CLK Engines and Transmissions In Depth

Press Release

Engines and transmissions: seven of the best

• Six of seven powerplants new to the CLK line-up
• Fuel consumption reduced by an average of six percent
• New top-of-the-range CLK 500 with V8 engine developing 306 hp
• Launch of new 4-cylinder engine generation with TWINPULSE system
• Fuel consumption reduced by up to 16 percent thanks to direct petrol injection
• Premiere for five-cylinder CDI engine in the CLK-Class
• V8 powerplant in the CLK 55 AMG with output boosted by 15kW/20 hp

A whole host of new developments lie beneath the bonnet of the new CLK-Class, in particular many innovations that herald major technical advances. For instance, six of the seven powerplants available for the Coupé are new to this Mercedes model series: the powerful five-litre V8 engine from the S-Class, the state-of-the-art V6 powerplant with 2.6-litre displacement, the torquey five-cylinder CDI engine and the powerful eight-cylinder AMG engine. Not to mention the newly developed four-cylinder powerplant that is one of the first direct petrol injection engines in the world to feature the unique TWINPULSE system, including a compressor supercharger and Lanchester balancer among other things. This new engine line-up delivers substantially lower fuel consumption and exemplary emissions performance whilst ensuring vastly enhanced driving pleasure, agility and power delivery -- in every displacement class. The numbers back this up:

• Fuel consumption in the CLK models is, on average, six percent lower than in the preceding models.
• All petrol models already comply with the strict EU-4 emission standard due to come into force in the year 2005 and the US-American standards for "Ultralow Emission Vehicles" (ULEV). The CDI engine meets the requirements of the EU-3 standard.
• The seven CLK engines have power outputs ranging from 120 kW/163 hp to 270 kW/367 hp (preceding models: 120 kW/163 hp to 255 kW/347 hp).
• Maximum engine torque ranges from 240 to 510 Newtonmetres (predecessor models: 230 to 510 Newtonmetres).

New V8 CLK 500 model with power to match a thoroughbred sports car The new eight-cylinder model in the CLK-Class line-up is called the CLK 500. In this guise, the new Coupé delivers driving dynamics and performance on a par with thoroughbred sports cars such as the SL 500 or top-of-the-range Coupés such as the CL 500. One look at the figures confirms this: the CLK 500 takes a mere 6.0 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h and, thanks to its exemplary torque characteristics, completes the sprint from 60 to 120 km/h in just 6.2 seconds -- class-leading figures in this coupé segment. A quick dab of the accelerator is all it takes to feel the sheer power beneath the bonnet of the new top-of-the-range CLK model: even at a speed just above idle, the V8 powerplant plants 344 Newtonmeters of torque onto the road - an impressive 75 % of maximum torque. Furthermore, at 2240 rpm, there are a massive 428 Newton meters available -- 93 percent of the maximum torque of 460 Newton meters, which the engine provides from 2700 rpm and maintains until 4250 rpm. At launch, the eight-cylinder engine will be available with five-speed automatic transmission as standard. Two powerful six-cylinder models with 2.6 and 3.2-litre displacement Mercedes-Benz has extended the six-cylinder line-up for the new CLK-Class by adding the tried-and-tested 2.6-litre V6 engine which develops 125 kW/170 hp and provides a maximum torque of 240 Newtonmetres at 4500 rpm. The CLK 320 remains unchanged in the line-up. And with good reason: the powerful V6 powerplant (160 kW/218 hp), which Mercedes-Benz offers with five-speed automatic transmission as standard, is particularly well-suited to the new Mercedes Coupé, since it delivers equally impressive performance during either sporty driving with high power output or more serene and relaxed driving at lower engine speeds. With 310 Newton meters of torque on tap from just 3000 rpm, the six-cylinder engine offers the very best of both worlds. New four-cylinder engine with the option of direct petrol injection Mercedes-Benz will again show the way forward, this time in the field of four-cylinder technology, when a new generation of engines is launched in mid-2002. The newly developed engines highlight the shape of things to come in all the major areas of development: fuel consumption, torque characteristics, power delivery, lightweight design and refinement. There is a choice of two versions of this sophisticated engine for the CLK-Class, both featuring the unique TWINPULSE system. This technology package contains a host of innovations, designed to ensure sheer driving pleasure and low fuel consumption: mechanical supercharger, intercooler, four valves per cylinder, double overhead camshafts with variable valve timing, Lanchester balancer shafts, adaptive drive system, aluminium construction and optional direct petrol injection. The options:

• Four-cylinder engine developing 120 kW/163 hp with electronically controlled fuel injection in the intake ports for the CLK 200 KOMPRESSOR.
• Direct-injection petrol engine developing 125 kW/170 hp -- the first latest-generation Mercedes powerplant featuring this new technology and the world's first engine of its kind, which combines leading-edge, direct-injection technology with a compressor supercharger and counter-balancer. Mercedes models incorporating this sophisticated engine technology will be recognisable by the CGI badge on the rear, which stands for (Stratified) Charged Gasoline Injection.

One look at the performance and fuel consumption figures reveals that both four-cylinder engines have everything it takes to deliver superb economy and a dynamic driving experience:

The new CLK 200 KOMPRESSOR accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.3 seconds, going on to reach a top speed of 230 km/h, making it 7 km/h faster than the equally powerful predecessor model. Fuel consumption has been reduced to 8.6 litres per 100 kilometres (NEDC combined), 0.8 litres less than in the previous CLK 200 KOMPRESSOR. The four-cylinder newcomer also delivers when it comes to pulling power and flexibility: the maximum torque of 240 Newtonmetres is available from 3500 rpm. And accelerating from 60 to 120 km/h (in fifth gear) takes the new CLK 200 KOMPRESSOR a mere 15.8 seconds. To put it another way, mechanical supercharging and sophisticated engine technology enable the newly developed engine to combine the pulling power and refinement of a six-cylinder engine with the economy of a four-cylinder engine. Direct injection petrol engine consuming 16 percent less fuel

The CLK 200 CGI is even more impressive at underlining the qualities of the new generation of Mercedes engines. Offering similar levels of performance -- 0 to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds and a top speed of 231 km/h -- fuel consumption in the direct petrol injection engine is around eight percent lower than in its counterpart with port injection. In concrete terms: the new CLK 200 CGI consumes a mere 7.9 litres of sulphur-free Super Plus per 100 kilometres (NEDC combined). This represents a fuel saving of around 16 percent, compared to the predecessor model, despite the higher engine output. Over 75 percent of the torque is available from just 1500 rpm. And the four-cylinder engine develops its maximum torque of 250 Newtonmetres from 3000 rpm. What is more, it maintains this impressive level up to 4500 rpm.