Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG 2003 Review

There's something about the visual presentation of the Mercedes-Benz CL55 that doesn't quite sit right with us. Sure, when viewed side on its long, tapered profile and pillarless perfection can definitely be called sleek and rakish. But the front-end, with those four small headlights, just doesn't gel. Looks a little Honda Integra if you must know, though that little comparison has probably sent Mercedes-Benz afficionados into shock, repeatedly clenching and unclenching their fists while uttering obscenities in my general direction.

Whatever you think about the Mercedes-Benz CL -- designed by Australian Peter Arcadipane -- there's no argument about the view from the captain's chair. Or the responsibility of controlling a $373,000 car with 368kW of supercharged V8 adrenaline. One stomp on the fly-by-wire throttle and you, like me, will be utterly hooked, addicted to the sound, to the feel, to the ferocity of this finely oiled AMG uber-machine.

Forget for a moment that it costs more than most will spend on real estate and immerse yourself in the experience. Size yourself up in the electrically adjustable chair, and lower the steering wheel just so. Thumb the starter button, mounted joystick-like atop the five-speed automatic gear selector, and listen attentively as the 5.5-litre, force-fed V8 burbles into life.

It's likely that the deep, rumbling baritone will become as irritating to you as we found it tooling about at respectable speeds. Highway cruising is effortless in a coupe with more torque than a V10 Viper, but wearying on the ears and unbelievably frustrating on the driver. All this performance potential throbbing away just beneath your right foot... and so many police.

Still, find a quiet, twisty back road practically devoid of traffic -- something similar to the high altitude roads that criss cross the NSW ski fields -- and let the Benz go ballistic. We might or might not have done this, but wouldn't be so stupid as to admit to it in print. Never.

Attack that back road and revel in the intimacy of its chassis, coaxing and caressing your every input to wring maximum attack from every corner.

Depress the Active Body Control button to stiffen the springing resistance and adjust the dampers to significantly reduce tilt, pitch and roll in corners. It's slight, but you'll also feel a touch more immediacy surrounding the tiller as you carve gracefully through combination bends.

The sound of the forced induction V8 grows like a gathering storm as the revs build, timed to compliment the incredible acceleration as the CL literally tears up the road. Pound the throttle or the brakes and you'll hear the light ting-tinging as bitumen is forcefully pulled from its resting place by the 18in tyres and thrown against the CL's underbody.

There are few cars that can reward so heartily and yet keep everything in complete control. Overstep any of the bounds with the CL and there's a veritable supercomputer of safety devices waiting to tidy things up. Kudos to Mercedes-Benz that the later generations of safety gadgets are at the same time more effective and less intrusive than earlier versions.

There's little the CL55 AMG wants for on the safety or equipment front, and it's far too long for us to list here. Think of a Holden Statesman or Caprice as a good starting point, and add features like electronic stability control, brake assist, twice the number of airbags and passive safety systems; a veritable gluttony of occupant comforts and more.

Take the front seats for example -- and you will want to. Heated and ventilated, they electronically adjust for rake, height, reach and tilt. Drive around a corner and the active side bolsters pump up on the correct side to minimise body slip. Press the right button and the lumbar support will self inflate and deflate, massaging up and down your poor overstressed back.

In a car costing $372,000 it's not always easy to see the benefits. Look closely at the door glass -- double glazed to maximise sound deadening and to minimise the effect the outside world has on interior temperatures. Look even closer at the clever way the massive doors are double-hinged, both to minimise effort and to reduce opening width. Rain sensing wipers and automatic headlights are really only the start of the benefits enjoyed by those who can forgo a house to buy this car.

Comparisons too, in this rarefied price range, are next to meaningless. Ferraris and Porsches may have the absolute performance edge, but fall short of the CL's ability to eat the miles so efficiently and so comfortably. For our money -- we wish! -- the CL has more performance, more poise and more hardcore passion than we could ever find a use for. But we'd still like to try!