johnmarco

I am wondering if anyone can explain the rhyme & reason, if any, behind the naming of the various MB models.

• 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.

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.

Jer

SL=Sports Leicht
G=Gelaendewagen

johnmarco

thanks for the info

amb9800

At over 4000 pounds, the current SL isn't much of a super-light

johnmarco

no, it doesn't seem that it is. i don't know much about the SL over the years. perhaps it started out as a super light vehicle?

johnmarco

dave, that is what i was thinking. i understand that the CL is essentially an S coupe ... this is the source of my confusion and ensuing curiosity.

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

amb9800

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).

Renn 208

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=22590

johnmarco

thanks to both of you. it all makes sense now.

230TErry

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

johnmarco

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

Think that's about it. The G class was mentioned above. Forget the word but something like gealandwagen, meaning SUV.