AUTO MODIFIED 2011

In early July 2010, Mercedes unveiled the new incarnation of the Mercedes CL Coupe at their flagship Mercedes Benz World, based at the historic Surrey racing circuit at Brooklands. It will come as no surprise that the unveiling was booked to coincide with one of the biggest motor shows on the UK calendar, The Goodwood Festival of Speed.

There are relatively minor changes to the external styling, such as updated lights, bumper and bonnet, and the interior styling changes are relatively modest too; better quality upholstery materials, intuitive controls and mood lighting amongst the styling enhancements. But the main upgrades are primarily technology-based, geared towards under-the-hood improvements for driver assistance.

These technological additions include two new safety systems - Active Lane Keeping Assistant and Active Blind Spot Assistant, both of which offer the potential to active intervention, in addition to the existing warning systems.

The new line up ranges from the entry level CL550 4matic, with a 4.6litre direct-injected engine and 7-speed transmission, capable of 0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds, to the CL600 with its twin turbo 5.5litre V12 engine, which can achieve 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds. The AMG range is as impressive as ever - for example, the L65 AMG comes equipped with a V12 engine, capable of delivering 621bhp and 738lb/ft of torque.