The CL Class is the flagship of the Mercedes-Benz car range. It continued to follow the same development cycle as the S-Class though riding on a shorter wheelbase and offered with only the higher-output powertrains. It was the first Mercedes to feature Active Body Control, Bi-Xenon headlights and, on the early V12 models such as this one, it employed Active Cylinder Control. This shut down one bank of cylinders under light engine loads enabling it to achieve better fuel economy than the V8 CL500. Not bad for a car with a six litre V12 developing 367bhp and yielding a Soyuz-launching 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds. It is as a Grand Tourer that this model is primarily designed for though. With more rear seat space than many executive saloons, a huge boot and a truly cosseting driving environment, the CL is one of the most soothing cars you could hope to take on a long trip. The performance is remarkable and the turbine-smooth V12 is, frankly, epic.
