Search the Community

Niche model Mercs - BT, 02 October 2004 - Samuel Ee From http://motoring.asia1.com.sg/...ews20041002_001.html APART from creating a new segment, Mercedes-Benz is also muscling into niche segments. Last week, it unveiled two very special models - the steroid-enhanced CLS55 AMG and the limited edition CLK cabriolet by Giorgio Armani. The 5.5-litre CLS 'four-door coupe' is souped up by in-house tuner AMG to 476 hp and an incredulous 700 Nm of torque. Acceleration from zero to 100 kmh is achieved in a mere 4.7 seconds, and the speedometer needle reaches the 200 kmh mark in 16.1 seconds. The AMG has a V8 supercharged engine much like the SL55 AMG and the E55 AMG. Like these two earlier models, the CLS55 is a magnificent Merc, with understated accents and dynamic abilities. The wonderfully engineered car has an exquisite interior that is matched by its massive strength and unusually agile behaviour. Buyers can also customise their CLS55 with a wide range of special paint finishes and leather tones. Also last week, Mercedes-Benz took the wraps off a special edition CLK at its Champs Elysee showroom in Paris. Styled by Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, the convertible is part of Mercedes-Benz's Designo range. It will have an exclusive selection of paint and material finishes available and only 100 units will be offered. So far, a couple of orders for the left-hand-drive only car have come in from Asia. The Armani Merc is based on the CLK 500 Cabriolet. The four-seater convertible has a V8 engine as standard but the Milanese couturier has imbued it with a unique matt sand paintwork and an exclusively developed soft top. The interior has matching silk matt film fabric on the seats. And all the interior decorative elements, which are normally made of wood, are covered in a rare saddle leather more commonly used in the 1940s and 1950s.