Mercedes CL 500 to be anniversary edition

This summer marks the centennial of when Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie separately registered their company logos in 1909. In celebration of the occasion, Mercedes has revealed a CL 500 “100 years of the trademark” anniversary edition.

Daimler's was the Mercedes Star, while Benz's was “Benz” set in the center of a laurel wreath. These two symbols would combine in 1925 and serve as the merged company's logo, with the Mercedes star centered in the Benz laurel wreath. The emblem remains today.

The historic emblems grace the center console.

The special model wears a metallic graphite paint finish from Mercedes' designo collection and rides on 20-inch, five-spoke AMG wheels with an exclusive titanium grey finish. Further visual enhancements come from an AMG Sports package that adds menacing front and rear fascia, side sills and painted brake calipers.

The interior gains hand-stitched designo aniline leather with contrast stitching, piano black trim, Alcantara roof lining and brushed stainless-steel pedals. The nod to the past comes with Daimler's and Benz's historic trademarked emblems made from gilded plate brass appearing on the center console.

Deliveries of the special-edition model begin at the end of June in Europe and are available for both the CL 500 and the CL 500 4Matic versions for an additional 17,850 Euros ($23,286). Only 50 units will make it to the States, with sales beginning in August. U.S. pricing has not yet been announced.

By Jonathan Wong