Looks like a bit of a beast. Is this another warp-enabled starship from AMG?

Yep. This is Mercedes’ big CL-class coupe fitted with AMG’s ballistic 6.0-litre V12 bi-turbo engine and a bunch of go-faster, look-smarter goodies.

It’s also the flagship model in the AMG range, which makes it the quickest and costliest Mercedes this side of the SLR.

And speaking of the McLaren-badged wunder-Merc, the SLR has just 14bhp more than the CL65 and is only 0.6sec quicker to 60mph. The CL undercuts the SLR by over £150,000 too. Interesting…

That’s massive performance then. But is it usable? Does it need wheelie bars?

Well, 612bhp is an ungentlemanly amount of power. Therefore the Merc’s ESP and traction control systems act like a platoon of border guards between the marauding engine and the quivering rear wheels.

Credit to the AMG and Mercedes engineers though; the ESP and traction control systems work well. The car is insanely fast in a straight line and combined with a nicely resolved Active Body Control system handles its ungodly girth (2240kg) with a surprising amount of finesse.

You’re not trying to convince us that this is a proper driver’s car, are you?

Never. It’s too heavy, the steering is dead and no amount of electronic trickery can compensate for genuine feel.

However, the CL65 is the closest you’ll get to Lear Jet levels of cross-country pace without needing an aircraft licence. It simply chews fast A-roads and motorways and spits you out at the other end feeling fresh and comfortable.

It is a cruiser of the highest calibre; the seats cradle you softly while heating (or cooling) your botty, the radar-enabled Distronic Plus cruise control works brilliantly at maintaining speed and distance and the overall interior ambience is cutting-edge hi-fi slick. Only the embarrassingly tacky IWC-design analogue clock lets the cabin down.



A surprisingly likeable car then, despite its visual arrogance and earth-chomping engine?

Yes. The CL65 is a beguiling mix of unhinged hooliganism and private members club chic - but it’s not all roses. A car of this price, pace and engineering excellence is never going to disappoint the rational side of the brain – but if you want soul with your pace and engineering excellence, look elsewhere.

The CL65 leaves you cold. It impresses rather than seduces, and even if you’ve just embarrassed a 911 Turbo owner, crossed a continent in less than a day or let the car drive for you for over 200 miles, you find it hard to fall for it.

The CL65 is another one of those mighty achievements from Mercedes, but it lacks a Bentley’s heart or indeed an Aston Martin’s beauty.

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M

famn those are som fine ass pics

can anyone explain how the Bentley Conti GT has more "heart". German engineered, using german parts. Just because the interior styling is more traditional it gives the car "heart", personally i don't agree with it. i would like to hear from you guys what actually gives the Bentley "heart".

Well Monster, it is a British review ...so they are probably being partly patriotic ..but I do have some sympathy with their point of view.

I love Mercedes-Benzes ...and I do think they are generally superior to both Bentley and Aston but, anyone who has ever driven around in a Merc and then stepped into a Bentley can tell you that there is just a different aesthetic ambiance about it -- it is much like getting into a Ferrari after being in a Porsche. Even the Continental GT has this mysterious aura (even if it is less than the Arnage) the Bentley makes you feel good ...makes you feel special.

Well it might have more heart, but you notice they went to Aston-Martin for the beauty part! No way that giant VW looks as good as the CL, but the DB9 well I withdraw the argument.

I've always understood this heart and soul thing to be the way a Bentley crushes the road with its heft, somewhat the opposite of what they used to say about how a Rolls "wafts" down the road. I understand these things, but it is hard to put it into words.

This heart or character argument has also been used when talking about Bentleys in order to hide their many flaws from the pre-German ownership years. It was a lot of BS then, IMO.

Now in relation to these German designed Bentleys I would say that heart or character is partly interior, the way it is crafted, the way it makes you feel, the way it smells, the texture of the leather compared to the pure-breed German cars. Or they could still be talking about the massive heft of the Continental GT which is still heavier than a CL65.

Just my guesses.

M

Wow Rob we had the same thoughts and posted at the same time!!

M

Some BS mystical element that British used to (and still do) crap on about to justify the exorbitant pricing of their substandard engineering. Sad that so many of us now actually believe it.

I think it had got to do with the interior, like what Rob and Merc1 said. It is far more bespoke and handmade than the CL's interior will ever be, it's not mass produced in a factory. From the factory in Crewe to the craftmanship, the Bentley just has a more personal touch on the inside. Can't say the same for the CL.

Well I don't think it is all BS. Obviously there is something different about a car like an Arnage, but on the other hand it is an antique next to a S-Class or A8. Then again it has it all over those cars in sheer presense so the argument sways back and forth.

I do agree though that back during the Vickers era when Rolls and Bentley were together the use of the word "character" was to cover up sub-par everything. Now that the Germans are designing Bentleys and Rollers that isn't so, but they do have a certain charm that the German cars with their cold efficiency can't match. Ditto for Italian cars vs. German cars.

Oh and you have to be careful when saying that certain cars from a certain place in the world do or don't have different and/or outstanding qualities because I know plenty Japanese car fans that don't buy the superiority argument about German performance, i.e. things like BMW's superior handling/balance or Mercedes' superior high-speed stability, though we know those things are there.

M

Yeah that is it. Bespoke, sense of occasion, etc. etc. All of which I tend to believe after getting a chance to sit in a Bentley recently. Fortunately I'm used to how a Mercedes "feels" now.

M