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New CL gains twin-turbo V8

Forget about the new CL’s LED lights - bigger news is the 320kW twin-turbo V8.
Forget about the new CL’s LED lights - bigger news is the 320kW twin-turbo V8.
Mercedes-Benz unveiled its new CL-Class at the weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.

The revised CL’s illumination regime is updated with the latest LED technology whilst the bonnet and front fenders are delicately reshaped.

Despite the mellow exterior styling changes, under the new CL’s shapelier bonnet is an engine set to replace Mercedes-Benz’s naturally aspirated V8 models.

The new twin-turbo V8 displaces 4.6l and attaches itself to two new monikers added to the range - CL550 4Matic and CL500 BlueEFFICIENCY

Output numbers are impressive – power peaks at 320kW and rotational force at 700Nm, improvements of around 12%.

Driving all-four wheels via a seven speed automatic transmission the CL550 4Matic returns a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.9 seconds, half a second better than the 5.5l V8 engine model it replaces.

Mercedes-Benz’s decision to engage twin-turbo technology, and reduce swept capacity, is an effort to ensure outstanding performance is balanced with (significantly) lower fuel consumption and emissions.

To this end both the CL500 BlueEFFICIENCY and CL550 4Matic's overall efficiency is improved by 15% - consumption averaging 9.7l/100km.

The emissions footprint has been reduced by 23% courtesy of the 4.6l twin-turbo V8’s finessed direct-injection design.

Properly quick rear-wheel drive AMGs in the pipeline

A more powerful version of the 5.5l twin-turbo V12 is set to power the rear-wheel drive CL600, whilst AMG is working furiously on a replacement for the CL 63 AMG – set to gain a twin-turbo V8 producing 425kW and 895Nm.

The revised CL range’s headline offering remains AMG’s CL65, powered by a twin-turbo 6l V12 worth 455kW and 1 000Nm.

Beyond the noteworthy drivetrain upgrades the new CL range sees a raft of safety features debuting in Merc’s big coupe. Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Adaptive High Beam Assist, Night View Assist (with infrared pedestrian detection) and Active Body Control with crosswind stabilisation combine to make the new CL as safe a vehicle to drive as possible.

From a comfort and convenience perspective the COMMAND driver control interface now boasts 7.2 GB worth of memory whilst the steering wheel features additional wood grain inlays.

The updated CL is expected in right-hand drive markets early in the fourth quarter this year.

It remains doubtful that all-wheel drive CL550s will be built in right-hand drive, as the traction security offered by this vehicle has an appeal limited to continental European markets with treacherous winter snow conditions. An all-new CL is expected by 2013.

Is there possibly a market for an all-wheel drive CL550 in South Africa? Debate it here...

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