Now, imagine you decide to make a performance version of this model. Well, it's a flagship, so why not a hand built V12? Why not give it forced induction - turbo or supercharger? Let’s go turbo. Throw as much technology that your company has at the time & voila - you have the 2004-2006 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG.
Now, imagine you decide to make a performance version of this model. Well, it's a flagship, so why not a handbuilt V12? Why not give it forced induction - turbo or supercharger? Let’s go turbo. Throw as much technology that your company has at the time & voila - you have the 2004-2006 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG.
I remember reading about the CL65 AMG when it just came out & loving that Mercedes had the balls to make this car. Seeing a S500 or CL500 was cool, but when you had the honor of seeing a 600 lumbering down the street, that was impressive. It became an event. The subtle, but shiny V12 badge on the fender. Those Maybach inspired 600 wheels. You knew that something special was coasting down the road. And now Mercedes was going to up the ante & turbo the V12? This was going to be legendary.
The CL65’s heart was a hand built 6.0L V12 Twin Turbo, code named M275 AMG, that pushed out a remarkable 600hp & 738ft lb of torque. The Benz’s MSRP at the time was north of $190k; in 2019 money, that’s $240k. I mean, think about that. It was twice the price of a 996 911 Turbo and was $15k more than a Ferrari 360 Spyder. The CL65 was a niche car aimed at someone that wanted the most expensive, most powerful, & most badass Mercedes available. Someone who wanted the ultimate mix of speed, luxury, & technology Mercedes had to offer.
I got to experience a CL65 AMG in 2014 and boy was I impressed. The CL itself is a big & sleek car. What set a 65 apart from the other CL’s besides the V12 Bi-Turbo logos, were the beautiful gunmetal AMG wheels, which to this day are some of my favorite OEM wheels. I remember getting the keys to the car & opening the heavy door. Hearing the big V12 fire up on start up was aurally stimulating. The V12 has a nice low rumble, but when you get on the throttle, the noise goes away & speed takes over. The torque slams you back into your seat & you just hold on until you let off the throttle. It’s like hyperdrive on the Millenium Falcon.
When it’s time to corner, you feel the heft & size of the CL65, but its ABC (Active Body Control) system, which uses air suspension instead of sway bars to modulate body roll, does its job keeping the car flat. The transmission is slow, clunky, & unresponsive, killing the “sportiness” of the car, especially compared to modern day transmissions. The lack of a B pillar is so unique though, creating an open air feeling with the front and rear windows down.
From ‘04 to ‘06, Mercedes made 777 CL65 AMG. Today, they cost around $35k. But remember, it’s a $240k car, so the maintenance & repair work won’t be cheap.
The CL65 AMG is special because it reminds us of a time when emissions & CAFE regulations were not as restrictive as they are today. A time when Mercedes flexed its muscles and made land missiles legal and available for public consumption.
To this day, if I see an S or a CL600 from the 2000s, I give it a second glance. If I see a 65AMG, I stop and stare. I imagine a story of how the car got to where it is. I drool over the fact that Mercedes made something this amazing. I also smile because its a car that should be proudly shown. A beautiful beast from a forgotten era.