Coupés have always been very special cars. Especially Mercedes coupés - the epitome of elegance and exclusivity in automobile design. In essence, they represent the ultimate in refinement. No other car brand has such a proud coupé tradition and no other car brand offers such a compelling and versatile coupé family as Mercedes-Benz.

The CLC is the new "youngster" in the Mercedes Coupé family. It shares some of the family's unmistakable features, yet retains its very own personality with its powerful proportions and striking rear end, which sets the tone with its youthful vitality and self-assured appearance.

The Mercedes designers have completely redesigned the front and rear so that the Sports Coupé embodies the contemporary Mercedes design idiom with its distinctive coupé radiator grille featuring a large Mercedes star in the centre, and the new projection-beam headlamps. The S-Class, the luxury CL-Class Coupé and the C-Class provided the stylistic models. The redesigned large tailgate conceals a variable boot with up to 1100 litres of luggage capacity.

The interior of the CLC is akin to a contemporary tailor-made suit - custom-fit and comfortable. Sports seats with better lateral support than ever, a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control and brushed aluminium trim elements form part of the standard specification. A choice of seat covers in black, alpaca grey and a particularly stylish combination of black and red are available to give the interior its individual colour scheme.

Mercedes-Benz has put together the sports package for drivers looking for sporting flair. It includes exclusive engineering innovations and equipment extras such as 18-inch light-alloy wheels, wide-base tyres, headlamps with black inner surrounds, sports suspension with lowered body, leather sports steering wheel and dark aluminium trim elements. Another special feature which the CLC inherits from its racing car counterparts is the instrument cluster with red needles for the speedometer and rev counter. Once the engine is switched on, these needles spin once around the dial before returning to their start positions.

The standard specification for the sports package includes a new direct-steer system, which further enhances the agile driving experience of the CLC while adding an important boost to safety. This new feature is based on the speed-sensitive power steering and also offers a variable rack ratio which changes as a function of the steering angle so that the driver only has to turn the wheel slightly when cornering; the Sports Coupé therefore responds far more spontaneously to steering commands and offers even sportier handling. As a result, the direct-steer system also improves handling safety in critical situations -- for instance when taking sudden evasive action -- as the field tests conducted by the Mercedes engineers demonstrate.

The new CLC is available with a choice of four four-cylinder and two six-cylinder engines developing outputs from 90 kW/122 hp to 200 kW/272 hp. The 135 kW/184 hp powerplant in the CLC 200 KOMPRESSOR now develops an extra 15 kW/20 hp while consuming just 7.8 to 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the NEDC cycle – the equivalent of up to 0.7 litres less than before. In consumption terms, with its advanced turbodiesel engines, the CLC falls into the five-litre category: the CLC 200 CDI returns a consumption of 5.8 to 6.1 litres per 100 kilometres in the NEDC cycle, up to 10.8 percent less than the outgoing model.

The Mercedes engineers have developed a new generation of infotainment units for the CLC, bringing luxury-class cutting-edge technology to the Sports Coupé as of September 2008. Three units are available, offering a superb combination of colour display, twin tuner, speed-sensitive volume control and Bluetooth mobile phone interface. An iPod, USB stick or other external audio devices can now also be connected to the infotainment system. A new universal media interface (optional extra) links these devices to the on-board electronics and the Sports Coupé's control system. The new Audio 50 APS and COMAND APS units come with a Europe-wide DVD or hard-disc navigation system. The LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system, which Mercedes-Benz has upgraded with a new whole-word recognition capability, is fitted as standard if the integrated six-disc DVD changer is specified.

Mercedes-Benz is about to make the CLS even more irresistible with the new-generation of the world's first four-door coupé set to be unveiled in spring 2008. Understated but masterly neatly sums up the result of the restyling programme for the CLS: at the front, it is the modified radiator grille that stands out, with two louvres now instead of the previous four. The diamond-shaped, three-dimensional grilles painted in atlas grey that cover the air intakes project an even greater air of self-assurance as well as adding further emphasis to the vehicle's width. The exterior mirrors have also been given a new look. The LED side indicator lamps that are built into them are arranged in the form of an arrow to produce a most eye-catching effect, especially in the dark. The mirror surface has furthermore been enlarged by 32 percent to afford a clearer view of the traffic behind and thereby boost active safety.

The CLS 280 is equipped with a new entry-level engine, a sophisticated V6 powerplant with a displacement of 2996 cc developing a peak output of 170 kW/231 hp and a maximum torque of 300 Newton metres. This propels the CLS 280 from standstill to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and gives it a top speed of 245 km/h. Combined fuel consumption in the NEDC cycle is 9.8 - 10.0 litres per 100 kilometres. The second V6 petrol model in the range is the CLS 350 CGI. Its advanced six-cylinder engine with piezoelectric direct injection and a spray-guided combustion system develops an output of 215 kW/292 hp and has a convincingly low NEDC fuel consumption of 9.1 to 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

From summer 2008, Mercedes-Benz will also be offering all-wheel drive for its luxury CL-Class coupé for the first time. The new CL 500 4MATIC is equipped with a 285-kW/388-hp V8 engine, and in addition to 4MATIC it features innovations such as the Intelligent Light System and the anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE® as standard. 4MATIC is permanently active and therefore requires no response time to come to the driver's aid in unfavourable weather and driving conditions. As a result, critical situations can be mastered more effectively and confidently.

Weighing just 70 kilograms, the new permanent all-wheel-drive system developed by Mercedes-Benz is the lightest drive system of its kind. It splits the drive torque between the front and rear axle at a ratio of 45 to 55. A twin-plate clutch at the central differential produces a basic locking effect of around 50 Newton metres between the front and rear axle, which allows variable torque shift between the axles as the situation dictates and thereby achieves further significant improvements in traction and stability in the 4MATIC models.

Mercedes-Benz combines 4MATIC as standard with the Electronic Stability Program ESP® and the 4ETS traction system, which brakes spinning wheels as required, increasing the drive torque to the wheels with good grip. This allows 4ETS to achieve the effect of conventional differential locks while offering more comfort than the technology found in other all-wheel-drive cars.

The new CL 500 4MATIC develops an output of 285 kW/388 hp and a maximum torque of 530 Nm between 2800 and 4800 rpm. The combined fuel consumption in the NEDC cycle is 12.1 litres per 100 kilometres - a further bonus of the new, highly efficient Mercedes all-wheel-drive system.