Test drive Mercedes Benz Cl C215 1999 - 2002 coupe
In the wake of the flagship
Presenting by new product every year or two has become a good tradition in Stuttgart since the mid-90s. It seems that more recently, the Germans conducted the premiere of the new sedan of their flagship S-class, literally stuffed with all kinds of technical things. And already in January, in Detroit, they showed the Vision Slr sports compartment intended for the license plate, with a powerful 557-horsepower engine and futuristic design. Now Geneva is the world premiere of the new Luxual coupe CL500/600 ... Moving in the footsteps of the new S-class, the CL coupe offers even more advanced technologies, fundamentally changing the current ideas about comfort and dynamics. At the same time, high technology is harmoniously complemented by an elegant appearance and luxury trim, ”says Professor Jurgen Hubbert, a member of the board of directors of the Daimler -Chrysler concern.
CL500, equipped with a 306 -horsepower V8 V8 engine, will appear on sale in Europe in the fall of 1999, and CL600 with a new generation V12 engine in the spring of 2000.
Unlike the new S-class sedan, reminiscent of the famous W-126 body, the new CL500/600 decided to make it four-eyed. In accordance with the general trend that traces in previous models of the company, CL is easier and shorter than their predecessors. As a result of the use of light materials (such as plastic and alloys containing aluminum and magnesium), the compartment has lost more than 340 kg and became 20% more economical. The frontal resistance coefficient was reduced to 0.28. The car became 72 mm shorter and 55 mm already looks more elegant and sports - there was no trace of the previous model from the tank style of the previous model. At the same time, it is claimed that there were no more space for passengers, and the car stability was not affected - although the wheelbase decreased by as many as 60 mm.
According to the creators, several fundamentally new technical solutions were used in the design of the coupe. Upon closer examination, it turns out that many of these innovations have already been used earlier, and therefore are only for this model. But the number of convenient and useful functions in a given separate car is worthy of surprise ...
The real novelty that Mercedes -Benz can be proud of is Active Body Control (ABC), an active self -leveling suspension with electronic control, which allows maintaining a constant horizontal position of the body when accelerating, braking and attacking coating irregularities. (It seems that the creators of Citroen Activa will see something.) Unlike the S-class, where pneumatics are used, high pressure hydraulics are used in the ABC CL system. On each axis of the car there are two sensors that follow the position of the body. Its vertical and longitudinal accelerations are determined by four sensors located along the length of the car.
Two microcomputer signals are processed, the commands of which change the pressure in hydraulic cylinders that are mounted in the rack of each wheel. The cylinders work almost instantly, changing the rigidity of the springs associated with them, and the suspension of each wheel individually reacts to a change in the road situation. As a result, the car body moves exclusively up and down, does not peck when braking and only slightly fucked in corners. The ABC system made it possible to completely abandon the reproach stability stabilizers, which only increased comfort. In addition, the active suspension allows you to change the road clearance within known limits, and also automatically reduces the clearance with increasing speed.
In addition to the active suspension and the ESP course stabilization system, the new compartment is filled with many other smart systems. The standard package, for example, includes: a satellite navigation system, a device that allows you to stay at a safe distance from a walking car in front, automatic climate control with humidity sensors, air pollution and sunlight intensity, and ventilated front seats. On the central console there is a system of information and control (Comand), through which the driver communicates with the onboard navigation system, and also controls the audio system and the phone (using the voice).
The passive safety system almost completely repeats the S-Class for the sedan: belts with prerequisite, front pillows, side curtains plus standard side pillows, amplifiers in the doors, crushed areas in front and back. Power equipment deserves a separate conversation. V8 engine with a capacity of 306 hp (the same as on the S-class) develops the maximum torque of 460 nm at 2700 rpm. For those to whom such indicators seem insufficient, there is a more powerful motor - 5.8 l V12 produces 367 hp. and has an impressive torque - 530 nm at 4000 rpm.
The maximum speed of new machines remained unchanged (artificially limited to 250 km/h), but the dynamic characteristics improved markedly: to hundreds of CL500 accelerates in 6.5 seconds, and CL600 in 6.1 seconds. (The predecessors had 7.5 and 6.6 seconds, respectively). However, thanks to double ignition, three valves on the cylinder and a device that turns off half the cylinders in modes that do not require full power, both engines are quite economical for their parameters.
A few words about turning off the cylinders. The power supply of the V12 engine is such that when moving with constant (reasonable) speed, when the driver’s foot only slightly touches the gas pedal, the motor only works in a quarter of strength. At the same time, the disadvantages of large engines are manifested: incomplete charge of cylinders, low pressure in them, increased friction - all this leads to excess fuel. Half of the cylinders can be turned off: hydraulics disconnects valve pushers, while the fuel supply stops at the same time - the motor turns into a in -line six. It is worth clicking on the gas pedal, and the fallen cylinders instantly return to work. The driver will not notice anything, to eliminate a jerk when turning off/connecting, the automation for a moment changes the parameters of the timing. And for the especially attentive ones that could notice changes in the sound of the exhaust, a special valve is installed in the exhaust system, these changes are compensatory. Everything is for a person!
The system that turns off excess cylinders is standard only for a 12-cylinder engine. V8 car owners who pay attention to fuel consumption can install it as an option.
In the design of the salon, exclusively expensive natural materials prevail. The skin is covered not only with seats, but also by the dashboard, door panels, as well as armrests. Interior sophistication is emphasized by polished nut inserts. Salon CL600 was finished with the finest skin of NAPPA. In the configuration of Designo (the client himself chooses the color of the car and the option of decorating the salon), wooden inserts can be replaced by the finest plates of natural granite (probably this proposal will especially interest Mercedes-Benz fans from among our compatriots).
The new Mercedes-Benz model claims to be 30% of the global luxury compartment market, the sales of which over the past few years have grown slightly. However, by 2000, the demand for such cars should reach the next peak. In addition, the CL500/600 (like other models of the company that appeared during the period of the so -year attack on the market) will cost at least not more than their predecessors - in full accordance with today's pricing policy of Mercedes -Benz. Dmitry Polikarpov
Source: Motor magazine [No. 6/1998]
