The Mercedes-Benz CLS four-door coupe sits between the E-Class and the S-Class in the firm’s model line-up – and that placement is set to be clearer than ever with the third-generation model, due to go on sale next year.
The newest version of the four-door coupe, which will be unveiled at the Los Angeles motor show in November, is built on the same MRA rear-wheel- drive platform as the E-Class, but its engines, driver assistance systems and other interior options – such as the twin-screen ‘Widescreen Cockpit’ system - are taken from the S-Class.
That, according to Mercedes engineers, makes the third generation CLS an “explicit connection” between the two cars – while an exterior design overhaul is intended to further develop the machine’s unique, sporty character.
To get an early glimpse into how that has been achieved, Autocar was given passenger rides in both petrol and diesel versions of the first production trial cars on the North Yorkshire moors recently. While largely finished in terms of manufacturing, there is still fine-tuning to be done on set-up and systems programming.
Both cars were sporting camouflage elements, with certain interior details concealed, but it’s clear the CLS has been heavily revamped both outside and in. Mercedes promise that it will like “like no other Mercedes”, with a design that will highlight the sporting feel of the car.
Mercedes faces an interesting challenge developing the new CLS. The car has two distinct customer bases: those after a dynamic but luxurious four-door coupé and those (particularly in China) who want a luxury car with the style of a dynamic four-door coupé.
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Lanehogger
It's simply an E-Class coupe
"but its engines, driver assistance systems and other interior options – such as the twin-screen ‘Widescreen Cockpit’ system - are taken from the S-Class" and ""That, according to Mercedes engineers, makes the third generation CLS an “explicit connection” between the two cars"". This is clearly Mercedes' marketing guff in the same way that VW tries to market the Arteon. Looking at the interior it's clear the cockpit (and the front part of the cabin as a whole) is the same as the E-Class while the engines taken from the S-Class are also shared with the E-Class and it's a sure fire bet that the engine/spec line-up will mostly mirror the E-Class. Because at the end of the day the CLS is simply a 4-door coupe version of the the E-Class and heavily uses that car's version of the MRA platform including its components, technology and internal structure and no amount of marketing language can change that.
Overdrive
Lanehogger wrote:
Indeed and it is a shame that the interior of the CLS, which in its first generation was so disitinctively different from other Merc models and had its own individual style, is just going to ape the E-Class.
Cheltenhamshire
Coupe where?
eekamouse1025
Cheltenhamshire wrote:
That's not really fair - coupe means to be chopped or cut up - when first used in the auto industry it was for any car where the wheel based was shortened or the profile modified from the donor car - over time this was almost exclusively a conversion from 4-doors to 2 hence our common useage but cars like the CLS, the X6, Passat CC, BMW 6 series etc brought back the true meaning of coupe
275not599
Very true. Rover produced
Very true. Rover produced the P5 and P5b four door coupés from 1958 to 1973.
Ravon
Lexus ?
Is it me, or does this look a bit like a Lexus ? Oh dear !
Mondeal
Ravon wrote:
I think that's just the camo tape.
mpls
Ravon wrote:
Yes , looks like a Lexus, but nothign wrong with Lexus.
Also has elements of Inifiniti..
405line
Looks good
From what I can see looks nice, especially like the front end withouth all those usual horrible "gapes". Also glad to see they have done away with the "wedding car" rear end. If it looks like the photos the it may be the best looking saloon since the E39..and I'm not really a merc fan.
Conte Candoli
Looks good, very good
The dashboard is a mistake though, the GLS used to have a beautiful fascia.
This dashboard is in the not very attractive, barogue E Class idiom.
What a shame.
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