
The system will also be installed on other AMG high-performance cars in the future. The Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS Roadster, which was designed in parallel with the Coupe, is the second of at least four variants of the SLS AMG with an electric-powered E-Cell and Black Series versions also in the works.
He engines in the CLS550 and CLS63 AMG, for example, are shared with the E-Class and are connected to Mercedes' familiar seven-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability.
