EDMUNDS.COM 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55 AMG
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 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
It''s like a less expensive four-seat SL55. The high-performance CLK55 offers a desirable blend of performance and comfort for the well-to-do enthusiast with a day job and a family.
Pros
Thrilling performance, sleek styling, solid chassis, composed ride, comfortable front seats, fast power top operation in Cabriolet form.
Cons
High price, some subpar plastic trim, no standard CD player, a few hard-to-use controls.
What''s New for 2004
After its late arrival last year, the CLK55 enters the ''04 model year unchanged.
Overview
Introduction:
AMG. Those three letters are as revered by auto enthusiasts as ERA or RBI are by baseball fanatics. But what do they stand for and what are they doing affixed to various Mercedes-Benz vehicles?The first two letters stand for the names of the founders: Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, and the last letter signifies where the company was born: Grossaspach, Germany, back in 1967. What Mr. A and Mr. M did was modify Mercedes-Benz automobiles for better performance, be it for road use or racing, in which they were heavily involved. As the years went on, AMG became known as a premier tuner of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, and eventually offered interior and exterior modifications, such as custom instruments, steering wheels and seats as well as ground effects, spoilers and wheels. The company did such a great job that Mercedes-Benz brought it in house in 1990, and as a result, AMG now has its own high-performance skunk works, similar to rival BMW''s "M" division. There is now an AMG version of nearly every Benz model, from the C-Class'' C32 to the CL-Class'' CL55, and they all feature powerful engines, agile suspensions and subtle accents inside and out to set them apart from their more common brethren. Now that the AMG versions have joined the recently redesigned CLK lineup, the family is complete. With 362 horsepower pouring out of their 5.4-liter V8s, the CLK55 coupe and cabriolet offer supercar performance for four. As with all other AMG-tweaked Benzes, the CLK55s sport unique wheels and aggressive body accents including black mesh inserts in the front fascia and sculpted side sills.
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For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
Available in coupe and convertible form, the CLK55 comes loaded with standard features such as leather upholstery, aluminum trim, 10-way power front seats, seat heaters, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-speaker Bose stereo and a power-adjustable tilt/telescoping steering wheel. Exclusive double-spoke 17-inch wheels along with black mesh inserts in the front fascia and aggressive side sill sculpting give the CLK55 the proper AMG attitude. Options include a glovebox-mounted CD changer; rear parking sensors; Distronic, an adaptive cruise control system that automatically maintains a set distance between the CLK and the vehicle in front of it; and Keyless Go, which allows the car to be started without a key.
Powertrains and Performance:
An AMG-tweaked 5.4-liter V8 sends 362 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. According to Mercedes, all this power sends the CLK55 to 60 mph from standstill in just 5.0 seconds. A SpeedShift five-speed automatic gearbox offers manual-style gear changes via buttons on the back of the steering wheel spokes. No manual gearbox is available on the CLK55.
Safety:
To help drivers avoid an accident, Mercedes'' stability control system, dubbed "ESP," is standard as are brakes with BrakeAssist technology. Should a collision occur, no less than eight airbags are at the ready, including the side curtain variety that helps protect the heads of the outboard occupants in a side-impact collision.
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For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
AMG sport seats and steering wheel, two-tone upholstery and aluminum accents mark the cabin of the CLK55. To make fastening seatbelts easier, automatic seatbelt "presenters" offer the belts after the door(s) is shut. Other conveniences include an Easy Entry system that powers the front seats forward and up, making it easier to get in back. In the coupe, the rear seats fold down completely (like a wagon''s) providing a lower, flatter load floor that allows long items to be carried inside the car. The convertible features larger side windows and a slimmer roof design for increased top-up visibility, and that top can be quickly lowered or raised simply by pressing a button on the key fob.
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For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
With scalding acceleration, composed handling and a firm but comfortable ride, the CLK55 offers virtually supercar performance along with seating for four and daily-driver usability. It''s too big for serious corner carving but, when it comes to swallowing huge chunks of highway, few coupes do it as effortlessly as this AMG-tuned coupe and cabriolet.
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For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
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