2008 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG Preview

Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG Preview – 2007 New York Auto Show: Anniversary celebrations are frequently expensive, which makes the debut of the pricey 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG four decades to the year after Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher founded a small firm dedicated to the engineering, construction and testing of racing engines that much more fitting. The company, AMG, is now the performance division of Mercedes-Benz, and the new CL65 AMG coupe sits at the top of the German automaker’s range of tweaked and tuned luxury rockets.

Why it Matters

Since acquiring AMG in 1999, Mercedes has taken great strides to offer massaged versions of each of its products and over the years AMG has become world-renowned for its uncanny ability to extract maximum power, agility, and comfort out of cars wearing the three-pointed star. Now, with the introduction of the CL65 AMG, there are 16 different models to choose from including a limited-production version of this car that celebrates 40 years of building world-class machinery. Appropriately, only 40 of these special models will be produced wearing AMG Alubeam, a unique paint finish previously reserved for Mercedes show cars.

What’s Under the Hood

A 6.0-liter bi-turbo V-12 sits under the shapely CL65 AMG’s hood, making an impressive 612 horsepower between 4,800 and 5,100 rpm and an astonishing 737 lb.-ft. of torque between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm. Mercedes says acceleration to 60 mph takes less than 4.5 seconds, the rear wheels receiving power through a 5-speed AMG Sportshift transmission with paddle shifters. Other hardware upgrades include an AMG sport suspension with Active Body Control and a performance braking system with brake assist and Pre-Safe technologies.

What it Looks Like

To distinguish the CL65 AMG’s appearance, the car wears titanium gray 20-inch double-spoke wheels with 255/35 front and 275/35 rear performance tires. The usual AMG body kit with larger air intakes, side skirts, and a rear diffuser is accented by chrome-ringed fog lights, a unique grille, darkened headlight lenses, and twin chrome exhaust outlets.

What’s Inside

A car with the CL65 AMG’s performance needs to have seats that are up to the task of holding occupants in place, so special sport-bolstered, multi-contour, massaging chairs upholstered with unique diamond-pattern Passion Nappa leather are installed. There’s also an AMG sports steering wheel, AMG gauges, AMG badges, and a Racetimer that lets the driver monitor lap times – just in case the car ever actually sees a track instead of a yacht club parking lot. Poplar wood and brushed stainless steel complete the CL65 AMG’s décor treatment.

What We Think

Mercedes-Benz says in its press release on the CL65 AMG: “Another dream car has joined the AMG model range in the form of the new CL65 AMG.” Another dream car? For any enthusiast with a pulse, this is officially THE dream car.

Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz