Mercedes Benz CLK Coupe production comes to an end

The Mercedes Benz CLK is something of an enigma - built around the old C-Class platform, styled like the E-Class, and priced in between the two, the car sits in its own unique segment and has no direct competition from its rivals. Its sales history has been a strong success, especially in the United States, but the car is set to meet its demise with the arrival of a new E-Class Coupe later this year and an E-Class Cabrio in 2010.

In order to make way for the new two-door E-Class range, Mercedes has ended production of the current CLK. The cars, however, will still be on sale until the arrival of the new E-Class Coupe later this year. As for the CLK Cabrio, a Mercedes spokesman confirmed to MotorAuthority that production will last until late June and current stock should suffice until the drop-top is replaced by the E-Class Cabrio sometime next year.

Sadly, this means that the high-performance CLK AMG Black Series, which is based on the CLK Coupe, is also no longer in production. Mercedes is yet to reveal if a new version based on the upcoming E-Class Coupe will be produced but given the interest in the current CLK Black Series we can easily envisage AMG engineers forging a new one.

The CLK Coupe, currently in its second generation, was introduced in 2003 and was produced at Mercedes’ plant in Bremen, Germany.