Car Review:Mercedes CLK 500 ISG

When it comes to boosting efficiency in petrol engines, Mercedes is playing catch-up. Premium rival Lexus already has hybrid cars, while BMW offers regenerative braking to improve fuel economy on several models.

But the three-pointed star is working hard to regain ground – and Auto Express has driven its latest development: a CLK 500 with ISG technology.

The initials stand for Integrated Starter/Generator, and in lay terms, the set-up is a stop-start system. A disc-shaped electric motor is added between the engine and automatic transmission, while a secondary battery is charged by regenerative braking and offers a power boost during hard acceleration. The main advantage is that this layout is smaller and lighter than a hybrid transmission.

For the driver, it means fuel economy is up 10 per cent from 24.8mpg to 27.3mpg, while CO2 output is esti­mated to drop by a similar proportion.

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david989 - 8/13/2007 9:52:39 AM

-4 Boost

At least that’s how it’s supposed to work. But in the 30-degree heat of our urban drive in Germany, it didn’t. Despite having several opportunities to cut out as we stopped at traffic lights and junctions, it failed every time.

Typical Benz unreliability. Call up Lexus for help.

Sedulous - 8/13/2007 11:14:58 PM

+1 Boost

Sport, don't feed the troll, he'll never learn how to finish an article... Let him live his fantasy. Answering their comments just makes them ever so happy.

david989 - 8/13/2007 9:53:16 AM

-4 Boost

At least that’s how it’s supposed to work. But in the 30-degree heat of our urban drive in Germany, it didn’t. Despite having several opportunities to cut out as we stopped at traffic lights and junctions, it failed every time.

Typical Benz unreliability. Call up Lexus for help.