Mercedes-Benz will give its new CLK-class coupe its first public airing at this week’s Geneva motor show.
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The newcomer will offer a choice of seven engines, three transmission variants, two equipment levels and numerous colour combinations.
Top of the line will again be the CLK55, now boosted to 367 hp, and there are eight-, six-, and four-cylinder engines down to the CLK200’s 163-hp supercharged unit. A diesel engine will also be available.
Six of the seven engines are new or have been further developed, and generate up to 20 kW/27 hp more output and up to 15 percent more torque than previously. At the same time fuel consumption has been reduced by an average of six percent.
The CLK-Class range is headed by two V8s: the CLK 500 (225 kW/306 hp) and the CLK 55 AMG, whose further enhanced power unit now develops 270 kW/367 hp. These accelerate the CLK to 100 km/h (62mph) from rest in 6.0 (CLK 500) or 5.2 (CLK 55 AMG) seconds.
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By GlobalDataAs revealed by just-auto recently, Mercedes-Benz is unveiling a new generation of four-cylinder petrol engines whose unique Twinpulse system is claimed to set new standards for the class in terms of output and torque characteristics, smooth running and fuel consumption. Two four-cylinder models are available: the CLK 200 Kompressor (120 kW/ 163 hp) with conventional fuel injection and the CLK 200 CGI (125 kW/170 hp) with direct petrol injection.
The Twinpulse system features a combination of different technologies for claimed low fuel consumption and six-cylinder smoothness: balancer shafts, supercharger, intercooler, variably adjustable camshafts and four-valve technology.
The new CGI engine combines the Twinpulse system with a pioneering direct petrol injection system which reduces fuel consumption to 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres, down 16 percent compared with the previous model. The new CLK 200 Kompressor has a fuel consumption of 8.6 litres per 100 kilometres and is around 8.5 percent more economical than before.
Mercedes-Benz has extended the range of six-cylinder CLK models by adding the 2.6-litre V6 engine generating 125 kW/170 hp while the 3.2-litre V6 power unit (160 kW/218 hp) is unchanged.
The diesel CLK 270 CDI with five-cylinder common-rail fuel injection engine is a first for the class. It develops 125 kW/170 hp and consumes 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres.
Engineers have improved the torsional rigidity of the CLK body by 40 percent while almost doubling the proportion of high-strength steel alloys, ensuring maximum strength with low weight.
The Cd value is 0.28, a claimed new benchmark in this vehicle class. The new coupé has various occupant protection systems as standard: adaptive airbags for the driver and front passenger, sidebags and windowbags plus belt tensioners and belt force limiters on all the seats.
For the first time the weight of the seat occupant is also considered when activating the two-stage front passenger airbag according to impact severity.
The new CLK is 71 millimetres longer, 18mm wider and 42mm higher than its predecessor and the wheelbase is up 25mm to 2715mm.
New standard equipment includes windowbags, automatic belt feeders, rear power windows, headlamp assist, rain sensor and an adjustable steering column, as well as an automatic climate control system which operates from sensors which measure the interior and ambient temperatures and air humidity.
In addition, high-tech systems first seen in the S-class become CLK options: Distronic proximity cruise control, the access and drive authorisation system Keyless-go, bi-xenon headlamps and Linguatronic voice control for the telephone and radio.
