Mercedes-Benz CLK320

It sports the wide-eyed quad-headlamp treatment of the E-Class. It shares chassis components and dimensions with the C-Class. But the all-new '98 CLK is not based on either one of these popular platforms. In fact, it's the entry-level member of a new class of grand-touring, sport/luxury coupes called the CL-Class. And when it goes on sale this fall, this sleek Benz will be accompanied in its named class by the carry-over V-8-powered CL500 and V-12 CL600, both former members of the ultra-luxo S-Class and previously badged as the S500 and S600 coupes. Got all that?

Following on the heels of the SLK roadster, M-Class sport/utility, and European-based A-Class city car, the CLK is Mercedes' fourth new vehicle line introduced in the past year, an astonishingly aggressive pace for a company that's been known more for model evolution than revolution. With fresh spirit, vigor, and imagination, each of these entries adds an intriguing new dimension to the luxury automaker's repertoire. It's as if Mozart had come back to life and penned a few Top-10 hits for Hootie and the Blowfish. Best of all, Mercedes not only is letting its corporate hair down and having some fun, but its party invitations are being handed out to the masses as well as the monied elite.

The CLK is one of the most welcome invitations yet. With all-new sheetmetal and a sleek, yet sophisticated profile, it offers an intriguing blend of the familiar and the new. It was intended as successor to the former E-Class Coupe, yet it's the first Mercedes model in 64 years (since the '34 500K) to come from the drawing board as a pure coupe, instead of being based on an existing sedan. In fact, even its quad-headlamp face didn't originally come from the E-Class, but, like the rest of its body styling, draws directly from the Design Studie Coupe concept vehicle first unveiled at the '93 Geneva Auto Show. Developed from the same chassis as that used for the C-Class and SLK, the CLK is smaller dimensionally than the previous E-Class coupe, yet boasts either more or equal interior room in most dimensions. Particular attention has been paid to making it a true four-person model, with an accessible and comfortable rear seat area. To get into the back, a pull on the front seatback release signals an electric motor to slide the whole seat forward quickly; once in, folding the seat back again causes it to return to the original position. During this first-drive preview in Italy, our 5-foot, 10-inch tester found the rear seats to offer good leg- and elbow room, although his head brushed against the rear headliner. However, even a couple of taller, 6-foot-plus associates upheld the good comfort rating. Moreover, the 60/40 split rear seat can be folded down to allow greater trunk capacity.

Up front, the CLK pampers with a typical Mercedes level of comfort and safety. Dual front and side airbags are standard, as are leather seats, walnut trim, eight-speaker Bose sound system, automatic dual-zone climate control, power seats with three-person memory, integrated garage door opener, and manual telescoping steering wheel. In addition, with Mercedes' BabySmart system and passenger seat occupancy sensor, the passenger-side front airbag will be automatically deactivated if either a Mercedes childseat is used in the front passenger seat or the seat is left empty (in this case, the right-side door-mounted airbag is deactivated, as well).