World premiere of a new Mercedes model series at the Geneva Motor Show - CLS-Class: Four-door Coupé a generation ahead
Mercedes-Benz is presenting the new CLS-Class four-door Coupé at the Geneva Motor Show. It is based on a unique vehicle concept which for the first time combines the elegance and dynamism of a coupé with the comfort and practicality of a saloon. Spaciousness, luggage capacity and day-to-day practicality are at the level of a saloon, while the design lines possess the emotionally charged character of a coupé. With this currently unique combination, the new CLS-Class is one coupé generation ahead.
The technical specification also points the way to the future: in addition to adaptive front airbags, sidebags and windowbags, the preventive occupant protection system PRE-SAFE is available for the new Mercedes Coupé. The engine range includes two powerful petrol units: in the CLS 350 a newly developed V6 with 200 kW/272 hp and in the CLS 500 a muscular eight-cylinder unit with 225 kW/306 hp. Both engines are partnered by the new seven-speed automatic transmission, 7G-TRONIC, as standard. In the top CLS 500 model features such as AIRMATIC DC air suspension and THERMOTRONIC four-zone climate control provide S-Class levels of comfort.
The precursor to the new CLS-Class was a coupé study which Mercedes-Benz presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in autumn 2003. The enthusiastic public response to this four-door coupé encouraged the management in Stuttgart to give the green light for series production.
As a unique synthesis of a coupé and a saloon, the new CLS-Class offers a great deal more added value than other coupés. In this way Mercedes-Benz is once again emphasising its role as a trendsetter for new ideas in the automotive world. The sophisticated aesthetics of this coupé design, the exclusive appointments and the trailblazing technology are particularly aimed at people who have a passion for motor cars and motoring.
Comfort and spaciousness to saloon standards
The four-door coupé concept even allows passengers in the rear convenient access and egress. They have the benefit of two comfortable single seats and enjoy generous freedom of movement. There is a distance of 829 mm between the front and rear seats, which together with the shoulder and elbow-level width (1422 and 1464 millimetres respectively in the rear) puts the CLS-Class firmly in saloon territory. Newly developed seats with electric adjustment as standard are available for the driver and front passenger; on request these can be equipped with active ventilation or as a dynamic multicontour seat.
Furthermore, the boot of the new CLS-Class holds up to 505 litres (VDA measuring method) – much more than any other coupé and even many a saloon.
Choice of powerful six and eight-cylinder engines
Both the engines available for the CLS-Class exhibit effortless performance and exemplary torque characteristics, providing the best possible conditions for dynamic driving pleasure. The CLS 350 is equipped with a newly developed V6 engine which has an output of 200 kW/272 hp and delivers its maximum torque of 350 Newton metres from a mere 2400 rpm. Both are peak values in this displacement class.
The six-cylinder Coupé accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 250 km/h (provisional figures). The lively V6 engine harmonises with the likewise new 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, which is standard equipment. This is the world’s first passenger car transmission of this type, and makes a major contribution to the strong acceleration and exemplary fuel consumption of the CLS 350 – 10.1 litres per 100 kilometres (NEDC combined consumption, provisional figure). Standard appointments in the six-cylinder Coupé include THERMATIC automatic climate control, a stereo radio, speed-sensitive power steering, a leather-covered steering wheel, 17-inch light-alloy wheels and 245/45 R 17 wide-base tyres.
With the 5.0-litre V8 engine the new CLS 500 need fear no performance comparison with thoroughbred sports cars, while offering the eight-cylinder comfort typical of a luxury-class saloon. This power unit has an output of 225 kW/306 hp and an impressive 460 Newton metres of torque. Once again the standard seven-speed automatic transmission plays its part here. The CLS-Class V8 Coupé accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. The fuel consumption is 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres (NEDC combined consumption, provisional figures).
The additional standard equipment in the CLS 500 (as compared with the CLS 350) includes AIRMATIC DC air suspension, THERMOTRONIC luxury climate control and 18-inch light-alloy wheels with 245/40 R 18 wide-base tyres.
Occupant protection with adaptive airbags and PRE-SAFE
The new CLS-Class is equipped with the latest safety systems such as adaptive front airbags, windowbags and sidebags, as well as belt tensioners and belt force limiters on all seats, offering an extremely high level of occupant protection. In future the prize-winning Mercedes safety system PRE-SAFE will be available. This is able to recognise critical driving situations in advance and activate precautionary measures for the vehicle occupants. These include split-second tensioning of the seat belts, which brings the driver and front passenger into a more favourable seating position even before a potential collision. This enables the airbags to protect the occupants more effectively if an impact occurs.
Leading-edge Mercedes technology for handling safety and superb comfort
In the field of handling safety Mercedes-Benz emphasises its technological leadership among car brands in the new CLS-Class with Sensotronic Brake Control SBC™ and the latest-generation Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) as standard. A number of other innovations are also optionally available for the four-door Coupé to make driving even safer. These include powerful bi-xenon headlamps with Headlamp Assist, which Mercedes-Benz now combines with cornering lights.
DISTRONIC proximity cruise control, LINGUATRONIC voice control, the control and display system COMAND APS with Europe-wide DVD navigation and the access and drive authorisation system KEYLESS-GO are further optional Mercedes innovations which guarantee even greater comfort and even more driving pleasure.
Model range and equipment: New avant-garde
Unique four-door Coupé concept
Coupé aesthetics with the comfort and practicality of a saloon
Extensive standard equipment to meet the most demanding highest comfort requirements
Stuttgart, Mar 02, 2004
Developing new vehicle concepts – to set trends and influence automotive development – has always been a major aspect of the Mercedes-Benz philosophy. Throughout its more than 100-year history, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer has always displayed the courage, expertise and leadership needed to go one step further and be the pacemaker in development.
The many innovative vehicle concepts first implemented by Mercedes-Benz provide ample evidence of this. Back in 1901, the first model to be given the fine-sounding Mercedes name was one of many cars that have stood for something entirely new and set the standards for automotive development as a whole. It was followed by icons such as the 540 K Roadster in 1934, the 300 SL "Gullwing" (1954) and the 220 model with the first ever safety bodyshell (1959). In the modern era, cutting-edge concepts have paved the way for model series such as the Mercedes-Benz 190 (1982), the A-Class and the M-Class (both 1997), providing the impetus for the creation of new and successful market segments.
The CLS-Class is the latest in an illustrious line of forward-looking car concepts: this four-door Coupé is further proof that Mercedes-Benz is always a step ahead of the field – a coupé generation ahead in this case.
Never before have two such entirely different ideas – the stylistic appeal and strong emotive charisma of a coupé and the comfort and practicality of a saloon – been so elegantly blended together to form a single automotive entity. All of which makes the CLS-Class a truly shining coupé specimen. A valuable one-off that arouses pure desire.
The concept, design and technology of this new Mercedes model series reflect the aspirations of modern people who lead active lives and are open to new trends. People who attach great importance to individuality, stylish aesthetics and sheer excitement. In other words: the new CLS-Class is a Coupé for the connoisseur - for the passionate motorist who seeks and appreciates those really special things in life.
Passion and practicality are equally high on the list of priorities for this most discerning of customer groups, since a love of elegant forms and the finest of materials always goes hand in hand with a desire for the very latest in no-holds-barred technology. The CLS-Class provides the very best of both worlds by displaying distinctive aesthetics in every detail and showcasing leading-edge technology. All backed by the high quality associated with Mercedes-Benz. Not to mention the renowned reliability which, alongside many other virtues, underpins the brand's impeccable reputation.
CLS 350: plenty of power from six cylinders
The new Mercedes model series initially has two variants, which are mainly distinguishable by their engines, wheel and tyre sizes and the level of specification.
With the newly developed Mercedes six-cylinder engine (200 kW/272 hp) the CLS 350 offers an ideal combination of sporty handling dynamics and great comfort. In terms of output and torque this engine is one of the most powerful in its displacement class. Together with the standard-fitted 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, it forms a formidable team which achieves top-class values for acceleration and fuel consumption: 7.0 seconds for a sprint from standstill to 100 km/h and 10.1 litres of premium petrol per 100 kilometres (NEDC combined consumption).
The standard equipment of the CLS 350 also meets the highest expectations. It includes:
17-inch light-alloy wheels
245/45 R 17 wide-base tyres
7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission
Adaptive front airbags with two-stage deployment according to impact severity
Ambient interior lighting
Armrest between the seats with compartment below
ASSYST service indicator
Audio 20 CD radio
Automatic comfort-fit belts
Automatically dimming rear-view and exterior mirrors
Belt force limiters at front and rear
Belt tensioners at front and rear
Central display in instrument cluster with trip computer
Central locking system
Cruise control with SPEEDTRONIC
Electrically adjustable front seats
ESP® with tyre pressure loss warning, ABS, acceleration skid control and Brake Assist
Fabric/leather seat upholstery
Headlamp Assist
Heated, electrically adjustable and automatically dimming exterior mirrors
Key-based remote boot lid unlocking
Leather-covered multifunction steering wheel
Outside temperature display
Power windows
Projection-type headlamps
Rain sensor
Rear and brake lights with LED technology
Rev counter
Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC™)
Sidebags for driver and front passenger
Silk matt burr walnut wood trim
Speed-sensitive power steering
THERMATIC automatic climate control
TIREFIT tyre repair kit
Tyre pressure loss warning based on ESP®
Windowbags
CLS 500: coupé excitement to perfection
Eight-cylinder comfort and sports car-like performance are offered by the top model CLS 500. Its V8 engine (225 kW/306 hp) also powers the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the SL Roadster. With a torque of 460 Newton metres it accelerates the four-door Coupé from standstill to 100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds, interacting perfectly with the standard seven-speed automatic transmission. Driving enjoyment is also enhanced by standard AIRMATIC DC air suspension system, which constantly adapts the springs and shock absorbers to the current driving situation, and the THERMOTRONIC four-zone climate control system. The standard equipment in the CLS 500 includes the following in addition to that in the CLS 350:
AIRMATIC DC air suspension
18-inch light-alloy wheels
245/40 R 18 wide-base tyres
THERMOTRONIC luxury automatic climate control
Optional equipment: the best of everything
Innovative high-tech systems from the Mercedes luxury class make the new CLS Coupé even more desirable. The range of available options includes the following:
"Alustyle" basic carrier bars for the roof
18-inch light-alloy wheels in multi-spoke design with mixed-size tyres
AIRMATIC DC (for CLS 350)
Anti-theft warning system
Audio 50 APS radio with navigation
Bi-xenon headlamps with cornering lights and headlamp cleaning system
Bottle holder
COMAND control and display system, also with Europe-wide navigation
DISTRONIC proximity control
Dynamic multicontour seat
Exclusive leather upholstery
Glass tilting/sliding sunroof
Heated steering wheel
High-gloss or silk matt "laurel" wood trim
Infra-red reflecting glass all-round
KEYLESS-GO access and drive authorisation system
LINGUATRONIC voice control
Luxury seats with active ventilation and heating
Memory function for seats, mirrors and steering wheel
Nappa leather upholstery
PARKTRONIC parking aid
Rear window blind
Remote boot lid locking
Sidebags in the rear
Ski-bag
Sound system with surround sound
Steering-wheel gearshift buttons and manual shift program
THERMOTRONIC luxury automatic climate control (for CLS 350)
Tyre pressure monitoring
Wood/leather steering wheel
The Mercedes-Benz designo range offers a further, extensive choice of options for further personalisation of the CLS Coupé.
Design: Subtle difference
Lines that awaken excitement and passion
New Mercedes face full of empathy and power
Discreet elegance and high-quality appointments in the interior
Stuttgart, Mar 02, 2004
Fascination at first glance – that was the aim of the designers when they created their drawings for the CLS-Class and made use of the potential offered by the lines of a coupé. In other words, there were (almost) no limits imposed on their imagination and creativity. The concept of a four-door coupé provided the designers with the scope to give their formal language a decidedly emotional emphasis, and therefore to create an automobile personality with special characteristics.
From every perspective this four-door coupé shows how thoroughly this opportunity has been used. On the basis of familiar family features it presents a design line that smoothly reconciles seemingly contradictory characteristics such as dynamism and size, power and elegance, aesthetic appeal and practicality. In this way the design convincingly reflects the emotional, experience-focused character of the CLS-Class.
It is the unique proportions of the body that mainly characterise the exciting appearance: dynamically formed front and rear overhangs elegantly extend the bodywork, contrasting with the strikingly curved, low-profile roof of a thoroughbred coupé. Viewed from the side, the large, calm surfaces of the doors and rear wing provide a formal counterpoint to the frameless side windows and low-lying look typical of a coupé.
The front-end design of the CLS Coupé appears both new and familiar: new because the headlamps create a different and interesting Mercedes face, and familiar because of the brand’s typical slatted radiator grille with a centrally positioned Mercedes star. These features and the pronounced wedge-shape of the bonnet and front bumper emphasise the athletic attributes of this four-door coupé – suggesting forward-flowing energy, power and performance – with additional visual reinforcement by the muscular curve of the wings. The long slats of the radiator grille lend a broad, powerful appearance to the front end.
Side view: harmonious lines and surfaces
The interplay between tightly drawn lines and soft, naturally rounded surfaces has become the trademark of today’s Mercedes design. The CLS-Class perfects this design theme: the high waistline of the Coupé, which suggests safety and security, is emphasised by a striking shoulder line. It rises from the dynamic, rounded form of the front wheel arch, extends across the entire body side and ends in the attractively contoured rear light cluster, which gently continues the flowing line into the rear bumper. With this feature the designers have created a fine balance between lines and surfaces. At the same time it helps to extend the bodywork in visual terms and emphasises its sporty elegance.
The roof line of the four-door Coupé is even more striking. It extends above the muscular body in a sweeping arc, with a transition into the attractive C-pillar configuration which gently dips into the rear end in a softly flowing line.
At the rear the deep rear bumper emphasises the width of the vehicle body and characterises the beefy appearance of the Coupé in concert with the two chromed exhaust tailpipes.
With this sophisticated design line the CLS-Class accentuates a new, particularly experience-focused aspect of driving, namely sheer driving pleasure.
Interior: luxurious surroundings and the finest materials
This impression is reinforced by the interior, whose attractive colours and high-quality materials are an invitation to enter and enjoy the stay on board. Leather and wood are the principal design elements in the interior: the steering wheel and selector lever are leather-covered as standard, while the seats are attractively upholstered in a black fabric/leather combination. There is a choice of three leather types suited to the chosen interior colour: black, basalt grey, sunset red and cashmere beige.
Like leather, fine wood has always been an important material which lends a particular elegance and feeling of quality to the interior of a Mercedes-Benz. In the CLS-Class it takes the form of hand-crafted burr walnut as a decorative feature which extends across almost the entire fascia of the dashboard. This creates a decidedly elegant feel which is accentuated by the silk matt surface varnish. As an alternative, dark, exotic "laurel" wood trim is available as optional equipment, with either a high-gloss or silk matt surface.
The flowing lines of the dashboard also characterise the transitions to the doors and rear section, creating a balanced, harmonious impression of spaciousness. The centre console and transmission tunnel reinforce this impression, for they too form an attractive unit which sweeps back and divides the two comfortable single seats in the rear. Compartments beneath the soft, leather-covered armrest between the front seats and in the rear of the centre console provide stowage space, also accommodating cup and bottle holders.
Cockpit: elegance and precision in harmony
The instrument cluster combines both classic and modern stylistic features. As a large dial instrument, the centrally located speedometer is flanked by two smaller instruments for the engine speed and time of day, as well as two outer graphic displays showing the fuel level and coolant temperature. Black dials and instrument trim with shining chrome surrounds emphasise the high-quality chronometer-look of the instruments.
Ergonomics typical of a Mercedes simplify operation of the different onboard systems and ensure that the driver can enjoy every kilometre. The centrepiece of the ergonomic concept is the four-spoke steering wheel, whose illuminated buttons allow information to be accessed or certain functions to be controlled by thumb pressure. The radio, telephone, navigation system and other units can be easily operated without distraction in this way.