- The coupés of the Mercedes-Benz 215 model series offer luxury at its best in every respect
- World premiere of natural stone trim parts in the designo range of the time
- Contemporary witness to the absolute pinnacle of automotive engineering at the end of the 1990s
No. 1/2026: Mercedes-Benz CL 600 (215 model series)
Living mineral: Natural stone on trim parts in the interior of a car? What an extraordinary idea. Mercedes-Benz implements it for the first time in this CL 600. Soft like an organic material, this otherwise hard and brittle mineral hugs the curvatures of the interior. The trim on the centre console and door panels of the luxury coupé, for example, shimmers gently and deeply, and the blue tones glow seductively in the right light. The luxury coupé with its exclusive and at the same time safe trim made of natural stone offers an overwhelming aesthetic – astonishing experts and the general public.
Double debut: This CL 600 is a premiere vehicle of the 215 model series at the Geneva Motor Show from 11 to 21 March 1999. It was given a place of honour on a pedestal in the middle of the Mercedes-Benz stand. The silver-painted sister model, the CL 500, is on display next to it. The brand sets standards with its luxurious, two-door touring cars. The coupé was initially launched in 1999 as the CL 500, followed by the CL 600 in the spring of 2000. In 2001, Mercedes-Benz finally launched the stone trim parts made from the Norwegian granite type larvikite in the interior as part of the designo customisation programme.
Innovative sophistication: “How do you spell the future of the car?” – Mercedes-Benz posed this exciting question in Geneva in 1999 and presented the C 215 as one of the answers. The luxury coupé looks out into the world with a twin-headlamp face typical of its era. Like the S-Class, it perfectly combines innovative technology and maximum exclusivity. The newly developed 5.8-litre V12 engine M 137 in the top-of-the-range CL 600 model is a perfect match. A V12 emblem on the side discreetly indicates the engine. The premiere vehicle from 1999 can be experienced in the special “Youngtimer” exhibition at the Mercedes-Benz Museum until 12 April 2026.
Driving dynamics in a new dimension: One milestone is the Active Body Control ABC active suspension, which has its world premiere in this CL generation. ABC compensates for the usual body movements using hydraulic cylinders on the axles; the corresponding signals are supplied by sensitive sensors. The result is highly cultivated handling of the powerful two-door touring car. The press release from 1999 describes: “In this way, the Mercedes-Benz CL pushes forward into new dimensions of driving dynamics while maximising ride comfort.” This also benefits the particularly sporty AMG versions of the CL, which are offered for the first time in the 215 model series.
Racing technology for the luxury coupé: In Formula 1, the CL 55 AMG was even used as the Safety Car in the 2000 season. Driver Bernd Mayländer loves the combination of high-speed precision and luxury ambience it offers, as he says in retrospect in an interview. The special CL 55 AMG “F1 Limited Edition” model, which is available in a limited series of 55 vehicles from the summer of 2000 on, is reminiscent of the Safety Car. It is the world’s first road-legal car to have a carbon braking system with internally ventilated brake discs made of fibre-reinforced ceramic. The high-performance material is produced as a composite of carbon fibre, carbon powder, resin and silicon.
Individualisation at the highest level: The natural stone trim parts are included in the Mercedes-Benz range for individualising the CL at an absolutely top level. In addition to the designo labrador blue pearl colour, as can be seen inside this CL 600, the designo viking green variant is also available from 2001. The production is complex: the hard stone is sawn into wafer-thin slices, which are then fixed to a flexible base layer. Rollers then break up the grain structure, while the optical and haptic properties are retained. This particularly high-quality material can now also be processed with very tight radii for interior design, and bent or cut as required.
Sporty exclusivity: Anyone approaching the CL 600 in the “Refinement” section of the special “Youngtimer” exhibition will be captivated by its timeless design. Long bonnet, elegant roofline, slightly taut rear, an overall clear and powerful silhouette – the large coupé radiates sporty exclusivity. The special designo chromaflair paint finish emphasises the exclusive appearance of the exhibition vehicle at the Museum. It offers fascinating colour changes depending on the light and viewing angle. This CL 600 from 1999 also demonstrates the wide range of high-quality customisation options made possible by the designo range – the forerunner of today’s MANUFAKTUR range.
Perfection in every detail: The Mercedes-Benz CL offers the driver and passengers maximum comfort thanks to numerous solutions. This starts with the design of the door hinges, which ensure easy entry and exit despite the long, heavy doors, supported by an automatic closing mechanism. And it extends to stowage systems between the front seats, where the integrated car phone has its own spot on a separate level. The sophisticated COMAND operating and communication system, the highly customisable seat adjustment and much more are also included. In the sum of all the equipment details, the CL 600 makes it clear that true luxury is the result of technical optimisation. This is what the 215 model series stands for – what Mercedes-Benz used to redefine the coupés of the luxury class in 1999 and what fascinates today’s visitors to the special “Youngtimer” exhibition.
The Mercedes-Benz Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The ticket counter always closes at 5 p.m.
Registrations, reservations and the latest information:
Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. by calling 49 711 17 30000, by e-mail to classic@mercedes-benz.com or online at www.mercedes-benz.com/museum
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