Mercedes-Benz C215 CL 600: The High-Tech V12 Luxury Icon of 1999
The 1999 Geneva Motor Show marked a pivotal shift in the luxury coupe market. Mercedes-Benz debuted the C215 CL-Class , replacing the massive W140. It was sleeker, 750 pounds lighter, and packed with more processing power than its predecessor. The flagship CL 600 sat at the top of this hierarchy. It paired a V12 engine with a revolutionary active suspension system that rewritten the rules of vehicle dynamics. This car proved Mercedes-Benz could still dominate the high-end grand tourer segment through technical superiority. The Designo Interior: Natural Stone in a Modern Cockpit One of the most radical features of the CL 600 was the designo personalization program. Mercedes offered natural stone trim for the interior. This was a first for a series production car. Engineers used a Norwegian Granite called Larvikit . They cut the stone into ultra-thin la...