Mercedes Benz CLC-Class Coupe
I am proud to announce that the Mercedes Benz family has a new addition the new CLC-Class Coupe. Being the youngest member means it is bottom on the pecking order so takes its place as the entry-level model amongst the Mercedes Benz Coupe family.
Do not let that deter you, for the CLC shares many of its siblings characteristics at a faction of the price as well as its own such as a new direct-steer system for even more agile cornering, state-of-the-art infotainment systems featuring Europe-wide DVD or hard-disc navigation, as well as an uprated four-cylinder engine that now develops 184 hp. Fuel consumption has been improved by up to 12.2 percent compared with the outgoing model.
Four trims are available, SE, Sport, SE Panorama or top of the range Sport Panorama that happened to be my test car. This gave me a Panoramic glass sunroof, folding door mirrors, rain sensing wipers, sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, automatically dimming rear view mirror and driver’s door mirror all as standard. I am deliberately going to leave the price tag until the end because I nearly fell off my chair when I read it!
You have to admit, Mercedes really do know how to make gorgeous looking coupes and the CLC is no exception. The front and rear have been redesigned boasting a distinctive coupe radiator grille, with the large Mercedes star in the centre, new lights clusters, lovely sweeping lines rising up to the rear and certainly gives off great street cred. Emphasising this further are 18-inch alloy wheels, the optional privacy glass, chrome inserts to the bumpers and rub strips plus body coloured door handles and door mirrors that are electrically adjustable, heated and folding. Giving a hint of the power this CLC boasts is a steel exhaust tailpipe.
Inside the CLC is the luxury you would expect from Mercedes Benz coupled with a host of equipment aiding and abetting the driver. Settling into the manually adjustable Sports seats my test car came with the optional leather upholstery that includes heated front seats. The leather trimmed multi functional sports steering wheel is manually adjustable and home to not just the audio controls but also the gearshift paddles mated to the five speed automatic transmission with Tipfunction and Speedtronic cruise control. This was in fact another optional extra at £1,050 as was the integrated six CD changer with MP3 computability and media interface that allows the connection and controls of portable media devices in addition to the telephone pre-wiring with hands free facility. The automatic climate controls are standard, as are the rain sensing wipers, Parktronic and electric windows.
Despite being a three door coupe, accessing the rear seats is easy thanks to Easy-Entry function whereby simply lift the tab and the front seats move forward to let the children in. The CLC comes with an automatic child seat recognition sensor that works in conjunction with Mercedes Benz child seats fitted with a transponder. There is surprisingly more space in the rear than you might expect and of course with the privacy glass the childrens antics will certainly not distract other drivers.
Herby lies a slight problem that I am finding with the privacy glass now that it is dark so early. Because the glass is tinted, at nighttimes it is quite hard to see clearly out of the rear especially when coming out of a parking space. Then on the motorways I had problems with other cars distances because of the auto dimming rear view mirror made worse with the auto dimming door mirrors. Yes it is great not to be blinded by the headlights, but these auto-dimming devices make other cars headlights much smaller and of course less bright. As a result it appears the cars are further away then they actually are so take more time to be totally sure you have space to overtake from cars coming up behind you. This is not just a Mercedes Benz fault but also other manufactures that have these fitted. Personally I do not like them and prefer the good old-fashioned manual dimming function but hey, this is technology for you.
Showing off the CLC’s practical nature are numerous storage solutions dotted around the cabin including a 12 volt socket in the centre console and a useful luggage net in front passenger footwell. The rear seats are split folding but with a staggering 1100 litres of luggage space with the rear seats in tact, most bulky loads will be accommodated for already. Shop to you drop in this CLC and indeed you can for I will tell you now, the CLC top of the range Sport Panorama costs only £24,785. This is unbelievable value for money.
It gets better. For this 2148 cc four cylinder common rail high pressure fuel injection turbocharger engine will save you valuable pounds at the pumps achieving 42.8 mpg on a combined cycle if mated to the five speed automatic gearbox my test car came with. Performance is by no means hindered as the CLC propels from 0-62 mph in only 9.4 seconds with a top speed of 134mph. It does not end there for CO2 emissions are a smashingly respectable 166g/km but you may get stuffed up on the 15 insurance groups.
Well you cannot have it all.
It is only when you have had a period of abstinence from driving a Mercedes Benz that when you drive one again it feels like you have just come home. The CLC may be the baby of the family but it inherits its coupe family’s ride and handling with a superb sports suspension system that has been lowered by 15mm at the front and 5mm at the rear ensuring an excellent ride and handling. With rack and pinion power steering, you will be driving from one shopping centre to another and parking right at the front for this car is effortless in the manoeuvring department. Out on the open road, the steering tightens up ensuring you stay on the tarmac and not in the nearest ditch.
Just in case, comfort is at hand by an impressive barking system that consists of hydraulic dual circuit brakes with brake booster, ABS, Brake Assist and ESP that incorporates Acceleration Skid Control.
If banking is still the order of the day, the CLC Sport Panorama comes with driver and passenger dual stage airbags, front side airbags and window airbags. Further protection for the back seat passengers are rear height adjustable head restraints, ISOFIX mountings and two three point seatbelts with pre tensioners and load limiters as are the front occupants ones but height adjustable as well. Securing the CLC is an alarm with immobiliser plus remote central locking with interior switch and crash sensors.
£24,785 for a Mercedes Coupe. The CLC has been born with affordability without compromise.
Jackie Violet – Female FirstI am proud to announce that the Mercedes Benz family has a new addition the new CLC-Class Coupe. Being the youngest member means it is bottom on the pecking order so takes its place as the entry-level model amongst the Mercedes Benz Coupe family.
Do not let that deter you, for the CLC shares many of its siblings characteristics at a faction of the price as well as its own such as a new direct-steer system for even more agile cornering, state-of-the-art infotainment systems featuring Europe-wide DVD or hard-disc navigation, as well as an uprated four-cylinder engine that now develops 184 hp. Fuel consumption has been improved by up to 12.2 percent compared with the outgoing model.
Four trims are available, SE, Sport, SE Panorama or top of the range Sport Panorama that happened to be my test car. This gave me a Panoramic glass sunroof, folding door mirrors, rain sensing wipers, sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, automatically dimming rear view mirror and driver’s door mirror all as standard. I am deliberately going to leave the price tag until the end because I nearly fell off my chair when I read it!
You have to admit, Mercedes really do know how to make gorgeous looking coupes and the CLC is no exception. The front and rear have been redesigned boasting a distinctive coupe radiator grille, with the large Mercedes star in the centre, new lights clusters, lovely sweeping lines rising up to the rear and certainly gives off great street cred. Emphasising this further are 18-inch alloy wheels, the optional privacy glass, chrome inserts to the bumpers and rub strips plus body coloured door handles and door mirrors that are electrically adjustable, heated and folding. Giving a hint of the power this CLC boasts is a steel exhaust tailpipe.
Inside the CLC is the luxury you would expect from Mercedes Benz coupled with a host of equipment aiding and abetting the driver. Settling into the manually adjustable Sports seats my test car came with the optional leather upholstery that includes heated front seats. The leather trimmed multi functional sports steering wheel is manually adjustable and home to not just the audio controls but also the gearshift paddles mated to the five speed automatic transmission with Tipfunction and Speedtronic cruise control. This was in fact another optional extra at £1,050 as was the integrated six CD changer with MP3 computability and media interface that allows the connection and controls of portable media devices in addition to the telephone pre-wiring with hands free facility. The automatic climate controls are standard, as are the rain sensing wipers, Parktronic and electric windows.
Despite being a three door coupe, accessing the rear seats is easy thanks to Easy-Entry function whereby simply lift the tab and the front seats move forward to let the children in. The CLC comes with an automatic child seat recognition sensor that works in conjunction with Mercedes Benz child seats fitted with a transponder. There is surprisingly more space in the rear than you might expect and of course with the privacy glass the childrens antics will certainly not distract other drivers.
Herby lies a slight problem that I am finding with the privacy glass now that it is dark so early. Because the glass is tinted, at nighttimes it is quite hard to see clearly out of the rear especially when coming out of a parking space. Then on the motorways I had problems with other cars distances because of the auto dimming rear view mirror made worse with the auto dimming door mirrors. Yes it is great not to be blinded by the headlights, but these auto-dimming devices make other cars headlights much smaller and of course less bright. As a result it appears the cars are further away then they actually are so take more time to be totally sure you have space to overtake from cars coming up behind you. This is not just a Mercedes Benz fault but also other manufactures that have these fitted. Personally I do not like them and prefer the good old-fashioned manual dimming function but hey, this is technology for you.
Showing off the CLC’s practical nature are numerous storage solutions dotted around the cabin including a 12 volt socket in the centre console and a useful luggage net in front passenger footwell. The rear seats are split folding but with a staggering 1100 litres of luggage space with the rear seats in tact, most bulky loads will be accommodated for already. Shop to you drop in this CLC and indeed you can for I will tell you now, the CLC top of the range Sport Panorama costs only £24,785. This is unbelievable value for money.
It gets better. For this 2148 cc four cylinder common rail high pressure fuel injection turbocharger engine will save you valuable pounds at the pumps achieving 42.8 mpg on a combined cycle if mated to the five speed automatic gearbox my test car came with. Performance is by no means hindered as the CLC propels from 0-62 mph in only 9.4 seconds with a top speed of 134mph. It does not end there for CO2 emissions are a smashingly respectable 166g/km but you may get stuffed up on the 15 insurance groups.