Simply The Best?
by Tom Stewart (26 Sep 06)

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class saloon has long held the unofficial title of Best Car in the World. Whether that accolade has always been fully deserved is open to debate, but few would argue that with the advent of each new generation S-Class, the standards for automotive excellence are redefined.

Logically, it would follow that if there were a Best Coupé in the World then that title should fall to the coupé version of the S-Class, which since 1999 has been dubbed the CL - the model which provides more mature, well-heeled customers with a sleeker, less formal, please-don't-mistake-me-for-any-kind-of-chauffeur option.

As before, the new CLs are essentially two-door versions of the S500 and S600 saloons with the same engines yielding the same horsepower, torque and performance figures. They also share the same seven- (500) and five-speed (600) automatic transmissions, both taking power to the rear wheels, and have similar emissions and fuel consumption figures.

Unsurprisingly, the CLs also boasts much of the S-Class's abundant technology, but they carry higher price tags than both the current, equivalent four-door saloons and the old CL. Due to retail at £79,550 and £106,996 respectively, Mercedes is keen to point out that the plus 7.9% and 9.1% price increases over the old CL models don't account for new standard equipment, much of which was previously unavailable.

The CL's body frame is made from high-strength steels, with aluminium alloy bonnet and doors. However, unlike the S-Class saloon's but like that of the SLR supercar, the CL's boot lid is made from a composite material which permits better transmission and reception of radio, satnav, security tracking, phone and TV signals.

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