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Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
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Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL63 by Cordell Koland Most successful automotive manufactures seem to have specific DNA that guides their most interesting product development. The casual observer may see Mercedes-Benz as a market mixture of variously sized coupes, sedans, convertibles and SUVs. But this company is really about building big, fast sedans and coupes with monster motors that are mechanically optimized for Autobahn speeds. Sure, Mercedes would like to sell you some SUVs, but what really stokes this company is when they turn out one of their full-size rockets that can provide an unprecedented sensation of speed, power and luxury. That's what it's all about and the company is upping the ante for 2008. Out test car is the remarkable 2008 CL63, which is a large four-seat coupe with drop-dead styling riding on superb mechanical components. No auto manufacturer over the decades has made a similar commitment to this particular segment, and I expect that none will. But one pays a steep price for this kind of luxury performance. Out test vehicle lists at close to $150,000 with options. I don't see the CL coupe as quite as ostentatious as its sibling, the big S-Class sedan. Somehow, this is the kind of gift that one might give oneself after doing something extraordinary in business or a profession. And although it has a back seat, it's not a people hauler. In fact, its low roof height makes is a bit hard to enter the car for both rear- and front-seat passengers, despite the car's overall heft. No it's not a perfect car. The control ergonomics integrated into the center console to operate the audio, information and navigation systems appear to have taken a step backward. It seems implausible that a competitive manufacturer would rip-off BMW's horrible iDrive system‹a center console-mounted joystick and display screen mounted on the dashboard, which manages a computer menu system that wraps up a number of functions and removes them from view, making them even more difficult to use. I think the Europeans in particular should go back to design school until they can come up with better man/machine interfaces in the automobile. Maybe Steve Jobs could moonlight and give them a few pointers. On the other hand, I was so delighted by the driving experience that I settled for a low-level of interaction with the control functions. Fortunately, after several tries I was able to adjust the climate control to my needs and it worked beautifully. But the audio system and the navigation system were beyond where I wanted to go in terms of investing precious time in mastery. The CL63 is at the pinnacle of high-speed luxurious travel. Given its size, it is exceedingly agile. It responds instantly to throttle and steering wheel. On the right road and with no traffic or speed limits, I think I could drive for days without stopping. Please, let me dream. The CL63 is a very special unit that is a co-production with AMG, Mercedes special engineering division, which builds the engine and enhances the suspension components. The engine in operation is magnificent. It is instantly responsive, even when cold. Mercedes claims that the CL63 will zoom from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds, but where it really feels strongest is its massive passing power at highway speeds. I was amazed at the big coupe's high-speed torque delivery. I continue to believe the Mercedes makes the industry's best automatic transmissions and the seven-speed unit harnesses the huge power output of the engine and puts it all on the road with ultimate smoothness. For example, when you descend a steep downgrade, you can feel the transmission automatically step down a gear or two in response to help maintain control on grade. But the sensation is as light as being stroked by a feather. Once settled in the spacious cabin, I was able to experience an extremely comfortable environment, regardless of what I was doing with the accelerator and steering wheel in combination. And to say the least, we were all very busy. The CL63 is so quiet and refined in operation that you could take you rich aunt to her Episcopal church in Pasadena each Sunday without fear of losing your place in her trust fund as an irresponsible cad. As long as she's just a bit hard of hearing, she'll miss the engine's discrete siren song and exhaust burble, but will admire your impeccable taste and good breeding. Vehicle:
Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG
Price as tested: $144,835 Engine: Type: 6.3-liter V-8 Horsepower: 518 @ 6,800 rpm Torque: 465 lbs.-ft. @ 5,200 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City 11 mpg Highway 18 mpg Curb Weight: 4,599 lbs.  Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
