german lisense plate and in Germany its called 500

It's still a "500" here in germany and europe!! Only the US model are named 550!!

Geneva Preview: 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL500 4MATIC (Four-Wheel-Drive)

As much as we like rear-wheel-drive models, if you happen to live in snow-flaked areas like Massachusetts, there comes a time when you just wish your car had an all-wheel-drive system. And while we’re in no position to buy a Mercedes, we’re pretty sure that a lot of people will be glad to hear that Mercedes is about to launch a four-wheel-drive version of its top notch coupe, the CL Class.

Available from this summer, the new CL 500 4MATIC gets Mercedes-Benz’ latest generation permanent all-wheel drive system that has already proven successful in the S-Class. According to the German carmaker, the newly-developed 4MATIC is the lightest drive system of its kind weighing in at just 70 kg or 154 lbs. -Continued

The combined NEDC fuel consumption of the CL 500 4MATIC is 12.1 litres per 100 kilometres or 19.5 US MPG, which puts it at the same level as the CL 500 with rear-wheel drive. The CL 500 4MATIC requires 5.4 seconds to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 MPH), and it reaches an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h or 155 MPH.

[Source: CarScoop]

Sorry guys, US model numbers are still imprinted in my head.

2009 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4MATIC

Winterproof luxury from Mercedes.

The talk of global warming notwithstanding, it has been a rough winter in many parts of the world. And one of the potential unpleasantries of the season is getting stuck in the snow with a new, $100K-plus luxury coupe—particularly with savvier neighbors zipping by in their all-wheel-drive Bentley Continental GTs.

Why all-wheel-drive sedans and coupes have not attained the success envisioned when many appeared in the 1980s, we don’t understand. Audi, with its Quattro system that gives its front-wheel-drive vehicles a dynamic improvement, has fared better than Mercedes and BMW, and their setups that spring from rear-drive roots.

Nevertheless, automakers have faithfully continued to refine the technology and streamline production for passenger cars. Mercedes introduced its AWD system—4MATIC—in 1987, and incorporated the technology with the model changeover to the W210 E-class. Initially, many 4MATIC cars were produced for Mercedes by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, before the work was brought in-house. Today, the cars roll off Mercedes’production lines, and cost has come way down.

Now, all-wheel drive is joining the CL luxury coupe lineup as well. The European version, badged as the CL500 4MATIC, will be unveiled at the 2008 Geneva auto show and hit dealerships in June.

North America gets the vehicle, to be called the CL550 4MATIC, in August. Both versions are powered by a 382-hp, 5.5-liter V-8.

Mercedes-Benz has managed to keep the all-wheel-drive CL’s fuel consumption identical to its rear-wheel-drive counterpart: 19 mpg in the European test cycle. There is a sacrifice in that you can't get 4MATIC in the more powerful CL600, CL63 AMG, or CL65 AMG versions. All of them remain rear-drive only, with traction and stability control systems working overtime year-round.

The rear-wheel-drive CL550 starts at $104,425 in the U.S. Expect a premium of about $3000 for the 4MATIC system.


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M

Yes indeed, and I'd love Mercedes and the AMG boffins put the 4 Matic system into the CL63 and CL65. But not sure whether the 4 matic system can handle the grunt of the AMG powerplants. I am also not certain if it'd fit in the CL65 as it still uses the old 5 speed gearbox.................................

It's already available for configuration:

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there may be a torque limitation to the 4matic. The 550 engine sits right on the 4matic's torque threshhold. Also, a problem is space. With the V12s, there may not be enough room at the front for the extra differential. A CL65 AMG-4matic would be a beast of an automobile, as the 65 desperately needs the extra level of control, but I am not sure 4-matic is the system to go. AMG may need to step in and come up with a proprietary system of its own. In the past, they have indicated that they have little reason in terms of customer demand to do so.

Press release

CL 4MATIC: Luxury CL 500 Coupé with all-wheel drive for first time -Even better traction on slippery surfaces -The latest-generation 4MATIC system From summer 2008, Mercedes-Benz will also be offering all-wheel drive for its luxury CL-Class coupé for the first time. The new CL 500 4MATIC offers even greater traction and handling stability in the wet, in snow or on ice. Mercedes-Benz is equipping the CL 500 4MATIC with the same latest-generation all-wheel drive system which is also proving its merit in the S-Class. 4MATIC is permanently active and therefore requires no response time to come to the driver's aid in unfavourable weather and driving conditions. As a result, critical situations can be mastered with greater ease.

The heart of the all-wheel drive system is a transfer case with a central differential, which has been integrated into the seven-speed automatic transmission. From here, the drive torque is split between the front and rear axle at a ratio of 45 to 55. Another new feature is the twin-plate clutch at the central differential. This produces a basic locking effect of around 50 Newton metres between the front and rear axle, which allows variable torque shift between the axles as the situation dictates and thereby achieves further significant improvements in traction and stability in the 4MATIC models.

Mercedes-Benz combines 4MATIC as standard with the Electronic Stability Program ESP® and the 4ETS traction system, which brakes spinning wheels as required, increasing the drive torque to the wheels with good grip. The automatic brake pulses which increase traction when pulling away on slippery surfaces and can improve active safety in critical situations are metered by the system on the basis of sensor signals.

This allows 4ETS to achieve the effect of conventional differential locks while offering more comfort than the technology found in other all-wheel drive cars. Weighing just 70 kilograms, the new permanent all-wheel drive system developed by Mercedes-Benz is the lightest drive system of its kind.

Extra-efficient all-wheel drive technology: no fuel penalty in 4MATIC model

Beneath the bonnet of the new CL 500 4MATIC is a cutting-edge eight-cylinder engine with an output of 285 kW/388 hp and 530 Newton metres of torque, which is on tap between 2800 and 4800 rpm. The combined fuel consumption on the NEDC driving cycle is 12.1 litres per 100 kilometres, which places it on a par with the rear-wheel drive version of the CL 500 - a further bonus of the new, highly efficient Mercedes all-wheel drive system. The CL 500 4MATIC requires just 5.4 seconds to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h, and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

The new 4MATIC model in the CL-Class range is characterised by the same high-quality safety and comfort features as the luxury coupé with rear-wheel drive, and additionally offers PASSION leather appointments, a ski bag, multicontour front seats and 18-inch nine-spoke light-alloy wheels. Other Mercedes innovations available as an option include the radar-based Brake Assist PLUS, the PRE-SAFE® brake and night view assist.

Mercedes CL500 With 4MATIC AWD
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This thing gonna be hot when it hits U.S. dealers.

M