MB naming questions
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From: the oc
MB naming questions
I am wondering if anyone can explain the rhyme & reason, if any, behind the naming of the various MB models.
Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
- Is it true that SL means super-light?
- Isn't the CL most similar to the S?
- What does G stand for?
- How about ML?
Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
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From: the oc
Originally posted by dave_88
well i always thought that if the S-class would be a coupe, then it would be the CL but that's about ti.
well i always thought that if the S-class would be a coupe, then it would be the CL but that's about ti.
to wit: why name an S coupe a CL? I think from the above answers this is because the SL name was already taken. Why not SK then (k being the first letter of the word for short in german)?
ahh ... I don't name their cars ... too bad, I would love to systematize the taxonomy ... software engineer thinking ... excusi
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From: NYC
2002 ML320
Yes, the CL is the coupe version of the S-Class. The name CL was created in the mid to late 90's sometime (forgot the actual year) to better identify the car, which was known only as the S-class coupe. So an S500 from the mid '90's could be the sedan or the coupe. The CL name was applied after this.
The S-class coupe, back in MB's old naming system (80's, early 90's), was the SEC, while the sedan was the SEL (gas) or SDL (diesel).
The S-class coupe, back in MB's old naming system (80's, early 90's), was the SEC, while the sedan was the SEL (gas) or SDL (diesel).
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From: Belfast, N Ireland
93 320CE, 72 280SE 3.5, 55 220A, 05 E280CDI, 88 Mini Mayfair, 90 Peugeot 205GTI, 04 Mini Cooper
One mistake to correct.
'E' means Einspritz which translates as fuel injection
'L' as in SEL means Super Einspritz Lange
And now to add to the confusion when these designations were first used on sedans in the 50's
S was put on twin carb cars
'E' means Einspritz which translates as fuel injection
'L' as in SEL means Super Einspritz Lange
And now to add to the confusion when these designations were first used on sedans in the 50's
S was put on twin carb cars
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From: the oc
I also emailed MBUSA with the same question. They essentially confirmed most of what was written above, with a few noteworthy points, below. Some of the confusion & disagreement about the use of various letters, such as E, is because MB has used them to denote different things at different times. E did indeed used to mean Einspritzer, as in a fuel injected S class, in SEL, but meantime they also created a sedan called the E class, which does not mean Einspritzer. It now means Economy and/or Executive, and the old meaning is defunct. This is also found in the C, which has been used to mean Compact (C class,) and Coupe (CL.)
- A class: picked because it comes before C, because it is smalller
- C class: compact
- E class: economy and/or executive
- S class: super sedan
- CL: compact lux; it is a derivative of the S class
- ML is entirely meaningless
- SL: used to mean sport light, but has evolved to mean sport lux
- V class: Van
