PARIS MOTOR SHOW: 001 Gets UP Close AND Personal With The 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

One of 00R's biggest complaints about a recently driven 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG was its interior. It was filled with sub-par plastics and it didn't have that sturdy, Mercedes-Benz feel. In an E350 this stuff can fly, not in a $100k AMG product.

And while the last-generation CLS-Class boasted a nice interior, with the BEST and STURDIEST shutting doors I have EVER closed, the all-new 2011 CLS seems to blow it out of the water. Just look at this interior!

Things that catch my eye: the floating wood trim on the doors, the incredibly tight leather and stitching on the doors and dash, and the dashes of metal trim that highlight the cabin. Wow! I mean, wow!

Remember, this is the production CLS-Class, this is not a concept!

What say you, Spies? Is this one of the nicest production interiors that will make it to the market?


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quizz - 10/2/2010 1:41:19 AM

+7 Boost

You have a point. Love the general design theme, but the details are a bit too embellished. They should've restrained themselves and gone for simplicity. This is too busy. The general shape is an improvement, but ugh, the little tid-bits are just overdone.

Agent63 - 10/2/2010 1:26:13 PM

+1 Boost

Some times in life when things are over done it turns out better in the end. I will hop off the bandwagon and not sip on the hatorade and say that I like this car. I like the rear of this car more than the outgoing as it's more engaging to look at. The interior is beautifully made as well. Mercedes has improved their quality issues that plagued them from 97-2006 (minor things that were just annoying). Good car and I can't wait for the AMG version.

edeus123 - 10/3/2010 3:40:23 AM

+2 Boost

I couldn't agree with you more Agent63. I find the car to be very elegant and cutting edge. Not mundane and predictable like Audi and BMW. It kept the Mercedes heritage without being stagnate. I just simply love the expression of the Mercedes's ideology behind it.

delan - 10/2/2010 1:55:23 AM

+2 Boost

I dunno guys....I am in absolute love..lust..awe of this automobile. I am getting ready to be blown away when I see it in person.

dbtimes1 - 10/2/2010 2:50:10 AM

+1 Boost

Where is the 6 series 4-door? Thought it was going to be shown at Paris.

Wimmer - 10/2/2010 4:50:40 AM

+2 Boost

"One of 00R's biggest complaints about a recently driven 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG was its interior. It was filled with sub-par plastics and it didn't have that sturdy, Mercedes-Benz feel."

Huh? The materials are completely fine. This is a subjective opinion as best, because the majority of people and reviews find the interior well-made and the materials to be perfectly fine.

Why do people bitch about interiors claiming the "plastic is cheap". Have they sent a sample to a laboratory in order to ascertain its "quality" or something? In case this agent hasn't noticed, every car in this class uses tons of plastic in their interiors. To claim this or that plastic is higher quality is either A) SUBJECTIVE or B) SILLY (when nobody can really tell how qualitative a piece of plastic is just by looking at or feeling it).

Bill - 10/2/2010 7:08:52 AM

+3 Boost

I agree with you completely. I bought a 2010 Mercedes E550 to replace my S550 and I think the interior is perfect, both from a material and ergonomic point of view. The qualities of the interior become more apparent when you actually own the car. A few minutes inside the car in a showroom is hardly the perfect way to make a detailed assessment about an interior - any interior.

Agent00R - 10/2/2010 7:31:13 AM

0 Boost

If MB thought the E63's interior was so good then why did they make those interior updates for 2011?

Oh yeah, that's because anyone with eyes saw the 2010 E63's interior wasn't a typical Benz product.

JRobUSC - 10/2/2010 8:17:43 AM

+4 Boost

Agree with 00R. The E-class interior was easily the cheapest looking/feeling one in the class. I'm not saying the acres of plastic in there aren't expensive, just that the interior looked cheap compared to the A6, XF, and (most of all) new 5-series. For a brand new model, Mercedes screwed up with the E-class interior, period.

edeus123 - 10/3/2010 3:45:27 AM

+2 Boost

Well Agent00R makes a very valid point, because lets be perfectly honest, you never saw that much rubbermaid plastic in a mid range Benz before. It kinda caught me off guard when I saw the interior for the first time. I was like dang....for real, are you serious?

Notjustlex - 10/2/2010 10:20:23 AM

0 Boost

nice Dodge Ram front end!!!!!!!!!! What a POS..

dl767captain - 10/2/2010 8:01:54 PM

+1 Boost

I really like the back and side profile, but I just can't decide on the front. The interior isn't my favorite, it just seems like it's too busy

pepito66 - 10/2/2010 8:47:12 PM

+3 Boost

I love it is just perfect for me......

LACMAN - 10/2/2010 9:47:31 PM

+2 Boost

I like this car a little more every time I see it.


On a side note: You would think in a model like this they would lose the typical Mercedes-Benz switch gear (everything below the front center vents) in favor of something exclusive to the CLS.

Idk, just my 2cents...

LACMAN - 10/2/2010 9:51:17 PM

+1 Boost

Hey 00R, at first I couldnt figure out what you were talking about but I see it. That "floating" (as you say) wood trim on the doors looks like its on the dash too. The way the wood is styled on the dash and doors appears almost 3D (if that makes any sense)...

LexSucks - 10/3/2010 11:01:57 AM

0 Boost

Nice Pics!

iamdabest1 - 10/3/2010 12:41:47 PM

+2 Boost

I can see how some of you think its overdone, in a way i agree, but the fact that this is all factory bling and not aftermaket i think is nice.. i just cant imagine anyone touching anything about this car, i personally LOVE IT...
say what you want, but this looks A LOT better than the A7 which hasnt been released but looks completely bland compared to this..