| The Mercedes-Benz_CLK has had its world premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 1997. His big brother, the coup of the production line_140, had also been introduced there five years earlier. The European premiere took place two months later at the Geneva Automobile Salon like it has always been traditionally with the coups of the S=class. And the precursors of the CLK, the coups of the construction line_124, had also known their unveiling there exactly ten years before this event, in March 1987.
The Geneva Salon plays still another important part in the CLK's history. Mercedes-Benz had provoked quite some excitement in March 1993 with a coup study that was reportedly to set new signs in the unity in design of model series. For the first time a completely new interpretation of the Mercedes' bold `face' has been shown which was characterised by two pairs of elliptic headlights, more strongly moulded wings as well as a slender radiator grille. The characteristic four-eyes-theme influenced the design of the E_class construction line_210 and of the CLK_coups on a large scale, especially enhanced by the extremely positive reactions of the visiting public at and after the Geneva Salon. Altogether the stylistic design of the CLK editions are largely oriented at the coup study shown in 1993.
At first, the CLK coup has been developed at Daimler-Benz as an entirely independent model family, a fact which is expressed in the series' designation C208. Technically seen the CLK is based in many regards on the C class saloons. Especially their floor assembly and units have been borrowed. The individuality of the CLK, however, is clearly visible in numerous deviations from the detail accomplishment and last but not least in the fundamentally different body design.
The new model family of the coups, placed on the market in June 1997, at the same time as the C=class saloons and the T=class saloons, both rich in models, are offered in different lines of design and equipment, just as the models of the C- and E=class. The offer comprises the versions ,Sport" and ,Elegance" with some differences in external details: the ,Elegance" model line has chrome trims surrounding the side windows and slender chrome mouldings at the door handles as well as light-alloy wheels in five-spoke design. The ,Sport" variant reinforces the dynamic impression of the CLK coups by putting aside with the named ornamental elements and being equipped with forged light-alloy wheels in seven-spoke design.
An especially rich batch equipment is common to both the versions, comprising among others the acceleration skid control (ASR), an exterior temperature indicator, a leather covered steering wheel, remote boot release and heat-absorbing glazing. The new ,Easy-Entry-System", which moves the front seats automatically forward, facilitates boarding and exiting for the rear passengers considerably. The two rear seats are individual for extra comfort, while the backrests fold in shares of 1/3_:_2/3 to allow for easy through-loading from the spacious boot which then becomes even more capacious.
Furthermore the advanced CLK models have some advanced technological innovations improving safety features, comfort just as well as economy. Important components are above all the driving authorisation system ELCODE accomplishing theft protection and comfort operated by an electronic door- and ignition key. Moreover, there is the electronic ,Brake Assist" (BAS) which enhances the ABS by significantly reducing stopping distances in an emergency. The system senses emergency braking and immediately applies automatically the maximum braking power in a matter of milliseconds. Both systems, the ELCODE and the BAS, are constituents of a high-performance data-network that enables a rapid and reliable communication between the control elements in the engine-compartment and the passenger's cabin. Daimler-Benz is the first producer world-wide to link local partial nets via a data-interface and to create like this a comprehensive digital network.
Another novelty, the Active Service System ASSYST, improves the economy of the car particularly by constantly analysed the oil quality in the engine. The on-board computer assesses how the car is actually being used and then establishes when the next service or oil change is needed matching like this exactly the engine's needs. It thus keeps the trips to the service bay to an average of every 18.500_km - 20.000_km instead of constantly every 15.000_km.
Concerning the passive security the CLK fulfils already all the requirements in crash-tests in force from 1998 on within the European Union as well as the future US American regulations. When developing the new model line a lot of stress has been put on the protection of the partner and compatibility. The front-end structure of the CLK is designed in a manner that in case of a frontal impact with another passenger car it absorbs even some of the impact energy of the opposing car - a detail especially important, or even life-saving, for the passengers of smaller cars. To provide a maximum of passenger protection not only airbags for driver and front seat passenger are standard on the CLK, but also the sidebags in the doors, the seat-belt tighten system and the seat belt load limit-system are fitted on the CLK as standard.
In Germany there are three engine versions of the CLK available: as CLK_200 with a four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine with a performance of 100_kW (136_hp) and familiar also in the C=class and E=class owners. Second, as CLK_230_Kompressor with the supercharged four-cylinder 2.3-litre engine and the peak-power of 142_kW (193_hp), also known from the C=class. Third, as CLK_320 with the smooth and refined new V6 engine and the tremendous performance of 160_kW (224_hp). It has been introduced at the same time in the new E=class. The CLK_200_Kompressor is exported exclusively to Italy, Portugal and Greece where it is offered instead of the 2.3=litres version for fiscal reasons.
The CLK coups are built in the works in Bremen, just as the SLK and the SL; like this the second largest passenger-car producing assembly plant of Daimler-Benz manufactures yet another extremely successful model for which unpleasant delivery delays are unfortunately inevitable although all available production capacities were made use of after the sales had started particularly positive.
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