CL 500

STORY

The CL-Class was Mercedes-Benz's flagship two-door coupe, a pillarless grand tourer derived from the contemporary S-Class and positioned above every other Mercedes coupe. Introduced under the CL name in 1998, the C215 generation broke with tradition through a lighter, more elegant body and debuted Active Body Control, offered with V8, V12 and AMG power up to the 604 hp CL 65 AMG. The C216 of 2006 grew more imposing and technology-laden, featuring Night View Assist and AMG variants powered first by the 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 and later the twin-turbo M157. Always hand-finished and hugely expensive, the CL was a low-volume statement of engineering prestige rather than a sales leader. In 2014 the nameplate was retired as Mercedes folded the model back into the range as the S-Class Coupe (C217).