New Car Review of the 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK Mid-Size Coupe and Convertible.
Description: Mid-Size Luxury Coupe and Convertible
Base MSRP Range: $44,350 - $79,500
Invoice Price Range: $41,246 - $73,935
Two cool two-door coupes of mid-size dimensions appear in the 2004 line from Mercedes-Benz, as do three pop-top convertible variations.
Designs promote a dynamic pillar-less format with twin-headlamp face borrowed from the E320 sedan. Every angle exaggerates the aerodynamic fluidity of motion: Grille tilts back further than on the E sedan, the hood slopes more seriously and windshield cants to the extreme to achieve a low line on the arching roof.
Coupe issues include the CLK320 containing the 3.2-liter Mercedes V6 for 215 hp and CLK500 with the 5.0-liter V8 rated at 302 hp. Prime convertible edition is the CLK320 Cabriolet toting the 3.2-liter V6 and rolling on seven-spoke alloy wheels measuring 16 inches tall. Upgrading to a V8 engine leads to the CLK500 Cabriolet with the 5.0-liter V8 and 17-inch thin-spoke alloy wheels. The CLK55 AMG Cabriolet goes further with its 5.5-liter supercharged V8 by AMG, even bigger wheels plus heavy-duty brakes and shifter paddles set behind steering wheel spokes for hands-on transmission control.
These prime convertibles from an automaker renowned for designing elegant topless cars seat four in luxury. A cloth soft top, in multiple layers draped over an aluminum frame, quickly tucks beneath a metal bonnet by motorized means. With the top down, CLK convertibles look slick and aggressive as the bonnet shows nacelle blisters trailing behind rear seatbacks like ones once worn by vintage race cars. Also posed behind rear seatbacks are loop-like roll bars that can pop up instantly if on-board motion sensors detect potential roll-over movement. The convertible conversion is controlled by a one-touch switch mounted on the console, but it also operates remotely from a button on the key fob.
High-tech Mercedes equipment may be added optionally, such as Keyless Go, Distronic adaptive cruise control, Parktronic distance sensors, bi-xenon HID headlamps and a DVD-based navigation system.
