Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Cabriolet (A208) · CLK Cabriolet

A208

The first CLK with a folding soft top.

Production
1998–2003
Built
68,948
Body
Cabriolet
Chassis
A208
Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Cabriolet (A208) (A208)

The CLK name arrived with sunshine — the A208 opened Mercedes-Benz's new compact-coupé line to the sky, packaging CLK elegance and a power-operated soft top into a body sized between the old W124 cabriolet and the SL roadsters.

Debuted in 1998 alongside the C208 coupé, the A208 CLK Cabriolet shared the W208 platform's multi-link rear axle and a range of straight-six and V8 engines, including AMG variants that gave the line genuine performance credibility. The automated hood folded beneath a padded cover; with the hard tonneau in place, the car read as a sleek coupé rather than a compromised conversion.

Mercedes-Benz produced the A208 from 1998 to 2003 and built 68,948 examples — making it one of the highest-volume premium cabriolets of its generation and the template for the CLK convertible line that would continue on the A209 chassis.

A208 interior
Cabin details of the A208, as preserved in period photography.

Every model.

11 model designations across 1998–2003 — engines, chassis codes and production figures for the A208.

ModellModelljahreBaumusterMotorGetriebeGesamt
CLK 2001999208.435111.9459,077
CLK 2002000208.435111.945oben enthalten
CLK 200 Kompressor1999208.445111.9442,654
CLK 200 Kompressor2000208.445111.944oben enthalten
CLK 200 Kompressor2001–2002208.444111.95612,906
CLK 230 Kompressor1999208.447111.97513,527
CLK 230 Kompressor2000208.447111.975oben enthalten
CLK 230 Kompressor2001–2003208.448111.98210,317
CLK 3202000–2003208.465112.940oben enthalten
CLK 55 AMG2000–2001208.470113.984oben enthalten
CLK 55 AMG2002–2003208.474113.984oben enthalten

* Die veröffentlichte Produktionszahl umfasst alle Serien dieses Modells; die Quelle schlüsselt sie nicht weiter auf.

A208 side profile
Studio profile of the A208 — the proportions that defined this chassis.
A208 rear three-quarter view
Rear three-quarter view of the A208.

Engines.

The M113 as fitted to the A208.

M113

V8
  • 113.9434.3 L · 4,266 cc

    279 PS

    205 kW · 275 hp bei 5,750 U/min

    400 N·m

    295 lb·ft bei 3,000 U/min

  • 113.9845.4 L · 5,439 cc

    347 PS

    255 kW · 342 hp bei 5,500 U/min

    510 N·m

    376 lb·ft bei 2,000 U/min