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April 3, 2008 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mercedes-benz_clk-class_2003

  Jim McCraw
EditorJim McCraw

Related Articles:
2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 (4/4/2003)
Comfortably sexy. 

PALMA, Majorca — Mercedes-Benz made its reputation with cars that had no tops or folding tops, and it has just reintroduced another, its popular four-seater CLK Cabriolet, the bulk of which will be sold in the sunny parts of the United States, the company’s largest single market.

The CLK Cabriolet, built for Mercedes-Benz by the German specialist firm Karmann in Osnabruck, Germany, starts out as most of a CLK hardtop coupe and goes from there. The automatic convertible top deploys in just a few seconds, folding up as the steel top cover rises, then lowers automatically and locks in place when the top is stowed. Unlike any previous C- or E-Class convertibles, the new CLK has rear seat head restraints integrated into the top’s steel cover panel, and beautifully designed and crafted nacelles trailing away from the head restraints for a very sporty look when the top is stashed.

When the top is up, the CLK Cabriolet interior is nearly as quiet as the hardtop coupes, even at speeds as high as 100 mph, due to the extensive padding in the top itself and the tight-fitting seals between the window edges and the top. With the top down, the windows up, and the conversation panel snapped in place atop the rear seats, normal conversation is possible at speeds in excess of 80 mph. There isn’t a trace of wind buffeting at speed, and the sun visors can be swung out sideways as well as up and down for top-down motoring early or late in the day when the sun can be a navigation hazard.

The seats too are sportier in design than those in the hardtop version, with hefty, form-fitting side bolsters on all four seats, and inserts that had can ordered in both solid and two-tone combinations. During the course of our first drive, we saw some very tasty color combinations including a special designo (Mercedes-Benz’s in-house custom design firm) version with black paint, a wood steering wheel, black seats, tan seat inserts and tan stitching. Dealers can arrange designo versions from a large palette of interior materials and colors when the car is ordered. Either way, you get your seatbelts handed to you by an automatic mechanism built into the body, and because it has a convertible top, the car comes with a special seat-mounted head-and-thorax airbag system for the front positions that the coupe doesn’t have.

Firm data

Mercedes engineers told us that, since the coupe and the Cabriolet were developed at the same time, provisions were made in the design for structural rigidity, which in this car is substantial, so that Karmann would have to add weight and complexity to the car in the conversion process.  Over choppy pavement, sleeping policemen and railroad crossings, there is only the tiniest bit of cowl shake and floorboard vibration and shake. In cruise mode over good pavement, it’s like a steel ingot on four tires.

For the U.S. market, there will be three versions, the CLK320 with the 3.2-liter V-6 engine, the CLK500 with the new 5.0-liter V-8 engine, and for those who have a constant need for speed, the CLK55 AMG high-performance version with 369 horsepower and enough torque to alter the course of a small planet. All versions are automatic-only, with the five-speed auto in the CLK55 AMG version fitted with three transmission modes and shifting paddles behind the steering wheel spokes.

There will be three top colors, ash, black and blue, different grilles and alloy wheel designs for each model in the U.S. range, but other than that, the specification is about the same from the V-6 up, which is to say very complete. Standard equipment includes all of the Mercedes-Benz safety systems: ABS traction control, ESP, Brake Assist, TeleAid, eight airbags, a Bose eight-speake sound system, leather, burled walnut trim, antitheft alarm, automatic climate control, a autodim mirror, and a mini spare. The option list includes Parktronic sonar warning, Distronic radar cruise control, a six-disc CD changer and Bose sound system, multicontour and active seats, an electronic trunk closer, Keyless Go, and a special appearance package: 17-inch wheels, high-performance tires, patterned chrome and aluminum accents, and metallic interior trim

The CLK55 AMG gets bigger tires and wheels, bigger brakes and the special transmission to go along with the extra power and torque, and its has its own set of electronic calibrations for such chassis systems as ABS, traction control and ESP to make it even more fun to drive. For instance, in full-throttle cornering, if the rear end starts to slide out, the ESP waits a couple of heartbeats before intervening, where the ESP system on the V-6 and V-8 intervene instantly to keep the car on its intended path. If you like a topless car that will also accelerate so fast it’ll pull your hair out by its roots, this is the one for you, with torque everywhere and enough power to get from 0 to 60 mph in about five seconds flat.

About the only downside to this new convertible design is one shared by all modern convertibles: you don’t get much trunk storage space by the time the top has been accommodated, Mercedes-Benz engineers told us that about 50 liters of capacity would be MIA compared to the hardtop coupe,

Prices in the U.S. will range from about $50,000 for the V-6 to about $58,000 for the 5.0-liter V-8 up to about $76,000 for the CLK 55 AMG with its hot 5.5-liter engine. Mercedes-Benz officials told us that there will be about 10,000 CLKs imported each year for the next several years, 50 percent V-6s, 40 percent V-8s and 10 percent AMGs. At launch, there will be about 850 Launch Edition models with Nappa leather, exclusive wood trim and a special equipment package. By late summer, the cars will be coming off the boats, along with a complete line of special CLK Cabriolet accessories from child seats to composite wheels.

2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet
Base prices: $50,000-$75,000 (est.)
Engine: 3.2-liter V-6, 215 hp; 5.0-liter V-8, 302 hp; 5.5-liter V-8, 369 hp
Drivetrain: Five-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Length x width x height (inches): 182.6 x 68.5 x 55.6
Wheelbase: 106.9 in
Curb weight: 3800 lb (est. V-6)
EPA City/Hwy: N/A
Safety equipment: Front vented disc brakes with four-wheel anti-lock control, dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, center three-point safety belt
Major standard equipment: Dual-zone high-airflow HVAC system, 22-character message driver information display, OnStar communication/navigation system
Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles

 

Related Articles:2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 (4/4/2003)Comfortably sexy.  PALMA, Majorca — Mercedes-Benz made its reputation with cars that had no tops or folding tops, and it has just reintroduced another, its popular four-seater CLK Cabriolet, the bulk of which will be sold in the sunny parts of the United States, the company’s largest single market. The CLK Cabriolet, built for Mercedes-Benz by the German specialist firm Karmann in Osnabruck, Germany, starts out as most of a CLK hardtop coupe and goes from there. The automatic convertible top deploys in just a few seconds, folding up as the steel top cover rises, then lowers automatically and locks in place when the top is stowed. Unlike any previous C- or E-Class convertibles, the new CLK has rear seat head restraints integrated into the top’s steel cover panel, and beautifully designed and crafted nacelles trailing away from the head restraints for a very sporty look when the top is stashed. When the top is up, the CLK Cabriolet interior is nearly as quiet as the hardtop coupes, even at speeds as high as 100 mph, due to the extensive padding in the top itself and the tight-fitting seals between the window edges and the top. With the top down, the windows up, and the conversation panel snapped in place atop the rear seats, normal conversation is possible at speeds in excess of 80 mph. There isn’t a trace of wind buffeting at speed, and the sun visors can be swung out sideways as well as up and down for top-down motoring early or late in the day when the sun can be a navigation hazard. The seats too are sportier in design than those in the hardtop version, with hefty, form-fitting side bolsters on all four seats, and inserts that had can ordered in both solid and two-tone combinations. During the course of our first drive, we saw some very tasty color combinations including a special designo (Mercedes-Benz’s in-house custom design firm) version with black paint, a wood steering wheel, black seats, tan seat inserts and tan stitching. Dealers can arrange designo versions from a large palette of interior materials and colors when the car is ordered. Either way, you get your seatbelts handed to you by an automatic mechanism built into the body, and because it has a convertible top, the car comes with a special seat-mounted head-and-thorax airbag system for the front positions that the coupe doesn’t have. Firm data Mercedes engineers told us that, since the coupe and the Cabriolet were developed at the same time, provisions were made in the design for structural rigidity, which in this car is substantial, so that Karmann would have to add weight and complexity to the car in the conversion process.  Over choppy pavement, sleeping policemen and railroad crossings, there is only the tiniest bit of cowl shake and floorboard vibration and shake. In cruise mode over good pavement, it’s like a steel ingot on four tires. For the U.S. market, there will be three versions, the CLK320 with the 3.2-liter V-6 engine, the CLK500 with the new 5.0-liter V-8 engine, and for those who have a constant need for speed, the CLK55 AMG high-performance version with 369 horsepower and enough torque to alter the course of a small planet. All versions are automatic-only, with the five-speed auto in the CLK55 AMG version fitted with three transmission modes and shifting paddles behind the steering wheel spokes. There will be three top colors, ash, black and blue, different grilles and alloy wheel designs for each model in the U.S. range, but other than that, the specification is about the same from the V-6 up, which is to say very complete. Standard equipment includes all of the Mercedes-Benz safety systems: ABS traction control, ESP, Brake Assist, TeleAid, eight airbags, a Bose eight-speake sound system, leather, burled walnut trim, antitheft alarm, automatic climate control, a autodim mirror, and a mini spare. The option list includes Parktronic sonar warning, Distronic radar cruise control, a six-disc CD changer and Bose sound system, multicontour and active seats, an electronic trunk closer, Keyless Go, and a special appearance package: 17-inch wheels, high-performance tires, patterned chrome and aluminum accents, and metallic interior trim The CLK55 AMG gets bigger tires and wheels, bigger brakes and the special transmission to go along with the extra power and torque, and its has its own set of electronic calibrations for such chassis systems as ABS, traction control and ESP to make it even more fun to drive. For instance, in full-throttle cornering, if the rear end starts to slide out, the ESP waits a couple of heartbeats before intervening, where the ESP system on the V-6 and V-8 intervene instantly to keep the car on its intended path. If you like a topless car that will also accelerate so fast it’ll pull your hair out by its roots, this is the one for you, with torque everywhere and enough power to get from 0 to 60 mph in about five seconds flat. About the only downside to this new convertible design is one shared by all modern convertibles: you don’t get much trunk storage space by the time the top has been accommodated, Mercedes-Benz engineers told us that about 50 liters of capacity would be MIA compared to the hardtop coupe, Prices in the U.S. will range from about $50,000 for the V-6 to about $58,000 for the 5.0-liter V-8 up to about $76,000 for the CLK 55 AMG with its hot 5.5-liter engine. Mercedes-Benz officials told us that there will be about 10,000 CLKs imported each year for the next several years, 50 percent V-6s, 40 percent V-8s and 10 percent AMGs. At launch, there will be about 850 Launch Edition models with Nappa leather, exclusive wood trim and a special equipment package. By late summer, the cars will be coming off the boats, along with a complete line of special CLK Cabriolet accessories from child seats to composite wheels. 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet Base prices: $50,000-$75,000 (est.)Engine: 3.2-liter V-6, 215 hp; 5.0-liter V-8, 302 hp; 5.5-liter V-8, 369 hpDrivetrain: Five-speed automatic, rear-wheel driveLength x width x height (inches): 182.6 x 68.5 x 55.6Wheelbase: 106.9 inCurb weight: 3800 lb (est. V-6)EPA City/Hwy: N/ASafety equipment: Front vented disc brakes with four-wheel anti-lock control, dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, center three-point safety beltMajor standard equipment: Dual-zone high-airflow HVAC system, 22-character message driver information display, OnStar communication/navigation systemWarranty: Four years/50,000 miles   Related Articles: 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 (4/4/2003) Comfortably sexy. PALMA, Majorca — Mercedes-Benz made its reputation with cars that had no tops or folding tops, and it has just reintroduced another, its popular four-seater CLK Cabriolet , the bulk of which ...