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The Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 AMG Line Coupe is everything I hoped it would be, and some. It is a handsome beast for sure and in Obsidian Black metallic paintwork looks every inch the slippery stealth car you always promised yourself.
Paul Beard takes a spin in the Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 AMG Line Coupe
Walking up to the new CLS I couldn’t help but smile as I admired the curvy body and that purposeful front end with its wide air intakes that feed the ravenous twin turbo engine. OK so it’s not the all-conquering AMG 63 V8, but when you bury your right foot, the performance is absolutely linear and visceral. Some numbers for you: 2999cc, six cylinders, 367BHP and 500Nm of torque. No wonder the Mercedes CLS will get you from a standstill to sixty in 4.8 seconds and keeping shouting until you reach a limited 155 MPH.
Rather interestingly for a car weighing in at almost two tons and with that much power and torque, ‘Benz quote 36.2 MPG – my first generation Toyota Rav couldn’t do that, on a good day. I kept walking towards it and admired the beautiful star design alloy wheels and the low stance; upon reaching the object of my desire and opening the chunky door and I could take my first glance at the very stylish interior.
I slid into the driver’s seat and set myself up, all the while taking in the surroundings, especially the digital dashboard, here trimmed in black like the outside. I enjoyed the exquisite aluminium vents that illuminate and the aluminium knobs and switches that are a delight to operate and took in the expansive centre console bereft of gear lever. The only two things I didn’t like about this car were the fake wood door and dash inlays, that seem to spoil many a Mercedes cabin these days – surely some real wood would not be too much to ask for. I think I’d rather not have anything at all. I wasn’t too keen on the shape of the seats either – the bit you sit on is lovely, really comfortable and supportive too. However, the narrowing of the seat backs I found uncomfortable, which is a shame because I didn’t really feel settled.
Once on the move, and the CLS belies its size and weight feeling smooth, controlled and quite agile. Push on through a few sharp bends and you feel confident and composed with only a modicum of roll. The steering is terrific, well weighted and strong in feedback – here is a car that you can really ‘place’ on the road. The nine-speed auto gearbox is incredible, with seamless changes and responses matching my every input. I left it to swap cogs for me and just wafted along at the desired speed; then I let my fingers do the talking and changed up and down with the well-placed paddles. This is especially fun when you select Sport or Sport+ when the exhaust sound gets that bit more fruity and you just want to keep changing down to hear the wonderful symphony of sounds played through the auditorium that is the CLS.
All in all, I really loved this car and didn’t want to give the keys back at the end of my drive. Prices for the Mercedes CLS 450 AMG Line Coupe start at just over £57,000 which is a lot to part with, but you do get an awful lot for your hard earned cash.
Car reviewed: Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 4MATIC AMG Line Coupe - On the road £57630 0-62mph 4.8 secs Top speed 155mph Fuel Economy combined 36.2mpg CO2 emissions 184g/km Engine 2999cc 6-cylinder unleaded EU6.2 Max Power Engine 367PS@5500rpm Engine Torque 500Nm@1600rpm Transmission 9-speed automatic with manual mode
Confident and composed on the road
Excellent 9-speed auto
Reasonably economical
Expensive, but value for money
What the others say about the Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupe on YouTube...
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