Mercedes-Benz CLS

Summary

Mercedes-Benz has officially launched the third generation CLS-Class in a single 300d variant.  It is positioned between the E-Class and S-Class and rivals the likes of Porsche Panamera, BMW 6 GT and the upcoming Audi A7.

Exterior

Appearance wise, with its evolutionary styling, the CLS debuts a new headlight design which will be carried forward in the impending Mercedes vehicles. The triangular design of the headlamps flanks the single-louvred diamond grille that characterizes the new CLS. The front bumpers are akin to the one seen on the AMG derivative of the E-Class. Mercedes has succeeded in retaining the smooth flowing roofline that accentuates the four-door coupe body style which was initiated by the first gen CLS back in 2003. The LED tail lights at the back are simple yet match the overall design of the new CLS. The frameless doors, in a typical coupe fashion, massive 21-inch wheels (18-inch are standard) and the characteristic C-Pillar make the new car unmistakably a CLS.

Interior

On the inside, the cabin gets all the goodies from the bigger S-Class. So the CLS can be had with those massive 12.3-inch dual digital display. The air-vents are now newly designed which will also be seen in the upcoming A-Class. The ambient lighting gets 64 colours, the centre console is a combination of rotary dials and touchpad. The multifunctional steering wheel, premium leather upholstery and the luxurious cabin lend the CLS a proper S-Class feel. It’s even filled to the brim with a host of active and passive safety and driver assist hardware. The headroom is increased now as the CLS is positioned as a five-seater. The boot space is retained at 520 litres.

Engine

Powering the new CLS is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine. It pumps out 245bhp of power and 500Nm of torque mated to an automatic gearbox driving the rear wheels. It accelerates to 100kmph in 6.4 seconds and will have a top whack limited at 250kmph. More powerful variants are expected to be introduced in the country but that will come later along with a 48volt hybrid variant.