MERCEDES CLK CABRIOLET RANGE

Its A Testament To The Excellence Of Mercedes CLK Cabriolet That Few Rivals Have Attempted To Depose It. Andy Enright Reports

Think about how the mainstream prestige German brands correspond and theres a stunning degree of similarity. A Mercedes S Class battles against the BMW 7 Series and the Audi A8. The head to heads continue right down the respective ranges. Think SLK versus Z4 and TT Roadster or possibly C Class Sport Coupe against the 1 Series and the A3.

When it comes to premium convertibles, however, Mercedes seems to have an edge. The CLK Cabriolet operates at an altogether more rarefied level than the BMW 3 Series convertible or the Audi A4 Cabriolet. With prices starting a good deal higher than its rivals, this perception is
backed up by solid economics.

Not that the swollen price tags will do anything to deter those looking to lay down deposits on Mercedes latest CLK Cabriolet, recently improved by a restyled front bumper and radiator. First shown at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, this version finally lets this pretty cabriolet off the leash, giving it access to the superlative C-class chassis that has proved at least the equal of anything BMW have produced. The original CLK Cabriolet campaigned with a chassis that was first developed in 1992 and, quite frankly, it showed. The more powerful models exposed this flaw and there was always a suspicion that there was a little bit too much engine.

This was probably why Mercedes sensibly capped the range at the 4.3-litre V8 level. The latest car features a chassis that is considerably stiffer, not only boosting passive safety but also allowing the engineers more freedom when it comes to engine choices. Freedom, as we know, is a responsibility, and responsibility is there to be abused.

So Mercedes have chosen to go large. Very large. With a mighty 481bhp CLK63 AMG Cabriolet at the top of the range and a 388bhp CLK500 campaigning there too, theres little to touch the CLK Cabriolet in the power stakes.

"Sheer depth of engineering justifies the CLK cabriolets premium over lesser convertibles..."

Its not all about an overwhelming horsepower advantage though. For mere mortals, priced from around �33,500, Mercedes offer a 184bhp CLK200K, a 231bhp CLK280 and a 272bhp CLK350. The entry-level 200K car is particularly interesting. Despite the 200 badge on the bootlid, the CLK200K Cabriolet is in fact powered by a mere four-cylinder 1.

8-litre powerplant - but what a 1.8 it is. It utilises Mercedes much vaunted Twinpulse technology to achieve the dual aims of better performance and lower fuel consumption. Thanks to a specially developed Lanchester balancer shaft, performance is much closer to those of a six-cylinder engine than those of a four.

The additional refinement of the CLK280s true six-cylinder unit may swing the balance for those who spend a fair amount of time with the hood down. The hood itself is available in black, blue or grey and is probably the most sophisticated soft top around. No manual intervention is required and the whole process operates in a matter of seconds, the multi-layered hood vanishing beneath a flush cover at the back. Considerable work has gone into reducing the width of the rear hood pillars that has traditionally made reversing a soft top with the hood up a fingers crossed operation.

The hood also offers class leading thermal insulation and noise absorption qualities. Whats more, it can all be operated by remote control from your key fob as you approach your vehicle. The boot lid can also be opened by remote control and offers a cavernous 390-litre capacity, making the CLK Cabriolet a genuine touring car. This 40-litre increase over the preceding model reflects the fact that despite its trim styling, this CLK Cabriolet is a larger car than its predecessor.

Headroom, elbowroom and knee room for all occupants has been usefully increased. As with any Mercedes, safety has been given top priority. An array of sensors control the hidden rollover bars which can pop up to protect rear seat occupants in a fraction of a second should a catastrophic accident occur. There are also large head and thorax airbags in the front seat backrests while side bags for rear seat occupants are available upon request.

Automatic belt feeders for the front seat occupants are fitted as standard and a sensor calculates the weight of the front passenger in order to tailor the deployment of the airbag. Other standard equipment includes automatic climate control with rear seat outlets, rain sensing wipers, cruise control, a multifunction steering wheel and self-levelling headlights. Two trim levels are offered as with the Coupe version, Elegance and Avantgarde. As ever a dizzying array of high-tech options are offered including Keyless-Go, the COMAND APS navigation and audio system, the Linguatronic voice recognition system and the Distronic proximity sensing cruise control.

Its this sort of attention to detail that makes the Mercedes CLK Cabriolet such a satisfying ownership proposition. Thoughtful touches like the Easy-Entry seating system that slides the front seats forward automatically when you lift a lever or rear head restraints that fully recess when you press a button on the instrument panel have only been developed by listening to customers and examining how they use their cars on an everyday basis. This depth of engineering justifies the CLK cabriolets premium over lesser convertibles. Bigger, faster, cleaner, smarter, safer and prettier, the current CLK Cabriolet also promises more fun behind the wheel and even stronger residual values.