HIGH HOPES FOR HIGH END; MERCEDES LOOKING TO DOUBLE LINE'S SALES.Byline: Brian S. Akre Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. With demand for top-of-the-line luxury cars growing strong, Mercedes-Benz expects to double U.S. sales of its flagship CL coupe after the redesigned model goes on sale early next year. Mercedes unveiled the sleek CL500 and CL600 to open the Geneva Geneva, canton and city, Switzerland Geneva (jənē`və), Fr. Genève, canton (1990 pop. 373,019), 109 sq mi (282 sq km), SW Switzerland, surrounding the southwest tip of the Lake of Geneva. International Motor Show's press preview Monday night. With only about 8,000 of the big German coupes scheduled to be built a year, the CL is one of the world's most exclusive production cars. And for good reason: Though prices haven't been set, the new CL is expected to sell for about the same as the current model, which ranges from $90,000 to $130,000. ``It's a very exclusive clientele who have the means and desire to have such a product,'' said Mike Jackson For the P. G. Wodehouse character, see . For other people named Mike Jackson, see . General Sir Michael David "Mike" Jackson, GCB, CBE, DSO, DL, (born 21 March 1944) is a British army officer, formerly Chief of the General Staff. , chief executive of Mercedes-Benz of North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . Mercedes sold about 1,500 of the current CL in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. last year and expects to sell about 3,000 of the new version, Jackson said. The most expensive model, the CL600, features an all-new 6-liter, V12 engine that produces 367 horsepower and automatically runs on six cylinders when all 12 aren't needed for acceleration. Mercedes officials say that results in about 20 percent less fuel consumption. The interior is draped drape v. draped, drap·ing, drapes v.tr. 1. To cover, dress, or hang with or as if with cloth in loose folds: draped the coffin with a flag; a robe that draped her figure. in top-quality leather and a choice of woods: walnut or chestnut. European customers who want to pay a premium can even order a center console with an unusual veneer of crushed rock on aluminum - which has the look of polished granite. The CL is scheduled to go on sale in Europe on Aug. 2, followed by the United States in the first quarter of 2000. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color) Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz unveils its new CL coupe on Monday during a reception at the Auto Museum in Geneva, Switzerland. Donald Stampfli/Associated Press |
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