Under the Hood

The CLS500 gets a 302-hp, 5.0-liter V-8 that works with a seven-speed-automatic transmission. The CLS55 AMG has a 469-hp, supercharged 5.5-liter V-8 that's connected to a five-speed-automatic transmission. Both transmissions have manual-shift provisions.

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    Important safety notes
    WARNING Hybrid vehicles: be sure to read the "HYBRID" supplement. Otherwise, you could fail to recognize dangers. WARNING If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid towing bar ...

    Storing and maintaining the current speed
    You can store the current speed if you are driving faster than 20 mph (30 km/h). Accelerate the vehicle to the desired speed. Briefly press the cruise control lever up 1 or down 2. Remove ...

    Road-simulation test rig: an ordeal for the chassis
    The road-simulation test rigs are just as punishing as the body testing facility. Applying identical load spectra over the same distance, the test engineers torture the M-Class chassis in all of i ...