2002 Mercedes-Benz CL 500 5AT RWD (306 HP)

Vehicle Overview

After three years on the market, the CL lineup from the German premium automaker Mercedes-Benz went through a facelift that improved it in more areas.

By 2002 standards, the refreshed version of the CL was more than people could ever dream of having in their cars. Features such as fiber-optics sound systems, bi-Xenon headlights, and adaptive suspensions were things only envisioned on some concept cars from that era. And yet, the three-pointed-star brand brought them on the market and offered them to the public, for a hefty fee, of course.

With its quad-headlights front fascia and the three-slat grille, the CL was both an elegant and sporty vehicle. Depending on the version, the lower apron featured a smile-shaped center air intake flanked by two side scoops or an angry-looking one for the version fitted with the AMG package. From its profile, the CL was sleek, with a raked windshield and a short roof. The arched window line ran uninterrupted between the front and rear pillars of the greenhouse. Moreover, the C-pillar was retractable and lowered together with the rear side windows. By European standards, this was a faux-cabriolet vehicle, while other nations called it a hard-top. At the back, the revised taillights featured two clear horizontal lines for the reversing lights on each side.

Inside, the carmaker offered a leather-wrapped interior fitted as standard for the entire range and a new COMMAND infotainment unit placed on the center stack. The same sound system was available on the S-Class and the E-Class from the same era. But, unlike its siblings, the CL was offered an unusual option: a start-engine button mounted on the gear knob.

Under the hood, the carmaker installed a choice of two engines: a 5.0-liter V8 and a 6.0-liter V12, both being shared with the brand’s flagship, the S-Class. The only available transmission was the five-speed (5G-Tronic) gearbox that sent the power to the rear wheels. A CL55-AMG was also available.