CL-Class

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Video and Technical Highlights

Words John Clark | July 07, 2010
Video and Technical Highlights of the Most Luxurious Coupe on the Market, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
Words John Clark July 07, 2010

For decades now, the great coupés from Mercedes-Benz have represented motoring refinement of the highest level. Exceptional design, craftsmanship and pioneering technology flow together, blending into a style-generating unity. The history of the great two-door cars bearing the three-pointed star goes back to the large supercharged cars of the 1920s and ’30s. The new CL-Class generation continues in this great unbroken tradition of automotive masterworks.

With targeted design modifications such as the new, more strongly pointed radiator grille, the new front bumper with integrated LED strips for the daytime running lamps and the standard bi-xenon headlamps, the Mercedes developers cultivated the poise and dynamism expressed in the design language of the two-door car in a contemporary manner.

 

 

Driver assistance systems
Intelligent Light System: This innovative headlamp technology provides five lighting functions which are activated depending on the driving and weather conditions. Standard***
Cornering lights: This light function provides heightened safety at junctions and when driving slowly in tight bends (a component of the Intelligent Light System). Standard***
Active Light System: the Intelligent Light System’s bi-xenon headlamps follow the driver’s steering movements (a component of the Intelligent Light System). Standard***
Motorway mode: from 90 km/h the entire width of the carriageway is illuminated, improving the driver’s range of vision by around 50 metres (a component of the Intelligent Light System). Standard
Enhanced foglamps: This function pivots the offside headlamp outwards to illuminate the road verge more effectively (a component of the Intelligent Light System). Standard***
Country mode: this function replaces the previous low-beam headlamps and provides broader and brighter illumination of the opposite road verge (a component of the Intelligent Light System). Standard***
Adaptive Highbeam Assist: this system switches between high beam and low beam and adjusts the range of the headlamps in accordance with the distance to oncoming vehicles/vehicles travelling ahead. Standard
Night View Assist Plus: the display in the dashboard shows a realistic grey-scale image from an infrared camera that monitors the road ahead of the CL-Class. Any pedestrians detected are additionally highlighted in the display. Optional
Active Lane Keeping Assist: a camera behind the windscreen recognises continuous carriageway markings and gives a warning if the car unintentionally leaves its lane. If the driver fails to react, the system intervenes via ESP®, braking one or more wheels if the vehicle crosses a continuous lane marking line, in order to prevent it straying from the lane. Optional as part of the Driving Assistance package PLUS
Active Blind Spot Assist: this radar-based system warns the driver before a lane-change if it detects another vehicle in the exterior mirror’s blind spot. If the driver fails to react to the warning, ESP® triggers a targeted braking intervention in order to counteract the course which would lead to a collision with the vehicle at the side. Optional as part of the Driving Assistance package PLUS***
Brake Assist PLUS: this system uses radar sensors to recognise an impending rear-end collision, calculates the necessary degree of braking assistance and makes it available immediately when the driver depresses the brake pedal. Optional as part of the Driving Assistance package PLUS***
DISTRONIC PLUS: this radar-based proximity control system automatically helps the driver to maintain a set distance from the vehicle ahead. It can brake the CL-Class to a standstill if necessary, then accelerate again. If the distance to the vehicle ahead decreases too quickly, the system gives the driver visual and audible warnings. Optional as part of the Driving Assistance package PLUS
PRE-SAFE® Brake: if there is imminent danger of a rear-end collision, this system brakes the CL-Class automatically if the driver fails to react and the collision is unavoidable. Optional as part of the Driving Assistance package PLUS
PRE-SAFE®: if the system recognises a critical driving situation, it takes precautionary measures to protect the occupants. It can e.g. initiate tensioning of the front seat belts, or closing of the side windows and sliding sunroof. Standard
Chassis, steering and brakes:
Active Body Control (ABC): active suspension system that adapts the springs to the current driving situation within fractions of a second and is able to largely compensate for the effects of crosswinds. Standard**
AIRMATIC: the air suspension works together with an electronically controlled damping system. Standard for CL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY
ADAPTIVE BRAKE: this Mercedes brake system offers assistance functions, such as a HOLD function and Hill Start Assist, for even greater safety and comfort. Standard
Torque Vectoring Brake: by specifically braking the rear wheels, ESP® ensures more safety at the physical limits without any loss of agility. Standard
Direct-Steer: a variable steering rack ratio depending on the steering angle allows more agile handling and provides more comfort when parking and manoeuvring at slow speed. Standard
DIRECT SELECT: the 7-speed automatic transmission (CL 500 BlueEFFICENCY and CL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY) and the 5-speed automatic transmission (CL 600) are operated electronically via a lever on the steering column. Standard
BlueEFFICIENCY measures:
ECO start/stop function: In order to reduce fuel consumption, in the eight-cylinder models the engine is switched off automatically as soon as the vehicle is motionless and the driver depresses the brake pedal. The engine restarts automatically when the driver removes his foot from the brake pedal, or depresses the accelerator pedal. Standard for CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY and CL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY***
Recuperation: if the driver removes his foot from the accelerator pedal or applies the brakes in overrun mode, kinetic energy is recovered and fed to the battery. Standard for CL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY and CL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY
Comfort:
Memory package: three memory settings are stored for both the driver’s and the front passenger seat. The settings for the steering wheel and exterior mirrors are also stored. Standard
Active multicontour seats: depending on the steering angle, lateral acceleration and speed, the inflation pressure and volume of the air chambers in the side bolsters of the seat backrests are varied to give the driver and front passenger even better lateral support. The seats also have a massage function. Optional (standard for CL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY and CL 600)
Ambient lighting: when driving at night, optical fibres behind the trim on the dashboard and door panels provide a pleasant lighting atmosphere in the interior. The driver can choose between lighting moods “solar”, “polar” and “neutral” Optional (standard in the CL 600)
PARKTRONIC including Parking Guidance: ultrasonic sensors measure the length of parking spaces as the car drives past; instructions for safe parking appear in the display. Standard
Reversing camera: the area behind the CL-Class is shown in the COMAND display, and coloured directional lines show a precisely calculated path into a parking space and display the required space. Optional
Audio and communication:
Bluetooth interface: the mobile phone is wirelessly linked to the hands-free system. Standard
COMAND: control and display system that integrates the audio unit, DVD player and telephone operation. Standard
COMAND APS: the navigation data are stored on a hard disc. Further functions include the MUSIC REGISTER and voice control. Optional (standard in the CL 600)
Gracenote®: database that recognises music tracks on a CD/DVD or from the MUSIC REGISTER and shows the title, album and artist on the colour display. Standard
Convenience telephony: the driver and passengers are able to conduct onboard telephone conferences by mobile phone, and send or receive SMS messages. The phone is housed in a cradle under the armrest. Optional (standard in the CL 600)
Media Interface: this universal interface allows portable audio devices to be connected to and controlled by the infotainment system of the CL-Class. Optional as part of the Navigation package (standard for CL 600)
Music Search: search function that searches SD memory cards, USB sticks, CDs and DVDs for specific music tracks and performers. Standard
Digital radio: a special DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) tuner and additional aerials allow the reception of digital radio broadcasts. Optional as part of the Front Seat Entertainment package
SPLITVIEW: the driver and front passenger are able to view different content on one and the same screen at the same time. Optional as part of the Front Seat Entertainment package (standard for CL 600) ***
Harman Kardon® Logic 7® surround sound system: a multi-channel system with innovative digital technology, an output of 610 watts and 14 loudspeakers provides surround-sound for every seat. Optional as part of the Front Seat Entertainment package (standard for CL 600)
Speed Limit Assist: a camera fitted behind the windscreen detects speed limit signs on the roadside. The relevant limit is then displayed in navigation system map display and in the instrument cluster. Optional as part of the Navigation package (standard for CL 600) ***
LINGUATRONIC: the voice control system operates the radio, CD/DVD-player, CD/DVD-changer, navigation system and telephone. Optional as part of the Navigation package (standard for CL 600)
MUSIC REGISTER with a 7.2 GB hard disc which stores around 2500 digital music files in the MP3, AAC or WMA format. These can be loaded from PC memory cards. Optional as part of the Navigation package (standard for CL 600)

*Selection

** Not for CL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY
*** Not available in all countries