Merc Showcar Hints At New CLS

Tech concept shares design themes with next-gen 'four-door coupe'

By Chris-R / Monday, 22 February 2010 / Loading comments

These new pictures of Merc's forthcoming Geneva show car are said to provide the strongest clue yet to the shape of the next generation CLS - also previewed by

the unusual 'sculpture' M-B presented at the Detroit show

in January.

The new F800 Style pictured here is both a technology platform and a showcar, says M-B in its latest press release. Its exterior appearance is marked by a long wheelbase, short body overhangs, and a sensually flowing roof line.

"The exciting coupe-like roof line, and in general the vehicle's balanced proportions, lend it a stylish sporty look that reinterprets the Mercedes-Benz design idiom and emphasizes the sculptural character of the F800 Style," says Mercedes-Benz Head of Design Prof. Gorden Wagener. "The result is a harmonious blend of innovative form and function, which conveys a sense of great styling and authority."

A unique innovation of the F800 Style is its rear doors. Whereas the front doors are attached to the A-pillar in a conventional manner and open wide toward the front, the rear doors slide backward when opened, as they are suspended from an interior swivel arm. Because the doors slide back close to the vehicle body, occupants find it much easier to get into and out of the automobile in tight parking spaces.

The F800 Style also has no B-pillar, making the entire space between the A and C-pillars completely accessible when the doors are opened. We don't expect such radical innovations on the new CLS production car, of course, although we've been wrong before!

The vehicle's front end features a variation of the radiator grille with the centrally placed star that is typical of Mercedes sports cars, and this is likely to set the trend for future production models. The curved radiator grille bars softly flow around the tube holding the Mercedes-Benz brand star and along with the wide radiator grille and the generously curved air intake openings, there are bright LED headlights with running lamps.

According to M-B, the F800 Style showcar features an all-new multi drive platform, which accommodates electric drives with fuel cells (enabling ranges of almost 375 miles) as well as the use of Plug-in Hybrids that can drive for up to 18 miles solely on electricity.

"We are dedicated to reconciling our responsibility for the environment with practical customer utility in a fascinating automobile," says Dr. Thomas Weber, the Daimler cheese responsible for this sort of thing. "The new F800 Style research vehicle combines this commitment to providing the leading innovative drive concepts with our traditional Mercedes strengths in the areas of design, safety, comfort, and outstanding performance."