2000 Mercedes-Benz CL (W215) Photos, engines & full specs

Even though the second generation of the CL broke covers at the 1999 Paris Motor Show and stayed on the market for just about six years, it made a difference in the personal luxury coupes segment.

The second generation of the CL-Class was made to provide comfortable, fast rides on long distances. That's why Mercedes-Benz made them only with V8 and V12 engines, either naturally aspirated or supercharged. The standard transmission for it was a five-speed automatic, known for its reliability and sturdiness.

But there is one thing that was hard to beat by other automakers, and that was the design. Its sheer size and the four-headlamps system looked just great. Moreover, the B-post was retractable along with the rear side windows, thus creating the image of a fake cabriolet (or hard top). At the back, the deck was short compared to the rest of the car, but its size wasn't that small. In addition, the taillights followed a similar triangular design seen on the C-Class, E-Class, and S-Class. The overall look of the vehicle was sleek and had a 0.30 aerodynamic coefficient, which was excellent for those times.

Inside, the leather-wrapped cabin provided ample room for all four occupants. The driver and the side passenger had easy access to power-adjustable seat controls that were mounted on the door cards. On the center stack, the premium sound system was standard, but the navi was not. In the back, the automaker installed two individual seats separated by a center console.

Even though Mercedes-Benz didn't make any money by selling this car, it still built it for about six years and installed big, powerful gasoline engines underneath its hood.