In the eyes of many friends, this Mercedes-Benz is the most beautiful car in their minds, and the three words "elegant, luxurious, and sporty" are synonymous with it. It's the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.
Background to the birth of CLS-Class
Before the 21st century, major manufacturers made a very clear distinction between sedans and sports cars, and even the road-oriented coupé model, with its two-door hard top shape and 2+2 seating layout, was destined to be unique.
奥兹莫比尔Alero-Coupé
On September 11, 2003, at the 60th Frankfurt International Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz unveiled a concept car called the "Vision CLS Coupé".
Vision CLS Coupe
The concept car was led by Peter Pfeiffer, then chief designer of Mercedes-Benz, and designed by American designer Michael Fink, and was based on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class chassis codenamed W211 at the same time.
Peter Pfeiffer
I want to mention a separate point here, when many friends may hear the name "CLS", the first feeling will be that this car is based on the Mercedes-Benz S-class, after all, the name and exterior styling are closer to the S-class. But the fact is that the three generations of the CLS so far have all been based on the E-Class chassis of the same model.
The original CLS was based on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, codenamed W211 in the same year
Back to the Vision CLS Coupé. This car is not a simple removal of the window frames of the W211, nor is it a direct extension of the E-Class Coupé, but a completely independent design. Externally, the four-door design combines the elegance and dynamics of the Coupé with a more spacious design that is far superior to other Coupé models in terms of comfort and practicality. The whole car has a low front, a middle high, and a low rear, showing a cigar-like shape. A slightly arched waistline runs through the body, and the four doors give it a longer body, which looks extremely stretched.
Vision CLS Coupe
When Mercedes-Benz lifted the Vision CLS Coupé at its booth, the global public was immediately drawn to the burgundy coupé and countless people were impressed by its unique design. People were amazed to find that the car and sports car could be so perfectly combined. Due to the success of the concept car, Mercedes-Benz immediately accelerated the production of the car, launching a production version in less than a year. This is where CLS-Class comes in.
Vision CLS Coupe
1st Generation CLS-Class (W219/C219, 2004-2010)
On April 9, 2004, Mercedes-Benz officially unveiled the first-generation CLS-Class with chassis code W219/C219 at the New York International Auto Show.
CLS-Class
The car has a four-door, four-seater design, a body length of 4,910 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,854 mm, which is almost exactly the same as the concept car. The front face is flat and has a lot of rounded lines on the inside. On the side is the attractive part of the CLS, with a smooth and fluid roofline that extends to the rear and a curved waistline that extends from the front wheel arches to the rear. The rear shape is full and rounded, the triangular taillight cluster is highly recognizable, and the two-sided exhaust fits the sporty and elegant style of the vehicle.
The interior is the complete opposite of the sporty style of the exterior. The "T" shaped center console is covered with a large area of mahogany wood decoration, and a large amount of soft leather and soft slush mold wrapping, giving it a luxurious and elegant feeling. The distribution of each functional area is orderly, and the visual effect is simple and atmospheric.
Interior
Interior
In terms of power, the CLS350 is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a maximum power of 272Ps and a maximum torque of 350Nm, with a 0-100 acceleration time of 7 seconds, while the CLS500 is equipped with a 5.0-liter V8 engine with a maximum power of 306Ps and a maximum torque of 460Nm, and a 0-100 acceleration time of 5.4 seconds. All three engines are mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission (7G-TRONIC), which is also the first in the world to be used in a sedan.
Equipment, which includes the latest innovations from Mercedes, such as the THERMO-TRONIC automatic climate control system, active lighting, cornering headlamps and electro-hydraulic braking system (Electronic Induction Braking System SBC™), as well as Airmatic air suspension and four-zone automatic climate control in the range.
The first-generation CLS-Class received a facelift in 2009, mainly adjusting the exterior details such as the front grille (four horizontal bars to two horizontal bars), rearview mirror turn signals, rear tail lights, and the addition of a CLS 300, equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 engine with a maximum power of 231Ps and a maximum torque of 300Nm.
Added CLS300
The original CLS-Class was also available in an AMG version. In 2004, the CLS 55 AMG, limited to 3,000 units, was launched, equipped with a 5.4T V8 engine with a maximum power of 476Ps and a peak torque of 700Nm.
In 2005, Mercedes-Benz developed the CLS 55 AMG IWC Ingenieur, a limited edition of 55 units, in collaboration with the renowned Swiss watchmaker IWC.
CLS 55 AMG IWC Ingenieur
CLS 55 AMG IWC Ingenieur
Launched in 2007, the CLS 63 AMG is equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 engine with a maximum output of 514Ps and a maximum torque of 630Nm.
The design of the first generation of CLS-Class can be described as epoch-making. While everyone is looking for a sporty style, Mercedes is playing elegant. The CLS-Class is also considered to be the originator of the four-door coupe, which set off a four-door coupe craze in the 21st century, and since then other manufacturers have followed suit and launched their own four-door coupe models, such as the Audi A7, BMW 6 Series, Porsche Panamella, etc. As of July 2010, Mercedes-Benz had delivered more than 170,000 CLS-Class units to customers worldwide, and a survey showed that at least 60% of customers believed that "appearance" was the main reason for buying the CLS-Class.
The last of the original CLS-Class rolled off the assembly line
2nd Generation CLS-Class (W218/C218, 2010-2017)
In late August 2010, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the second-generation CLS-Class with the chassis code W218/C218.
The second generation of CLS-Class
The car was designed by Korean-American designer Hubert Lee (the success of the second-generation CLS catapulted Lee to become the head of Mercedes-Benz's North American Design Center).
Korean-American designer Hubert Lee
The exterior design of the second-generation CLS-Class is inspired by the predatory starting posture of animals.
Although the shape of the previous cigar has been retained, the lines have been redesigned: the sides of the body are combined with various curves, and the top of the fenders is gradually stretched back from the front of the body.
Comparison of the body lines of the first-generation CLS and the second-generation CLS
Combined with the muscular wheel arch design and the new family-style front face, the vehicle becomes more dynamic and stylish.
And the most talked-about appearance must be the taillights called "Devil's Eyes". When the lights come on at night, look at you like a pair of demonic eyes, majestic and graceful...... This design is the highlight of this generation of CLS.
Devil's Eye
In addition to the sedan version, the second-generation CLS-Class is also available in a hunting version with a hatchback styling – the CLS Shooting Brake. The Hunter version has a more complete and smooth roofline. (For more information about this car, you can jump to [The Most Beautiful Hunting Car] Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake)
CLS Shooting Brake
Inside, the interior is more youthful and sleek than its predecessor: a generous use of leather and solid wood and brushed aluminium accents create a luxurious interior. The center console continues the consistent design concept of Mercedes-Benz, and the entertainment area and the car phone area are handled in an integrated way, and the visual experience is square and very regular.
Second-generation CLS interior
The CLS 300 and CLS 350 are powered by a new 3.5-litre V6 engine with third-generation direct fuel injection technology. The CLS 350 has a maximum power of 306Ps and a peak torque of 370Nm, while the CLS 300 has a maximum power of 252Ps and a peak torque of 340Nm. The CLS 500 is powered by a 4.6-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine with a maximum power of 402Ps and a maximum torque of 600Nm. The three models are still mated to the seven-speed automatic manual transmission used in the previous model. In addition, from this generation onwards, the 4 MATIC all-wheel drive model is available as an option.
The second-generation CLS-Class is also available in an AMG version, the CLS 63 AMG, powered by a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. Depending on the tuning, the maximum power varies from 525Ps to 585Ps.
CLS 63 AMG
The second-generation CLS-Class received a mid-life facelift in 2014.
The second-generation CLS mid-facelift model
Mainly for the exterior and interior details have been adjusted,
The interior of the facelift
The 3.5-liter naturally aspirated engine was replaced with a 3.0-liter V6 engine, and the CLS 260 with a 2.0-liter engine was released to further reduce the entry price of the entire model.
With its super high appearance and strong power, this generation of CLS-Class has become a dream car in the hearts of many friends.
3rd Generation CLS-Class (W257/C257, 2017-2023)
On November 29, 2017, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the third-generation CLS-Class with the chassis code W257/C257 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Compared to the popularity of the previous two generations of models, this generation of models has brought countless controversies.
3rd Generation CLS-Class
This generation of CLS-Class has changed from the most elegant Mercedes-Benz to the most avant-garde and avant-garde Mercedes-Benz: the side of the body continues the low and smooth cigar-shaped body lines of the previous two generations, and the simple, smooth and dynamic waistline runs through the vehicle. The frameless doors and fastback design are still retained.
As the first production model to adopt Mercedes-Benz's next-generation design language, the shark mouth grille and inverted triangle headlights make the CLS-Class a great change in style, and the ferocity overshadows the elegance.
The interior part is similar to the 10th-generation E-class of W222 as a whole, with 12.3-inch dual screens and ambient lighting, which greatly improves the sense of technology and luxury.
The third-generation CLS-Class interior
This car has abandoned the four-seat layout of the previous two generations of models 2+2 and changed to a 2+3 five-seat layout, which has improved practicality.
2+3 seating layout
In terms of power, the CLS 260 is equipped with a 1.5T inline four-cylinder engine + 48V mild hybrid system with a maximum power of 184Ps and a peak torque of 280Nm, the CLS 350 is equipped with a 2.0T inline four-cylinder engine with a maximum power of 300Ps and a peak torque of 400Nm, and the CLS 450 is equipped with a 3.0T inline 6-cylinder engine + 48V mild hybrid system with a maximum power of 367Ps and a peak torque of 500Nm. All power is mated to a 9-speed automatic manual transmission.
The AMG version of the current generation of CLS-Class is only the CLS 53 AMG, which is equipped with a mild hybrid system codenamed M256 with a 3.0T straight-six engine and a 48V motor, with a maximum power of 435Ps and a peak torque of 520Nm, and the motor provides an additional 22Ps and 250Nm. With the support of the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, the 000 acceleration time is only 4.5 seconds, and the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
CLS 53 AMG
In the eyes of many friends, the style of the third-generation CLS-Class is no longer clear, and it is no longer a unique existence in the rivers and lakes. Many customers who pay for their appearance switch to Audi A7, BMW 8 Series, Porsche Panamella...... On August 31, 2023, Mercedes-Benz ended its 20-year production career in the CLS-Class series.