2004 Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG (C219) 5.4L V8 Kompressor 5AT (476 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Many jaws were dropped when Mercedes-Benz went all-in and unveiled the production version of its gorgeous Vision CLS concept car at the 2004 New York Auto Show. Nearly identical to the concept, the production model was like no other three-pointed star vehicle before it, re-introducing a misinterpreted niche segment in the automotive world with its ‘four-door coupe’ design.

While the traditional definition of a coupe is a passenger car with two doors, not four, there was a time when things like two-door sedans and four-door coupes co-existed, and nobody batted an eye at their definition. When the CLS was launched, most people saw the ‘four-door coupe’ idiom as a gimmick, but only because of misinformation.

For example, the United States Society of Automotive Engineers publication does not specify the number of doors in its definition of a coupe, instead defining it as having a rear interior volume under 33 cu-ft (934 liters). On top of it, the CLS wasn’t even the first car to be marketed as such. That distinction has to be given to earlier models like the Mazda RX-8 and its tiny rear suicide doors or the original four-door coupe, the Rover P5 Coupe from the 1960s, which had four doors as both a sedan and a coupe.

Despite being mechanically almost identical to the E-Class W211 upon which it was based, the CLS had an entirely different look. The low, sweeping roofline and frameless doors gave it a presence never before seen on a production Mercedes, and it established a firm footing in the pantheon of beautiful cars that have ever emerged from Stuttgart.

In the first half of the 2000s, Mercedes-AMG was on a roll with its increasingly powerful supercharged V8s and twin-turbocharged V12s, so it’s only natural that the bold-looking CLS also received the magic AMG wand. Subsequently, the CLS received a 55 AMG version, making it an instant classic thanks to the blend of luxury and performance.

At the heart of the CLS 55 AMG was a supercharged, 5.4-liter V8 engine hand-built by AMG’s expert artisans. This beast of a powertrain pumped out 476 PS (469 HP) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque, launching the car from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in a mere 4.7 seconds. All that oomph was sent exclusively to the rear wheels through an AMG Speedshift 5-speed automatic transmission.

Other technical modifications compared to a non-AMG CLS included an upgraded adaptive air suspension and larger brake discs with eight-piston calipers taken straight from the SL 55 AMG. All these elements didn’t transform it into a track killer overnight, but they did make it a true Autobahn stormer in the same vein as other big AMG cars.

The elegance exuded by the exterior continued inside the car, with the four passengers engulfed by a sea of leather and other luxurious materials, especially on the AMG version. Sumptuous and comfortable but supportive seats kept everyone in their place during hard cornering or drifting sessions, while safety features like adaptive cruise control with automatic braking, electronic stability control, and multiple airbags were there to provide peace of mind with so much power on tap.