MERCEDES BENZCLK Cabrio (A209) 2003 - 2005

　　Apart from the hard top version, Mercedes-Benz also introduced a convertible one for the second generation of the CLK in 2003, a year after the model's launch.

　　Built on top of the same platform as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class W203, the CLK convertible tried to be a common ground between this model and the mid-size sedan E-Class. For that, it was not only larger than its predecessor but also more luxurious and more powerful.

　　The car's front fascia featured a new four-headlamp image that resembled mostly the C-Class rather than the E-Class. Its tilted grille with three slats looked small, but its cooling capacity was also shared with a lower grille mounted in the apron below the bumper. From its profile, the raked windshield sported thick pillars that also served as protection in the event of a roll-over accident. There were no other pillars on the car, so the overall look was clean and uninterrupted all the way to the back.

　　One of the promises that Mercedes-Benz made with this second generation of the CLK was that now there was enough legroom for seating two adults in the back on the bench. That was true only if the front occupants were not taller than 1.75 m (5.5 ft). Still, there was a sense of luxury thanks to the materials used inside the vehicle. The instrument panel was filled with E-Class-like dials, and the same went with the center stack layout. Still, the HVAC controls resembled mostly those installed in the C-Class.

　　Under the hood, at the launch, there were seven engines available with power outputs ranging from 163 hp to 367 hp. Six of the engines were new developments or improvements, providing more power and torque than their predecessors.