And now for something very different. Mercedes-Benz’ biggest, baddest, two-door coupe, the CL, has been refreshed for 2011, but the changes to the sheetmetal, headlights, and taillights are subtle enough to require a second-or possibly third-glance.

Bigger news for the New Year is twin-turbo-only power, in eight- and twelve-cylinder variations.

The base-if you can call a $110,000 car base-CL550 sports a new, twin-turbo, 429-horsepower 4.7-liter V8, with standard all-wheel drive, but without last year’s gas guzzler tax.

The hot-shoe, rear drive CL63 AMG sports a new 536-horsepower, 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8.

The CL600 and rarified CL65 AMG continue with twin-turbo V12s.

Inside, the CL is big-coupe beautiful, and all-day comfortable for four occupants. A raft of high-tech wizardry, including blind-spot monitoring, night vision, and anti-driver-doziness Attention Assist system are featured.

“From cutting edge technology to new engines that produce large horsepower numbers with incredible amounts of torque, with the new generation of the CL, Mercedes reinforces its claim as the ultimate in automotive refinement.” – Brian Roberts

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL is on sale now.

 

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"The Vue Two-Mode Hybrid proves that power and efficiency can coexist, and in a modern crossover you can have them both without skimping on any ability." – Ben Davis
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Specifications

  • twin-turbo 4.7-liter V8:
  • 429-horsepower:
  • Starting at $110,000: