Mercedes-Benz claims to be continuing its commitment to further reductions in fuel consumption and exhaust emissions with new products in five model series, which will take the stage at this year's Geneva Motor Show. Alongside new levels of safety, comfort and refinement, the new coupés and roadsters consume up to ten per cent less fuel than their predecessors.

The new Mercedes Benz CLC has more engine power, better economy and more safety features than in the past.

With the new CLC, Mercedes-Benz has presented a distinctive model series at the Geneva Motor Show, which provides an attractive entry into the Coupé family of the brand. Compared to the previous Sports Coupé, Mercedes engineers have newly developed or improved more than 1,100 components.

Compact body dimensions and powerful proportions underline the sporty appearance of the new CLC. The front and rear ends have been completely newly designed.

With its striking coupé radiator grille, which has a large Mercedes star at its centre, as well as the new projection-beam headlamps, the Sports Coupé follows the modern Mercedes design idiom. The large, newly designed boot lid conceals a variable luggage compartment with a capacity of up to 1,100 litres. The new taillights, the long row of LEDs forming the third brake light and the rear bumper subdivide the rear end and accentuate its width.

The interior of the new Mercedes-Benz CLC comes with sports seats with further improved lateral support, a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control and brushed aluminium trim are standard equipment.

Mercedes-Benz has put together a sports package for drivers with particularly sporty leanings. This includes exclusive technical innovations and extras, such as 18-inch light-alloy wheels, wide-base tyres, headlamps with a black-tinted interior frame, a lowered sports suspension, a leather sports steering wheel and tinted aluminium trim. Another special feature of the CLC that has been adopted from racing sports cars is the instrument cluster, which has red needles in the speedometer and rev counter. When the ignition is switched on, both needles spin right around the scale once then return to their starting position.

Another standard feature of the sports package is the new direct-steer system, which further enhances the agile handling of the CLC and has safety benefits. This new speed-sensitive steering system also has an additional, variable rack ratio, which responds to the steering angle.

The new CLC is available with a choice of four four-cylinder and two six-cylinder engines developing outputs from 122bhp to 272bhp. With its up-to-date turbo-diesel engines, the Sports Coupé has excellent fuel consumption: the CLC 200 CDI comes with a 10.8 per cent improved fuel economy figure over the preceding model. The CDI models are capable of a range exceeding 950km with one tankful (62 litres). The 184bhp power unit of the CLC 200 KOMPRESSOR now has 20bhp more output, and consumes marginally less fuel than before.

Mercedes-Benz has refined, improved and developed the SL-Class roadster further to a level of detail and extent that goes well beyond a mere model facelift. The SL 350 is powered by a newly developed and particularly lively sports engine.