The next generation Mercedes-Benz CLK, currently “in works”, will be a lot more ostentatious, displaying a dynamic look with angular lines, refining the visual language of the new C-Class sedan. Official launch is expected for 2009, sales beginning later.

2009 Mercedes CLK-Class

Specifications
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  • Model: 2009 Mercedes CLK-Class
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With components from both C-Class and E-Class (to save costs), the 2009 CLK will compete with Audi A5, BMW 3-series, and Lexus SC.

The “nice guy” attitude of the current Mercedes-Benz mid-size coupe will be completely dropped, as the next-gen CLK will want to play with the “bad boys”. In order to do that it will feature an all-new design line, with angular strokes and aggressive accents. The four front lights layout will be kept, but this time they will no longer be round. In addition to that, the fog lights will use LEDs as most of the new vehicles will.

The rest of the body will borrow the aggressive wheel arches and body creases from the C-Class, but will have them refined in an elegant manner, proper for a coupe.

The aggressive esthetics will be backed by an all revised engine range. An important novelty will be the entry level 2.2 liters diesel that will offer a highly advanced depollution system and will provide a respectable power output of up to 204 bhp. As for the gasoline engines, they will feature direct fuel injection to improve efficaciousness. All engines will be available with the optional 4Matic, all wheel drive system. Hybrid versions are also expected to be developed later.

The 2009 CLK line-up is expected to be: CLK350 powered by a 272 hp V6, CLK500 powered by a V8 engine with an output of 388 hp. Later on, there will also be a CLK63 AMG powered by a 6.2 liter V8 engien with an output of 503 hp. A hybrid version may also be available.

The new CLK will be available on showrooms starting the summer 2009, and will feature technologies like: Presafe II, night vision, Command II, and the Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control system.

The computer generated images show you an envision of the next Mercedes Benz CLK based on available information and future tendencies in the design of the German brand.

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History

The CLK is a class of medium sized luxury vehicles build by Mercedes-Benz starting 1996. The CLK comes in two versions: coupe or convertible. It is based on the E-Class Coupe of 1994 and 1995.

First generation CLK - W208 (1996-2002)

Mercedes first unveil the CLK-Class in 1996. It was Mercedes first model on the mid-sized coupe market and was the first competitor for the BMW 3-Series Coupe.

Less expensive than the sporty SL-Class convertibles, the first generation CLK cabriolet was the most successful convertible Mercedes-Benz ever offered; 41,520 were sold in the United States from 1999 to 2003, and more than 115,000 were sold throughout the world. Models offered in the first generation were the CLK230 Kompressor, CLK320, CLK430, and the CLK55 AMG. All were available in both coupe and convertible form.

The CLK320 coupe was introduced in the 1998 model year, powered by a 3.2 L V6 engine. The CLK320 cabriolet and the 4.3 L V8-powered CLK430 coupe appeared in 1999. A CLK430 cabriolet joined the lineup in 2000. The high-performance CLK55 AMG coupé was introduced in 2001, powered by a 5.4 L V8. The CLK55 AMG cabriolet became available in 2002, the last year of this body style.

Second generation CLK - W209 (2003-)

The Mercedes-Benz W209 has been unveiled in 2003. They are sold under the CLK-Class model names. The W209 is based on the W203 C-Class. It replaced the C208 CLK-Class after 2004 which were the first car to carry the CLK moniker.

The W209 is available in two body styles, a coupe and a cabriolet, and with three engines available, a V6 (CLK320 in ’04, CLK350 thereafter), V8 (CLK500), and supercharged V8 (CLK55). The cabriolet (Designated with an A, as in CLK500A) features a fully automatic retractable soft top covered by a metal tonneau that can be raised and lowered from outside the vehicle using the key fob.

In 2004 The CLK Convertible was also unveiled in 2004. "Just like its predecessor, the new CLK Cabriolet is the result of a proven partnership between Mercedes-Benz and cabriolet specialist Karmann, whom we commissioned to produce this captivating car. This move involved major investment in the site at Osnabrück, Germany, the aim being to adapt the manufacturing facilities in line with the principles of the new Mercedes Production System – a set-up that is geared towards ensuring flexible, demand-oriented production control.

The tangible effects of this concept include even higher quality and even greater efficiency. On the technical side also, the new CLK Cabriolet represents major progress in virtually every respect. In body construction, for example, we have made significant advances with regard to torsional stiffness. And, for the production of the boot lid, we are for the first time using a high-grade plastic that enables us to integrate the aerials out of sight. This material therefore plays an important role in helping to create the divine look of the new CLK Cabriolet."

At introduction, it was available with a 3.2 liter engine, a 5.0 liter engine, and a 5.5 liter engine. The 2004 CLK was the last Mercedes Benz automobile to use the venerable D2B (Digital Data Bus) optical fiber media system introduced a decade earlier. The most obvious problem with this system was the clearly obsolete CD-ROM based navigation system.

The 2005 update included a new 3.5 liter 6 cylinder and the MOST (Media Oriented Serial Transport) media system used in the rest of the Mercedes Benz line, bringing along a significantly upgrade DVD based navigation system and iPod integration as optional features. The 2006 included an improved 3.5 liter 6 cylinder engine and added the steering wheel shift paddles from the AMG model to the CLK500.

Mercedes SE Coupe

The "Fintail" (German: Heckflosse) was a series of luxury cars produced by Mercedes-Benz from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s under the W111 chassis code. Though never officially designated as such, the cars gained the nickname because of the distinctive rear-end which incorporates small tailfins, thought to be an understated attempt to appeal to the United States market at the time (with their outrageously finned cars, such as the Cadillacs and Buicks of the times). The Fintail is considered part of the lineage of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship model, particularly the initial 6-cylinder W111 and more luxurious W112 models

Launched as a fuel-injected, 120bhp 220SE in 1961, the coupé was based on the new mid-range W111 saloons, though Paul Bracq's styling was happily bereft of the saloon's clumsy fins.

For 1962 the 220 Coupé was joined by the air-suspended, fully disc-braked, power-steered 300SE Coupé. It was all change again for 1965, when the 250 replaced the 220 range: from this point on the two-door cars took their technical lead from the new W108 S-Class saloons that replaced the upper-range fintails that year. The 250 Coupé was almost as quick as the 300, and it also shared the bigger cars' disc brakes.

But the final, and best, W111 coupé derivative was undoubtedly the 1969 V8, confusingly badged 280SE 3.5. Conceived to appease American buyers weaned on lazy, high-torque V8s, this single-cam per bank electronically injected engine gave a full-blooded 200bhp at 5,800rpm in "dirty" European tune, good for 125mph on the Autobahn with 60 in the sub 10 second bracket. The V8s were smoother, more refined cars than their six-cylinder ancestors and looked more contemporary with squatter front grilles and rubber inserts in those trademark double-decker bumpers which are now so famously expensive to replace.

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Competitors



BMW 3-Series

The new BMW 3 Series Coupe arrived in the U.S. with a choice of two six-cylinder engines including the world’s first inline six with twin turbos, high precision fuel injection, and an all-aluminum crankcase. It is the most powerful engine within BMW’s wide range of inline six driving machines that does not wear an “M” badge. This brand-new version develops maximum output of 300 hp in US-spec from 3.0 liters and generates peak torque of 300 lb-ft for powerful acceleration in any situation.

Despite its close technical ties with the 3 Series Saloon and Touring variants, designers set out with the goal of differentiating the two-door model more than its predecessors. From the front, side and rear, the car is clearly related to other 3 Series models but has its own, classically elongated, shape. Adopting BMW’s typical Coupé proportions of long wheelbase, short overhangs, long bonnet, cabin set to the rear and a low, sleek roofline, the new 3 Series Coupé has an elegant profile.

The all-new Coupé bodyshell clothes the twin-turbo 3.0-litre engine in the new BMW 335i SE that develops 306hp and 295 lbs-ft of torque between 1,300 - 5,000rpm. With such performance statistics, the 335i forms the pinnacle of the new 3 Series range.

The 335i SE Coupé accelerates from zero to 62mph in 5.5 seconds, and, if left unchecked, would travel on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. This level of performance is made possible by two turbochargers, each supplying compressed air to three cylinders each. The use of two smaller units ensures that the turbochargers react more quickly to changes in the throttle position all the way to the 7,000rpm red line while also eliminating the previous scourge of turbocharged engines – ‘turbo lag’.

Audi A5

Audi is launching a fascinating new model series for its entry into a highly emotionally charged segment of the market: the A5 successfully unites the acclaimed Audi design language and thrilling dynamic driving performance, and combines generous refinement with the brand’s characteristic quality and sophistication. Its progressive design gives the new coupé an appearance that is both elegant and dynamic. With its muscular FSI and TDI engines, its entirely newly developed high-precision running gear, and a raft of innovative, luxury-class equipment features, the Audi A5 has been crafted to be a modern grand tourer, a touring coupé in the best tradition.

With a length of 4.63 m, the Audi A5 clearly belongs to a superior class of coupé. Four comfortable seats and a load volume of 455 litres make this car a comfortable long-distance tourer. The dynamic performance is supplied by FSI and TDI engines with rated power ranging from 125 to 195 kW (170 to 265 bhp). All engines share highly eco-friendly and efficient characteristics.

The engines’ power can be transmitted by either front-wheel drive or quattro four-wheel drive and a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The running gear developed for the A5 is entirely new and combines agile handling with the utmost driving safety.

The top-of-the-range petrol engine in the Audi A5 is a new 3.2-litre FSI with innovative valve gear comprising the Audi valvelift system. This innovation varies the valve lift between two levels. To achieve this, sets of sliding cams are mounted directly on the intake camshafts. These feature two sets of adjacent cam contours for small and large valve lift. Which cam is used to open the intake valves depends on the power demand at any one time.

The effect is an appreciable increase in engine efficiency. The driver benefits from greater power and improved driveability, while enjoying a marked reduction in fuel consumption. At the wheel of an Audi A5 3.2 FSI there is a whole 195 kW (265 bhp) of power output available and a superb torque of 330 Nm in a broad rev band of 3,000 to 5,000 rpm, ensuring blistering acceleration at all times. Within 6.1 seconds the 3.2 FSI quattro with manual six-speed gearbox sprints from 0 to 100 km/h. The top speed is limited to 250 km/h. Despite this thrilling performance potential the car’s fuel consumption is only 8.7 litres per 100 kilometers (3.2 FSI multitronic).

The all-new high-tech four-cylinder unit in the Audi A5 also does full justice to Audi’s reputation for leading engine technology. The 1.8 TFSI, delivering 125 kW (170 bhp), will be available from autumn 2007. It combines turbocharger technology with petrol direct injection and provides a burst of acceleration and pulling power unrivalled in its class from virtually every rev band. Just as it did with its TDI engines, Audi has accomplished a pioneering feat of engineering with its turbocharged petrol units, taking spark-ignition engines to a new dimension in fuel consumption and driveability.