- Refined powertrains
- Comfortable ride
- Body feels solid and rigid
- High standard of fit and finish
- Steering lacks precision
- Weight blunts agility
- High running and maintenance costs
- Dated styling
Overview
Released in August 1996, the Mercedes-Benz C140 CL-Class was a large, luxury coupe. Manufactured in Sindelfingen, Germany, the rear-wheel drive C140 CL-Class range consisted solely of the CL 500, which was powered by a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine that was mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The C140 CL-Class was the first time that the ‘CL’ prefix had been used for the coupe models that were based on Mercedes-Benz’s W140 S-Class sedans.
M119 V8 engine
The 5.0-litre M119 E50 V8 engine had a cast-iron block, an aluminium cylinder head, forged connecting rods, chain-driven double overhead camshafts (per cylinder bank), four valves per cylinder, variable intake valve timing (two-stage) and a compression ratio of 10.0:1.
The CL 500 could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL 500 | 5.0-litre petrol V8 (M119) | 5sp auto | 235 kW at 5600 rpm | 470 Nm at 3900 rpm |
Dimensions and suspension
The Mercedes-Benz C140 CL 500 was 5065 mm long, 1912 mm wide, 1445 mm tall and had a 2945 mm long wheelbase; its tare mass was 2180 kg. Furthermore, the CL 500 had double wishbone front suspension and independent, multi-link rear suspension.
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Mercedes-Benz C140 CL-Class included dual front airbags, front side airbags, ABS and traction control.
For 1998, safety equipment was extended to include brake assist and airbags could be deactivated when a child seat was fitted (Mercedes-Benz’s ‘BabySmart’).
Features: Mercedes-Benz C140 CL 500
Standard features for the Mercedes-Benz CL 500 included 8.5J x 18-inch alloy wheels with 255/45 ZR18 tyres, a ten-disc CD changer, climate control air conditioning, power adjustable and heated front seats with memory settings, leather upholstery, cruise control, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, a height adjustable steering wheel, power sunroof, a trip computer, an alarm and immobiliser.
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