Mercedes Letter Meaning
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Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 678
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CLK 55 AMG 2005 and CLK 63 AMG cab.2007 - 2009 EVO - 2013 ML63 AMG - 2018 G63 AMG
Mercedes Letter Meaning
I was wondering what all the model letter means... 
CLK
SLK
SLR
CLS
GLK
SL
CL
ML
GL
B
C
E
G
R
S
Maybe nothing...
(didn't fing anything in the search option)
CLK
SLK
SLR
CLS
GLK
SL
CL
ML
GL
B
C
E
G
R
S
Maybe nothing...
(didn't fing anything in the search option)
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,310
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From: Denver, CO
Formula Mazda, Beast Junior...400HP 135i
Assuming AMG variants:
CLK = Very sexy coupe with not enough power
SLK = Very sexy roadster with not enough power
SLR = Sexy coupe or roadster with massive power
CLS = E Class pinching a loaf
GLK = WTF?
SL = Luxury roadster with plenty of power
CL = Luxury coupe with plenty of power
ML = Mini van on steroids
GL = Ultimate 4X4 with plenty of power
C = Entry level sedan with plenty of power
E = Mid-sized luxo sedan with plenty of power
R = A people mover gone very wrong
S = The ultimate luxo sedan with plenty of power
Boredom has obviously set in.
CLK = Very sexy coupe with not enough power
SLK = Very sexy roadster with not enough power
SLR = Sexy coupe or roadster with massive power
CLS = E Class pinching a loaf
GLK = WTF?
SL = Luxury roadster with plenty of power
CL = Luxury coupe with plenty of power
ML = Mini van on steroids
GL = Ultimate 4X4 with plenty of power
C = Entry level sedan with plenty of power
E = Mid-sized luxo sedan with plenty of power
R = A people mover gone very wrong
S = The ultimate luxo sedan with plenty of power
Boredom has obviously set in.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 3
From: Chicago, IL
Real Cars
Mercedes historically had nomenclatures that would designate the single letter variants to the 4 door cars, and then add an L to the coupes that shared a similar pricing/demographic (obvious exception there being the C/CL) and then finally would add the K to denote smaller version of the coupes (like a k-car). Finally the SLR got it's name by being a "racing" take on the SL-class, hence adding the R.
S/SL/SLK/SLR is the classic example. The C/CL/CLK is not a great example, but again the single letter denotes the 4-door, CL is the 2 door, and CLK is a smaller take on the larger CL.
-m
S/SL/SLK/SLR is the classic example. The C/CL/CLK is not a great example, but again the single letter denotes the 4-door, CL is the 2 door, and CLK is a smaller take on the larger CL.
-m
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
SL55 AMG
Assuming AMG variants:
CLK = Very sexy coupe with not enough power
SLK = Very sexy roadster with not enough power
SLR = Sexy coupe or roadster with massive power
CLS = E Class pinching a loaf
GLK = WTF?
SL = Luxury roadster with plenty of power
CL = Luxury coupe with plenty of power
ML = Mini van on steroids
GL = Ultimate 4X4 with plenty of power
C = Entry level sedan with plenty of power
E = Mid-sized luxo sedan with plenty of power
R = A people mover gone very wrong
S = The ultimate luxo sedan with plenty of power
Boredom has obviously set in.
CLK = Very sexy coupe with not enough power
SLK = Very sexy roadster with not enough power
SLR = Sexy coupe or roadster with massive power
CLS = E Class pinching a loaf
GLK = WTF?
SL = Luxury roadster with plenty of power
CL = Luxury coupe with plenty of power
ML = Mini van on steroids
GL = Ultimate 4X4 with plenty of power
C = Entry level sedan with plenty of power
E = Mid-sized luxo sedan with plenty of power
R = A people mover gone very wrong
S = The ultimate luxo sedan with plenty of power
Boredom has obviously set in.
I like your description of the R class
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 44
From: San Diego
2004 E55
Mercedes historically had nomenclatures that would designate the single letter variants to the 4 door cars, and then add an L to the coupes that shared a similar pricing/demographic (obvious exception there being the C/CL) and then finally would add the K to denote smaller version of the coupes (like a k-car). Finally the SLR got it's name by being a "racing" take on the SL-class, hence adding the R.
S/SL/SLK/SLR is the classic example. The C/CL/CLK is not a great example, but again the single letter denotes the 4-door, CL is the 2 door, and CLK is a smaller take on the larger CL.
-m
S/SL/SLK/SLR is the classic example. The C/CL/CLK is not a great example, but again the single letter denotes the 4-door, CL is the 2 door, and CLK is a smaller take on the larger CL.
-m
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 803
Likes: 2
From: Saskatchewan
1969 280S, 1991 300E
I've searched a ton on this previously, as i've had more than a few customers ask me about the "confusing" letter system. Off the top of my head, here are a few of the OLD designations.
E - Einspritzung (Fuel Injected)
S - Sedan or Super
SL - Sports Leicht (light sport) or Super Light
C - Coupe
K - Kurtz (short) or Kompressor
L - Lang (Long Wheelbase)
G - Gelandewagen
Once MB started introducing the rest of it's 50 some models, the letters started meaning less and less.
I think the CLK screwed everything up & will technically no longer exist....The 2010 CLK will actually be named the E-Class Coupe & Cabrio, but still based on the C-Class Chassis
E - Einspritzung (Fuel Injected)
S - Sedan or Super
SL - Sports Leicht (light sport) or Super Light
C - Coupe
K - Kurtz (short) or Kompressor
L - Lang (Long Wheelbase)
G - Gelandewagen
Once MB started introducing the rest of it's 50 some models, the letters started meaning less and less.
I think the CLK screwed everything up & will technically no longer exist....The 2010 CLK will actually be named the E-Class Coupe & Cabrio, but still based on the C-Class Chassis
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 4
From: NY/NJ
2012 W212 E350 Bluetec
I think the CLK screwed everything up & will technically no longer exist....
At this time (around 1998), the C-class and its brand was already well established (not via the original W201 which was the 190E, but via the W202). So to introduce the S-class based coupe at that time as the "CL" made little sense to me.
It was inevitable after that that the smaller coupe would become the CLK (CL -> CLK), following the smaller roadster (SL -> SLK).
Off the top of my head, here are a few of the OLD designations.
E - Einspritzung (Fuel Injected)
S - Sonderklasse or special class (top of the line)
SL - Sports Leicht (light sport)
C - Coupe/Cabriolet
K - Kurtz (short)
L - Lang (Long Wheelbase)
G - Gelandewagen
T - Touring (wagon)
D - Diesel
These are from the time when the engine designation (3 numerals) was followed by the above lettering. E.g. 380SEL - 3.8L S-class, fuel injected, long wheelbase
In the early 90s, I guess they needed to streamline the main class designations, as the smaller W201 190E (and its successors) needed to be differentiated from the W124 E-class (300E/400E/500E) and its numerous T, D, TD, CE, etc variants. So the smallest sedan class became the C, and the middle one became the E.
The expanding lineup was just beginning to make sense, and then they went n screwed it up again by calling the S-class coupe the CL
