The back offers enough curve and shape to be interesting, enough elegance to portray the CL as a more expensive coupe than it is. A character line runs the entire side of the car, crisply obvious on the front fender, subtly camouflaged as it moves toward the rear. The front retains the jutting triangle look that marked the first CL, but it seems muted and better suited to the rest of the '01 styling than it was to the previous car's looks. Purposeful, a bit mean, businesslike now, instead of just provocative then. The redone CL is bigger than before and feels it.
Nothing cramps the driver's legs or crowds the knees.
There's just enough space now between the two front bucket seats to absorb those awkward moments when courting, or soak up the angry vibes during directional disputes. The back seat, as you might expect in a coupe, is for smaller riders and those who don't mind that their windows are fixed permanently up. Coupes are claustrophobic in back, and there's just nothing for it. CL has undergone a marvelous makeover, now offering the comfort, style and performance of a car no longer for those en route, but for those who've arrived. On sale since March 1.