Thursday 30th September 2010

Paris: Mercedes CLS

Out with the old, and in with the new version of Merc's four-door coupe

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Mercedes' current, six-year-old CLS has been retired and the all new model is here at Paris.

The completely redesigned car sits on a modified version of the current E-Class's floorpan, albeit with a lower and wider track.

Design wise it retains the E-Class's rear wheelarch bulges, but loses the car-length crease of the original.

The CLS' extra length is said to have been used to make the rear more accessible, though only four seats will be offered.

Optional all-LED headlights will be available, each made up of 71 LEDs which will probably cost a fortune.

The new car will be powered by the usual range of petrol and diesels - albeit with some eco tweaks. Like just about every other manufacturer, Mercedes has found a way to extract more power and increased efficiency from smaller engines.

Prices will follow shortly, probably with a bit of wincing all around.

[FrankCayman]

That's nice, I like that! A bit more muscle than the last model.

[Hugo a Gogo]

prefer the old banana shaped one

[Risotto]

That looks nasty. Why are they suddenly grafting that totally incongruous crease around the leading edge of the rear wheel arch onto all their models?

Personally I loved the original shape CLS - in Mercedes terms it was right up there with the best of Paul Bracq's work.

[Stablelad]

No Likey. Bloatsville!!!

[georgetuk]

The back is getting their but still the ugliest part of the car.

Otherwise very nice!

[torres del paine]

I've got a thing for big, powerful Mercedes.

I rather like this even if it's a touch fussy and incongruous. Looks awful in red but I imagine it would look impressive in black; ready for Mafia duties.

Still, for me, the CL is the pick of the bunch. It's better looking but still pleasingly teutonic and omnipotent - I would love one in my garage alongside a GT3 or CSL say.

Edited by torres del paine on Thursday 30th September 15:24

[va1o]

Does look very smart but not a significant leap from the old model, its good but not perfect. I still prefer the E-Class coupé its the best looking car Mercedes have made in the last decade IMO!

[Windymiller]

That rear arch crease just does not work...

[tobeee]

I love the old model. This one's chunky arches makes it much less sophisticated.

[anonymous-user]

tobeee said:

I love the old model. This one's chunky arches makes it much less sophisticated.

+1

[TheRoadWarrior]

Windymiller said:

That rear arch crease just does not work...

Crease? CREASE?! Calling those giant box-section monstrosities stuck to the sides a crease is like calling the Atlantic Ocean a 'pond' !

[vintageracer01]

guy_spyder550 said:

tobeee said:

I love the old model. This one's chunky arches makes it much less sophisticated.

+1

YUP! The older one was such a statement and very well balanced and sophisticated. Now, they ruined it completly. What a shame.

[edinph]

Droopy and bloated! It'll date as soon as it drives out a showroom!

[mercfunder]

Nowt wrong with the old one, looked elegant and sporty.

This one just looks too heavy, Mercedes seem to be following the route of BMW and fking up good designs just to have new models.

[k-ink]

At least Mercedes had the decency to turn the lights off

[va1o]

k-ink said:

At least Mercedes had the decency to turn the lights off

Are you referring to the DRLs? This will presumably get those stupid permanently running bright LED strip things where the front foglights belong

[k-ink]

No I was referring to the new CLS, which is rather lumpy compared to the original. In the pictures above it looks like Mercedes stand has turned off most of their lights!