2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK-class Coupe - Spied - Car and Driver
Mercedes-Benz's current CLK coupes and convertibles are fine cars, but apart from the AMG-badged variants, aggressive or intimidating they are not. Most obvious at first glance is that the '09 CLK has new, angular headlamps. Also clearly evident is a significant increase in width and upswept body-side sculpting, both of which contribute to a road stance that will gain respect in ways that no CLK coupe , save the Black Series, can garner today. Like its big brother, the six-figure CL-class coupe, the new CLK will feature a rear end that slopes elegantly downward. In spite of being nice and shiny, look closely, and you'll see that it's merely part of the disguise (whew. We suppose we should wait to issue criticism until we see the whole car naked, but one thing is for sure: BMW designers Chris Bangle and Adrian van Hooydonk will be wearing grins the size of an M6 once they see their much-maligned tush design make... Various wheel-and-tire packages on these prototypes, as well as different tailpipe configurations, indicate that we're looking at different models, including, perhaps, the inevitable CLK63 AMG version (hint: look for the perforated brake discs). Other models we're sure to get in the States will be the 268-hp, 3. 5-liter V-6-powered CLK350 and the CLK550 with a 382-hp, 5. 5-liter V-8 and their convertible counterparts. Source: www.caranddriver.com
