Mercedes-Benz CL-Class

The Mercedes-Benz CL-Class is a full-sized grand tourer produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz, which stands for Comfort Leicht in German, or Comfort Light in English.

Originally derived from the SL-Class roadster, it has since been based on the S-Class sedan. Known at first as the SEC and later S coupe, it was spun off into its own line and current name in 1998. The CL continues to follow the same development cycle as the S, though riding on a slightly shorter wheelbase and offering smaller selection of engines, mostly tending towards the high-powered of the range.

The closest competitor was the now-discontinued BMW 8 Series coupe. However, while the performance-oriented 8 series had a cramped 2+2 seating arrangement, the rear passenger volume of the CL and its previous incarnations is large enough to classify them as 2-door sedans by the SAE, making the CL one of the few full-sized coupes that offer a combination of engine power and luxury accommodation.