Under the Hood

Adapted from the engine in the automaker’s S-Class sedan and SL-Class roadster, the all-aluminum, 5.0-liter V-8 in the G500 produces 292 horsepower and 336 pounds-feet of torque. Each engine cylinder uses a three-valve twin-spark setup. An electronically controlled five-speed-automatic transmission sends the power to a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a Low range, which is fully synchronized for shift-on-the-fly operation at up to 15 mph. Mercedes-Benz’s Electronic Stability Program is also installed.

    See also:

    Checking tire pressure electronically
    ► Make sure that the SmartKey is in position 2 in the ignition lock. ► Press and hold the button on the multifunction steering wheel until the standard display appears in the mu ...

    The suspension: a proven design in a new guise
    As on the E-Class, the front suspension takes the form of a 3-link front axle with McPherson struts, which has been especially modified for the new CLS. The key feature of this modified suspension ...

    Automatic engine start
    The engine is started automatically if you:  - release the brake pedal when HOLD is not activated and the transmission is in position D or N  - shift the transmission to position R ...