2000 Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG (C215) 5.4L V8 5AT RWD (360 HP)

Vehicle Overview

As graceful and refined as the Mercedes-Benz CL (C215) coupe was, engineers from AMG just couldn’t resist transforming it into a V8-powered brute in a tailored suit when given the go-ahead. With that in mind, the first-ever Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG wasn’t exactly a horsepower monster like other big AMGs before or after it.

The model was launched right at the turn of the millennium, meaning that AMG had been under Mercedes-Benz control for just a year. This fact meant that the CL 55 AMG version was more of an afterthought, and AMG engineers didn’t have time to prepare a more powerful powertrain for the luxury GT. The non-AMG versions of the CL itself had been developed with efficiency rather than performance in mind in the first place.

That said, a tried-and-true V8 had already been modified by AMG, so they chose to use it for the first CL 55 AMG. In translation, the sportiest pre-facelift CL (C215) was fitted with a hand-built, naturally aspirated, 5.4-liter V8 that delivered 360 PS (355 HP) and 530 Nm (391 lb-ft) of torque. While those numbers aren’t impressive by modern standards, they were enough to propel the 2-ton (4,400 pounds) luxury cruiser from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in an adequate 5.2 seconds.

That acceleration time may not seem like much, but consider the context: The CL 600, powered by a more powerful V12, did the same feat in 6.1 seconds. All the power was sent exclusively to the rear wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission modified by AMG engineers for quicker shifting.

With a design that featured only three valves per cylinder (two for the intake and one for the exhaust), the internally codenamed M113 V8 was designed to be more efficient than its predecessor. This is probably why AMG had difficulty tuning it for more power until they resorted to a supercharger in later years, including on the facelifted CL 55 AMG (C215).

Despite the low output, Mercedes decided to bring the first CL 55 AMG to Formula 1 as the official safety car. There was even a limited-edition version of the model. Only 55 units of the CL 55 AMG F1 Edition were manufactured as a tribute to the modified Safety Car version used in F1 during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Oddly enough, this special edition was the first road car to feature full ceramic disc brakes.

Compared to a standard CL, other performance modifications consisted of a modified Airmatic air suspension, stiffer anti-roll bars and an oversized braking system. Remember that the CL 55 AMG F1 Edition was the only one with ceramics.

Design-wise, you could spot a CL 55 AMG from a regular CL courtesy of the more aggressive stance and subtle body kit modifications. The front end featured the then-traditional A-shaped front bumper for better cooling, the side received a set of more aerodynamic side skirts, while the rear featured a modified bumper that housed two exhaust tips, one on each side. Overall, the AMG bodywork made it look more dynamic. However, the model still maintained the elegance that defined this generation of the CL-Class.