CLK - based on CL class or E class?
CLK - based on CL class or E class?
As the title reads, is the CLK based on E class or CL class? Appropriate explanation would be helpful.
i was under the impression that CLK is CL Kompressor??? No?
i was under the impression that CLK is CL Kompressor??? No?
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Los Angeles, CA
'03 E55 (My Daily), '01 ML 320 (Wifey), Twin Turbo '69 Camaro (In Progess)
None of the CLK's come with the supercharger (Kompressor in German). CLK stands for Coupe Leicht Kurtz and the literal translation is Coupe/Light/Short. Don't know if that stands up or not b/c at ~3800lbs, its hardly 'light', but it is a shorter wheel base (than the CL) and is definitely a coupe.
Another way to look at it:
C - C Class; The same way you have A, B, C, E, G, R and S classes.
L - Luxuswagen; Luxury car; The refined version of the standard class; That's why you have CL, GL and SL classes.
K - Kurz; The shortened version of all the above; That's why you have CLK and SLK classes. I think of it as a shortened version of the CL.
Another way to look at it:
C - C Class; The same way you have A, B, C, E, G, R and S classes.
L - Luxuswagen; Luxury car; The refined version of the standard class; That's why you have CL, GL and SL classes.
K - Kurz; The shortened version of all the above; That's why you have CLK and SLK classes. I think of it as a shortened version of the CL.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Somewhere in Maryland
2000 CLK 430 Cabriolet
None of the CLK's come with the supercharger (Kompressor in German). CLK stands for Coupe Leicht Kurtz and the literal translation is Coupe/Light/Short. Don't know if that stands up or not b/c at ~3800lbs, its hardly 'light', but it is a shorter wheel base (than the CL) and is definitely a coupe.
Another way to look at it:
C - C Class; The same way you have A, B, C, E, G, R and S classes.
L - Luxuswagen; Luxury car; The refined version of the standard class; That's why you have CL, GL and SL classes.
K - Kurz; The shortened version of all the above; That's why you have CLK and SLK classes. I think of it as a shortened version of the CL.
Another way to look at it:
C - C Class; The same way you have A, B, C, E, G, R and S classes.
L - Luxuswagen; Luxury car; The refined version of the standard class; That's why you have CL, GL and SL classes.
K - Kurz; The shortened version of all the above; That's why you have CLK and SLK classes. I think of it as a shortened version of the CL.
None of the CLK's come with the supercharger (Kompressor in German). CLK stands for Coupe Leicht Kurtz and the literal translation is Coupe/Light/Short. Don't know if that stands up or not b/c at ~3800lbs, its hardly 'light', but it is a shorter wheel base (than the CL) and is definitely a coupe.
Another way to look at it:
C - C Class; The same way you have A, B, C, E, G, R and S classes.
L - Luxuswagen; Luxury car; The refined version of the standard class; That's why you have CL, GL and SL classes.
K - Kurz; The shortened version of all the above; That's why you have CLK and SLK classes. I think of it as a shortened version of the CL.
Another way to look at it:
C - C Class; The same way you have A, B, C, E, G, R and S classes.
L - Luxuswagen; Luxury car; The refined version of the standard class; That's why you have CL, GL and SL classes.
K - Kurz; The shortened version of all the above; That's why you have CLK and SLK classes. I think of it as a shortened version of the CL.
I never knew that either.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 626
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From: Los Angeles, CA
'03 E55 (My Daily), '01 ML 320 (Wifey), Twin Turbo '69 Camaro (In Progess)
My bad on that one, yeah the non-US models do have kompressors. As for the AMG question, you are right. AMG stands for Hans Werner Aufrecht (A) and Erhard Melcher (M) who founded the company at the Old Mill in Burgstall near Grossaspach (G), the birthplace of Hans Werner Aufrecht.
It is the performance tuning division of Mercedes-Benz.
It is the performance tuning division of Mercedes-Benz.
well I thought the E was redesigned in like '94 or '96 and the CLK came our (very similar looking) in '98 and the CL came out in like '99 or '00. so it was my understanding that the CLK was based on the E class. Are my assumptions incorrect?
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Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 626
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles, CA
'03 E55 (My Daily), '01 ML 320 (Wifey), Twin Turbo '69 Camaro (In Progess)
Who's to say you are wrong, it does share many similarities. I like to think of it as a hybrid between the E class and the CL class (although the new style CL came out later).
Sounds like some of you need this book:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mercedes-CLK-SLK...QQcmdZViewItem
EDIT: This one seems like it would work too: http://cgi.ebay.com/MERCEDES-BENZ-CL...QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mercedes-CLK-SLK...QQcmdZViewItem
Product Description
Prompted by the success of the MX-5 the SLK was based on a chopped C-class platform designed to include the Vario retractable steel roof and shown as a concept car in 1994. Full production began two years later but the UK only got the flagship model with a 193bhp, 2.3-litre supercharged engine with automatic gearbox. It was not until 2000 that the six-cylinder engine was used mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.
With this came body styling changes. The CLK was also based on the C-class platform but came with four seats and looking very similar to the E-class. It quickly went from the 2.3 to the 3.2 engine. Then came a cabriolet version. Mercedes kept up the pressure by introducing the CLK430 coupé with a 4.3-litre V8.
Prompted by the success of the MX-5 the SLK was based on a chopped C-class platform designed to include the Vario retractable steel roof and shown as a concept car in 1994. Full production began two years later but the UK only got the flagship model with a 193bhp, 2.3-litre supercharged engine with automatic gearbox. It was not until 2000 that the six-cylinder engine was used mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.
With this came body styling changes. The CLK was also based on the C-class platform but came with four seats and looking very similar to the E-class. It quickly went from the 2.3 to the 3.2 engine. Then came a cabriolet version. Mercedes kept up the pressure by introducing the CLK430 coupé with a 4.3-litre V8.
EDIT: This one seems like it would work too: http://cgi.ebay.com/MERCEDES-BENZ-CL...QQcmdZViewItem
Last edited by The Jury; Nov 7, 2006 at 11:39 PM.
very interesting
thanks man
bbearden
Who's to say you are wrong, it does share many similarities. I like to think of it as a hybrid between the E class and the CL class (although the new style CL came out later).
Yesterday 08:37 PM
there was an older CL? I didn't know that
thanks manbbearden
Who's to say you are wrong, it does share many similarities. I like to think of it as a hybrid between the E class and the CL class (although the new style CL came out later).
Yesterday 08:37 PM
there was an older CL? I didn't know that
I always thought the CLK was based on the C class, and not the E class or CL class. It has the same wheelbase as the old C class, so I think its the same chassis.... I think they just styled it similar to the E class (thank god!) but I wouldn't consider it an E class coupe....



