“Four-door coupe” or just “banana”: Mercedes-Benz CLS archival test (21 photos)

I present to your attention the archival material of the publication Car and Driver about the so-called "banana" from Mercedes-Benz, which is accepted considered the world's first "four-door coupe".





Although in reality this is not entirely true, because for the first time this controversial term was used in relation to the American car LaFayette Four Door Coupe Touring Type, which appeared in back in 1921 (I will add a couple of illustrations so that you do not die out of curiosity).









In the crowd of guys at the bar there is always someone who - so far the rest leaf through the latest issue of Sports Illustrated magazine and look at girls in swimsuits - looking at a clearly beautiful model and demonstrates an extreme degree of indifference, while other guys from she's just delighted. "No, she's ugly," he says to his surprise. his friends. For some reason - for example, because of the long finger on leg, an inappropriate freckle, red hair, or a slightly crooked tooth even a hottie in a bathing suit may not appeal to some guys. But why? What causes this person to disagree with the opinion majority?





A similar phenomenon occurs with the advent of the Mercedes CLS500. The bulk observers, seeing his smooth forms, feels instant sympathy. This is a car that is impossible not to look at. Maybe you even you want to run your fingertips along the smooth curves of the body, admire the red light of the rear lights ... However, there are those the bewildering few that look at the CLS with contempt rather than lust.







One woman at the gas station said, "Your car has a saggy ass." Like this? Was she blind in one eye and couldn't see the car? second? A man in a trendy mall remarked, "I've never seen such a wild Mercedes. I think it's pretty extreme." Is the CLS really too radical for the German marque? Nope! Just like a guy taunting a hottie in a bathing suit some people are simply wrong. CLS is amazing. End stories.





CLS makes passers-by gawk at you with its striking style. Those who could not see the familiar nameplates, blurt out: "What is this?" It will not do, of course, without comparisons with vintage Rolls-Royce models. Some will even remember outlines wonderful 1980 Cadillac Seville with a hunchback trunk." The guys from Mercedes-Benz call it "the world's first four-door coupe", because the narrow "loopholes" of windows make the car more like a two-door. We are probably dealing with cunning marketing. The company is trying to scout the situation with a single models: if it seems inappropriate to everyone, it will simply disappear, not causing no damage to the image.



PROS: Stunning Shapes, Outstanding Performance, Stylish Interior



However, since it has four doors, the CLS is at least in our understanding, is undoubtedly a sedan. However, it won't hurt Mercedes to declare the CLS500 a direct competitor to the two-door BMW 645Ci, which is located between the 5th and 7th series, like the CLS - in a niche among the E- and S-classes. CLS500 and 645Ci are in the same price segment: the first costs from $66,920, the second - from $70,595. In addition, they are very similar in size: CLS, stretching 4910 millimeters, is longer by about 77 millimeters, and also higher and wider by about 25.





Like the 6 Series, which is based on BMW's mid-size five, the CLS in largely based on Mercedes' bread and butter popular E-class, which donated more than a third of its components. Thus, a 302-horsepower V8 with a volume of 5 liters, machinemechanical 7-speed gearbox, electro-hydraulic disc brakes on all four sides, Airmatic multi-link suspension DC and the 2855 mm wheelbase from the E500 are all present in CLS500. For $8400 on top, you get a new design (we'd call it dizzying), an additional 60 millimeters to the width, a sunroof with electric as standard, 10-speaker audio system (instead of 9) and 18-inch alloy wheels (rather than modest 17-inch) with 245/40 front and 275/35 rear tires. More In addition, compared to the five-seater Eshki salon, the four-seater CLS (yes, no one will have to hunch over sitting in the middle) is finished more luxuriously. The car pampers its passengers with a leather-wrapped dashboard with French stitching, large decorative walnut panels or noble laurel, as well as the right amount chrome elements. Rear passengers can sit in rounded seats, and they will have enough room for legs and feet, although the roof is 40 millimeters lower than the E500. On the other hand, the CLS interior does not seem much smaller, as does the trunk with a volume of 453 liters - as roomy as the "donor".



CONS: The emblem on the back looks like a smudge on a perfect leather, electro-hydraulic brakes are missing a few touches to perfection



So the CLS is beautiful inside and out, but how does it ride? Not surprising, that on the move the car is very reminiscent of "Eshka", only a little sportier. Wide wheels with larger tires provide a coefficient grip of 0.87 g, which was a noticeable improvement compared to 0.81 g for E500, which seems more prone to understeer, than CLS. But even with the same tenacity as the related CLK55 AMG, CLS500 still falls short of the grip of the 645Ci coupe, demonstrating 0.94 g on the skidpad (as I already wrote in the article about Genesis GV60, this is a large circular area with a radius of about 100 meters). The CLS steering is one or two steps softer than the E-class, provides a pleasant lightness at low speeds, but becomes denser and more informative with the growth of indicators. pendant as well can be transformed from plush to bouncy at the push of a button console. Adjustable Airmatic DC dampers allow the rider to choose one of three preset modes depending on moods: "Comfort", "Sport 1" and "Sport 2". In the E-class, sometimes you want remove the hardest setting and add an even softer base, in while in the belittled CLS all three options seem perfectly appropriate.



Much of the sporting atmosphere of the CLS is built on the feel that The driver experiences behind closed doors. Look ahead: you are not you will see a hood with an obsessive three-beam star that interferes with the review, as in E-class (I must say that I personally always liked this “sight”). Here, too, there are certain nuances, such as sharply inclined front pillars and a low roofline, which noticeably limit the view. However, when you find yourself in a cozy capsule, the speed is felt much stronger. Outside or inside, the CLS gives the impression of being neat and thoroughbred car - in the best traditions of an elite sports coupe. More specifically, a sedan.

CONCLUSIONS: Stylish tour de force in terms of design and interior



With a mass of 1836 kilograms, our CLS500 was almost 36 kilograms heavier than the E500 we tested in 2002. Nonetheless, equipped with a new 7-speed "automatic", it turned out to be significantly faster than "Eshki" with the same 5-speed gearbox, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. A quarter mile (402 meters) the car passed in exactly 14 seconds, accelerating to 160 kilometers per hour - this is 0.3 seconds faster than the E500, but 0.1 slower than the 645Ci with 325 hp engine. At a stop from a speed of 112 kilometers per hour Benz it took 49.3 meters. It took the E500 55.1 meters and the 645Ci coped with 51.5. Despite the fact that they are powerful and trouble-free, handling electronically controlled brakes smoothly is not easy, deceleration often jerks, even if the pedals are carefully manipulated. Mercedes engineers have improved the logic of their work since their debut this year. SL-class, but the system is still not perfect.



When it comes to the CLS500, it's hard to imagine a more swift and beautiful car, except perhaps the “charged” version of the CLS55 from AMG. Nevertheless, this is an extremely peppy and sporty four-door. And she looks so cool it begs to beros: are you really Do you want to drive so fast that passers-by do not even have time to envy?