***2007 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Premiers in M?hldorf***

[cawimmer430]

The new Mercedes-Benz CL and GL-Classes premiered in M?hldorf about a week ago. I went up to the dealership to check the event out. I'd already checked out the GL-Class. A nice SUV overall. Pretty massive and huge but thankfully available in GL320 CDI form.

Here, I also saw my second and third real-life CL-Classes - and I like what I see. You really have to see the car in person to appreciate the design.

My Impressions

Exterior:

Compared to the old C215 CL-Class, the new C216 looks visually smaller, but at the same time, it appears roomier on the inside. The fender flares are just like on the S-Class: you're not really bothered by them. At the same time, they add a nice muscular stance to the car. In the pictures, the car might appear bloated, but it's rather sleek and classy-looking, not fat at all. Like I said earlier, it appears visually smaller than the old CL. Just like the S-Class, I feel that this new CL makes the old model appear "boring". And that's saying a lot since I always considered the old C215 CL to be one of the most gorgeous cars out there.


Interior:

The cockpit is actually quite nice. I've warmed up to the W221 S-Class and now the C216 CL-Class dashboard design. Best of all, the materials are really good. The leather felt and looked lightyears ahead of the stuff you see in some current MB's. Also, the wood that decorated parts of the interior made a very high-quality impression on me. Sitting inside the car, I noticed that the layout is pretty sweet. Everything is within reach and the center console ins't as busy as in the old CL. The leather seats also felt plush and comfortable, like they should in a car of this class.

Overall:

A very nice car, given the positive initial impressions. I'm working on getting a testdrive with the car, as I'd really like to find out for myself how this baby drives. I expect it to be a fusion between comfort and sport - just like the W221 S-Class was when I drove it.


Enjoy the pics!




















Due to the Distronic feature, the star upfront on this CL is plastic.  :P



CL # 2












Some GL-Class pictures. A GL320 CDI and GL420 CDI.

[nickdrinkwater]

Nice pics    I'm still undecided about the looks of the new CL.

I saw a GL Class a couple of weeks ago.  It's massive! 

[cawimmer430]

Nice pics    I'm still undecided about the looks of the new CL. Wait until you see it in real life. 

I saw a GL Class a couple of weeks ago.  It's massive!  Massive indeed. Won't be as popular as the ML, but thankfully it comes with a diesel engine option. The GL320 CDI will be by far the most popular GL.

...

[TheIntrepid]

Is this an old thread? I remember Wimmer posting a sighting of the CL and GLs have been around Canada for a few months now.

[Submariner]

Is this an old thread? I remember Wimmer posting a sighting of the CL and GLs have been around Canada for a few months now.

No, these are new pictures.

[cawimmer430]

Is this an old thread? I remember Wimmer posting a sighting of the CL and GLs have been around Canada for a few months now.

CREATED TODAY 

I saw the new CL before though in my town square. And I posted some GL pictures before. But these pics are all new. 

[BMWDave]

Nice pictures, Wimmer.   I think the CL looks better in darker colors, though I will wait to pass judgement until I see one in real life.

[ifcar]

Is it just me, or does the car look much smaller than the previous generation in this picture:

[cawimmer430]

Nice pictures, Wimmer.   I think the CL looks better in darker colors, though I will wait to pass judgement until I see one in real life.

I think the regular CL in silver looks ok, but the AMG version in silver looks hot (from the pics). You're right, darker colors seem to suit this CL more. 

[cawimmer430]

Is it just me, or does the car look much smaller than the previous generation in this picture:

Like I said. Visually, the new CL seems smaller than the outgoing model- but feels more spacious on the inside. 

[thewizard16]

I really like the looks of the new CL. Very attractive. I've seen several GLs around town, and they just look like bloated M-classes to me.

[IrishGuy]

I love the looks of that. I'm not sure about that interior though...

[pommes-t]

I really, really like.

But somehow the old one looks nicer to me. But this was one of the sweetest cars EVER!!! 

[Maksx]

im sort of undecided on the looks  :P

[CaseyNPham]

I like it. It's a nice change.

[SVT_Power]

Cheap plastic star? Talk about going downward with cheap plastic pieces 

[omicron]

I think I'll definitely have to wait until I see it in person. I didn't much like the W221, but that is starting to grow on me, so maybe the same thing will happen with this new CL.



That is still fugly, though.

[cawimmer430]

I really like the looks of the new CL. Very attractive. I've seen several GLs around town, and they just look like bloated M-classes to me.

To me, the GL doesn't look anywhere near the M-Class (except on the interior), but they're massive cars. I'm just glad that it also comes with more engine choices. When offering a car like this in Europe, you have to make sure it's got engine choices to suit a large audience. 

[cawimmer430]

Cheap plastic star? Talk about going downward with cheap plastic pieces 

The grille on our current E320 is PLASTIC. A lot of luxury cars employ chrome-imitating plastic these days. You'll probably only find real chrome on the grille of a Bentley or Rolls Royce these days.

[cawimmer430]

That is still fugly, though.

What are you talking about!?