View Poll Results: What platform do you think MB will use ?
CLS63 based on S platform
7
77.78%
CLS63 based on B platform
2
22.22%
Voters: 9. You may not vote on this poll
CLS goes LARGE in 2011
04-05-2009, 10:40 PM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
CLS goes LARGE in 2011
Ok so topspeed said the 2011 CLS is based upon the S platform and ridelust said the new B platform.....
-------------------------------------------------------
The first test mule of the next generation CLS has been recently caught by photographers while having a little "rest".
The mule we are talking about is, as you see, supplied by the current CLS-Klasse model, precisely the CLS 63 AMG. However, there are some minor details that depict the 2011 CLS-the wheel arches appear to be more proeminent and are also covered in key parts by camouflage tape, possibly hiding important design lines or measuring instruments. The same story for a small part from the rear end of the car. And there is also another particular detail that often appears on test cars:the rims of the front wheels are different from those of the rear wheels.
The first real test prototypes are to hit roads in late 2009. The public display of the new CLS is due to take place one year later, in late 2010, as a 2011 model. The next generation CLS-Klasse is expected to grow in size, as to offer space for a new, smaller 4-door coupe. According to insiders, the 2011 CLS will feature the S-Klasse technical platform(N.B.:the current CLS-Klasse shares the platform with the E-Klasse).
http://mercedes-benz-blog.blogspot.c...ls-klasse.html
------------------------------------------------
The Mercedes-Benz CLS is no longer the only four-door coupe on the market, and in order to stay on top the German luxury car maker will have to keep improving their product. It is expected that the second generation CLS will be revealed in 2010 as a 2011 model. Spy photographers already caught the Mercedes testing, but with the heavy disguise it is difficult to tell what the final product will look like. So for now all we can go on is our imagination and the imaginations of the artists at Global Motors have come up with.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...g-ar71724.html
-----------------------------------------------
either this is sad joke or a sad day
"Since playing parent to the ridiculously small smart ForTwo, Mercedes-Benz has become quite the connoisseur of fruity little cars, which makes their future line of B-Class vehicles not entirely surprising. Based on the Mercedes-Benz BlueCell Concept that debuted at the 2009 NAIAS back in January, Mercedes’ new B-Class will compete in the same market segment as the Audi A3 Plus and BMW 1-Series. Although the new B-Class vehicles are expected to encroach significantly on C-Class territory, the only replacement that has been confirmed as of today is the BLS 4-door coupe. As the name suggests, the BLS will replace the CLS Sports Coupe in Merc’s lineup as a more economical, enviro-friendly model. Using newly-developed F-Cell technology, the direct-inject, turbocharged BLS is expected to achieve a CO2 emissions rating somewhere within the 95-135 g/km range.
Expected to begin production 2011, the Mercedes-Benz BLS will eventually be joined by (as well as share a platform with) the Mercedes BLK compact SUV and the 2-door A Class AMG coupe. Like the BLS, all of Mercedes-Benz’s new green utes will share the same direct-inject, turbocharged technology, with a possible 2.2 CDI clean-diesel variant rumored to also be in development"
http://www.ridelust.com/2011-mercede...pe/#more-18727
http://jalopnik.com/5194013/2011-mer...pely-hatchback
nothing to do with the above... but do you really care ?
-------------------------------------------------------
The first test mule of the next generation CLS has been recently caught by photographers while having a little "rest".
The mule we are talking about is, as you see, supplied by the current CLS-Klasse model, precisely the CLS 63 AMG. However, there are some minor details that depict the 2011 CLS-the wheel arches appear to be more proeminent and are also covered in key parts by camouflage tape, possibly hiding important design lines or measuring instruments. The same story for a small part from the rear end of the car. And there is also another particular detail that often appears on test cars:the rims of the front wheels are different from those of the rear wheels.
The first real test prototypes are to hit roads in late 2009. The public display of the new CLS is due to take place one year later, in late 2010, as a 2011 model. The next generation CLS-Klasse is expected to grow in size, as to offer space for a new, smaller 4-door coupe. According to insiders, the 2011 CLS will feature the S-Klasse technical platform(N.B.:the current CLS-Klasse shares the platform with the E-Klasse).
http://mercedes-benz-blog.blogspot.c...ls-klasse.html
------------------------------------------------
The Mercedes-Benz CLS is no longer the only four-door coupe on the market, and in order to stay on top the German luxury car maker will have to keep improving their product. It is expected that the second generation CLS will be revealed in 2010 as a 2011 model. Spy photographers already caught the Mercedes testing, but with the heavy disguise it is difficult to tell what the final product will look like. So for now all we can go on is our imagination and the imaginations of the artists at Global Motors have come up with.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...g-ar71724.html
-----------------------------------------------
either this is sad joke or a sad day
"Since playing parent to the ridiculously small smart ForTwo, Mercedes-Benz has become quite the connoisseur of fruity little cars, which makes their future line of B-Class vehicles not entirely surprising. Based on the Mercedes-Benz BlueCell Concept that debuted at the 2009 NAIAS back in January, Mercedes’ new B-Class will compete in the same market segment as the Audi A3 Plus and BMW 1-Series. Although the new B-Class vehicles are expected to encroach significantly on C-Class territory, the only replacement that has been confirmed as of today is the BLS 4-door coupe. As the name suggests, the BLS will replace the CLS Sports Coupe in Merc’s lineup as a more economical, enviro-friendly model. Using newly-developed F-Cell technology, the direct-inject, turbocharged BLS is expected to achieve a CO2 emissions rating somewhere within the 95-135 g/km range.
Expected to begin production 2011, the Mercedes-Benz BLS will eventually be joined by (as well as share a platform with) the Mercedes BLK compact SUV and the 2-door A Class AMG coupe. Like the BLS, all of Mercedes-Benz’s new green utes will share the same direct-inject, turbocharged technology, with a possible 2.2 CDI clean-diesel variant rumored to also be in development"
http://www.ridelust.com/2011-mercede...pe/#more-18727
http://jalopnik.com/5194013/2011-mer...pely-hatchback
nothing to do with the above... but do you really care ?
04-08-2009, 08:41 PM
#2
Super Member
Thread Starter
Mercedes CLS might just be the most beautiful luxury coupe
Mercedes CLS might just be the most beautiful luxury coupe
Laurance Yap and David Chao
Surrey Now
http://www2.canada.com/surreynow/new...aaac760ce3&p=1
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Mercedes-Benz didn't become the world's oldest car company by being revolutionary.
Over the last 100-plus years, it has carefully evolved its product lineup, gradually diversifying from its core offerings of big luxury sedans and grand two-seat sports touring cars into wagons, sport-utility vehicles, large crossovers and compact hatchbacks.
While the company's pace of innovation has certainly accelerated over the last decade, with the B-, R- and GL-classes entering uncharted territory, Mercedes' tactic for evolving models within its range has also been cautious: new body styles are usually launched with existing drivetrains, with new engines, transmissions and even electronic systems being introduced during mid-cycle facelifts to maintain consumer interest and to smooth the inevitable bumps in the road.
The CLS-class, Mercedes' "four-door coupe," is no exception to this rule. It was in some ways already familiar, being based on E-class mechanicals with a sportier edge and more distinctive styling. Not long after its introduction, the CLS500 became the CLS550, with a significant 80-hp power bump for the "base" model, while the naturally-aspirated CLS63 AMG replaced the old supercharged CLS55.
But beyond some minor tweaks, the CLS remained largely the same; its sleek, chopped-roof styling was as fresh as ever and its lush four-seat interior was still right up to date.
Still, time marches on and it's been more than a year since the CLS' last round of upgrades. For 2009, Mercedes has treated the range to a much more significant update.
While there have been a few changes with what's under the hood, the focus this time around is on freshened styling as well as upgraded interior electronics, areas in which Mercedes' most recent models (such as the S- and C-class) have made significant strides since the original CLS was introduced.
While it would take the most dedicated of M-B enthusiasts to spot all of the new CLS' various changes, their net result is, indeed, a new, fresher-looking car.
There's a new grille design, with two horizontal spars instead of three; combined with a redesigned front bumper, it gives the CLS a more aggressive look. The rear bumper has been redesigned, looking longer and lower in profile; it wraps around a new set of trapezoidal exhaust pipes on the CLS550.
Other details include redesigned rear lights with LED illumination and larger exterior mirrors with turn-signal repeaters. Order a CLS63 AMG and you get even more visual aggression, with new 19-inch triple-spoke alloy wheels (that look remarkably like a Porsche Turbo's), plus a four-outlet sports exhaust system that juts out of an aggressive rear diffuser.
That newfound visual aggression isn't misplaced. While the CLS63's thundering 6.2-litre V8 remains unchanged, an upgraded 7-speed AMG Speedshift transmission gives it a much harder edge than before. In automatic mode, it works much as before.
The difference comes in manual mode. Upshifts are still lightning-fast (and a little bit brutal if you're hard on the gas); it's when downshifting that the new transmission really comes into its own. The new transmission has a double-declutching function that automatically blips the throttle on your way down through the 'box. The speed and aggressiveness of the shifts gives the CLS63 a harder-edged, sportier feel reminiscent of a sequential manual gearbox like Ferrari's F1 system. The transmission's crisp shifts, combined with the throatier exhaust, make for a car that, despite having largely the same engine and suspension setup as before, feels more involving to drive.
It's not like there was much wrong with the CLS' driving experience anyway. Even in the stiffer AMG form, the CLS has always offered an impressive blend of high cornering grip, low levels of body roll and long-distance ride comfort. It never feels nervous or upset on even rough road surfaces, but you still get enough feedback through the seats and steering wheel to know what's going on at all four wheels.
Most minor road imperfections are heard as a distant thwack rather than actually felt and you can charge around fast corners with confidence, knowing that it won't be deflected off-line by mid-corner bumps. The CLS550, which has a more comfort-oriented setup than the AMG, still has more than enough speed (with 382 horses) and sportiness to be a real thrill when you're in the mood to play.
Like the exterior, the CLS' interior has received numerous but subtle upgrades. You probably won't notice that the matte-finish wood trim is a different kind of wood, or that the instruments have been redesigned (on CLS550s, they're white-on-black now).
What you will notice is that the entertainment system has been given a makeover, with the interface and graphics from the S- and CL-class models. In addition to a CD changer and standard iPod input, you get a USB input as well as slot for digital media cards. There's also a great new 420-watt Harman/ Kardon speaker system. Bluetooth connectivity for your cellphone is now standard, as well as a hard drive-based navigation system; controls on the new three-spoke steering wheel also let you activate all the systems by voice.
All of the detail changes add up to a car that's familiar to look at and to drive, but is improved in almost every respect. Arguably the progenitor of the genre, the CLS not only surprised Mercedes with its success (more than 130,000 have been sold so far) but the industry as well.
The updates bring it up to date in an environment where Jaguar is launching its own swoopy sedan, the XF, with Porsche and Aston Martin due to launch their own "four-door coupes" in the coming year. It's still expensive - even with extra equipment, expect the CLS550's base price to drop in June when it goes on sale from the current $92,000 and the CLS63 to drop from $128,000 - but the car's sales success has shown that you can't put a price on style. And the CLS has more of that than just about any four-door on the road today.
Thumbs up:
Vastly improved gearbox in AMG; still as gorgeous as ever.
Thumbs down:
Still tight in the back; still expensive.
The bottom line:
An E-class with a lot more style.
Competitors:
Jaguar XF: Probably the closest competitor to the CLS in terms of spirit - it too is a low-slung, swooping-roofed four-door - the XF is new to the party and has a gorgeous, ultra-modern interior. Proximity switches, a rotary gear selector and blue backlighting may be a bit too stylistically loud for some, but they give the Jaguar the fresh new edge it needs. The Mercedes is better to drive and, particularly in AMG form, much pricier.
BMW 6-series: While it has only two seats, the BMW ticks many of the same boxes that the CLS does: just enough room for four, high performance and high levels of comfort in a large, stylish package. It feels bigger and more substantial on the road than the CLS, but its interior doesn't feel up to the same level of quality. The chassis really comes alive only when you spring for the 500-hp M6.
Lexus LS: The LS may not be as inspiring to drive or look at it, but Lexus does provide an alternative in the form of cheaper, much conservative luxury sedan. The LS has every possible feature wrapped inside a body that is quite stable and "tossable" on the road. Though not really a direct competitor, the LS is still a great sporty luxury sedan.
Specifications:
2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS550/CLS63 AMG
Price: $92,000/$125,000 (estimated)
Engine: 5.5-litre V8; 6.2-litre V8
Fuel consumption (combined): NA
Power: 382/507 hp
Torque: 391/465 lb-ft
Laurance Yap and David Chao
Surrey Now
http://www2.canada.com/surreynow/new...aaac760ce3&p=1
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Mercedes-Benz didn't become the world's oldest car company by being revolutionary.
Over the last 100-plus years, it has carefully evolved its product lineup, gradually diversifying from its core offerings of big luxury sedans and grand two-seat sports touring cars into wagons, sport-utility vehicles, large crossovers and compact hatchbacks.
While the company's pace of innovation has certainly accelerated over the last decade, with the B-, R- and GL-classes entering uncharted territory, Mercedes' tactic for evolving models within its range has also been cautious: new body styles are usually launched with existing drivetrains, with new engines, transmissions and even electronic systems being introduced during mid-cycle facelifts to maintain consumer interest and to smooth the inevitable bumps in the road.
The CLS-class, Mercedes' "four-door coupe," is no exception to this rule. It was in some ways already familiar, being based on E-class mechanicals with a sportier edge and more distinctive styling. Not long after its introduction, the CLS500 became the CLS550, with a significant 80-hp power bump for the "base" model, while the naturally-aspirated CLS63 AMG replaced the old supercharged CLS55.
But beyond some minor tweaks, the CLS remained largely the same; its sleek, chopped-roof styling was as fresh as ever and its lush four-seat interior was still right up to date.
Still, time marches on and it's been more than a year since the CLS' last round of upgrades. For 2009, Mercedes has treated the range to a much more significant update.
While there have been a few changes with what's under the hood, the focus this time around is on freshened styling as well as upgraded interior electronics, areas in which Mercedes' most recent models (such as the S- and C-class) have made significant strides since the original CLS was introduced.
While it would take the most dedicated of M-B enthusiasts to spot all of the new CLS' various changes, their net result is, indeed, a new, fresher-looking car.
There's a new grille design, with two horizontal spars instead of three; combined with a redesigned front bumper, it gives the CLS a more aggressive look. The rear bumper has been redesigned, looking longer and lower in profile; it wraps around a new set of trapezoidal exhaust pipes on the CLS550.
Other details include redesigned rear lights with LED illumination and larger exterior mirrors with turn-signal repeaters. Order a CLS63 AMG and you get even more visual aggression, with new 19-inch triple-spoke alloy wheels (that look remarkably like a Porsche Turbo's), plus a four-outlet sports exhaust system that juts out of an aggressive rear diffuser.
That newfound visual aggression isn't misplaced. While the CLS63's thundering 6.2-litre V8 remains unchanged, an upgraded 7-speed AMG Speedshift transmission gives it a much harder edge than before. In automatic mode, it works much as before.
The difference comes in manual mode. Upshifts are still lightning-fast (and a little bit brutal if you're hard on the gas); it's when downshifting that the new transmission really comes into its own. The new transmission has a double-declutching function that automatically blips the throttle on your way down through the 'box. The speed and aggressiveness of the shifts gives the CLS63 a harder-edged, sportier feel reminiscent of a sequential manual gearbox like Ferrari's F1 system. The transmission's crisp shifts, combined with the throatier exhaust, make for a car that, despite having largely the same engine and suspension setup as before, feels more involving to drive.
It's not like there was much wrong with the CLS' driving experience anyway. Even in the stiffer AMG form, the CLS has always offered an impressive blend of high cornering grip, low levels of body roll and long-distance ride comfort. It never feels nervous or upset on even rough road surfaces, but you still get enough feedback through the seats and steering wheel to know what's going on at all four wheels.
Most minor road imperfections are heard as a distant thwack rather than actually felt and you can charge around fast corners with confidence, knowing that it won't be deflected off-line by mid-corner bumps. The CLS550, which has a more comfort-oriented setup than the AMG, still has more than enough speed (with 382 horses) and sportiness to be a real thrill when you're in the mood to play.
Like the exterior, the CLS' interior has received numerous but subtle upgrades. You probably won't notice that the matte-finish wood trim is a different kind of wood, or that the instruments have been redesigned (on CLS550s, they're white-on-black now).
What you will notice is that the entertainment system has been given a makeover, with the interface and graphics from the S- and CL-class models. In addition to a CD changer and standard iPod input, you get a USB input as well as slot for digital media cards. There's also a great new 420-watt Harman/ Kardon speaker system. Bluetooth connectivity for your cellphone is now standard, as well as a hard drive-based navigation system; controls on the new three-spoke steering wheel also let you activate all the systems by voice.
All of the detail changes add up to a car that's familiar to look at and to drive, but is improved in almost every respect. Arguably the progenitor of the genre, the CLS not only surprised Mercedes with its success (more than 130,000 have been sold so far) but the industry as well.
The updates bring it up to date in an environment where Jaguar is launching its own swoopy sedan, the XF, with Porsche and Aston Martin due to launch their own "four-door coupes" in the coming year. It's still expensive - even with extra equipment, expect the CLS550's base price to drop in June when it goes on sale from the current $92,000 and the CLS63 to drop from $128,000 - but the car's sales success has shown that you can't put a price on style. And the CLS has more of that than just about any four-door on the road today.
Thumbs up:
Vastly improved gearbox in AMG; still as gorgeous as ever.
Thumbs down:
Still tight in the back; still expensive.
The bottom line:
An E-class with a lot more style.
Competitors:
Jaguar XF: Probably the closest competitor to the CLS in terms of spirit - it too is a low-slung, swooping-roofed four-door - the XF is new to the party and has a gorgeous, ultra-modern interior. Proximity switches, a rotary gear selector and blue backlighting may be a bit too stylistically loud for some, but they give the Jaguar the fresh new edge it needs. The Mercedes is better to drive and, particularly in AMG form, much pricier.
BMW 6-series: While it has only two seats, the BMW ticks many of the same boxes that the CLS does: just enough room for four, high performance and high levels of comfort in a large, stylish package. It feels bigger and more substantial on the road than the CLS, but its interior doesn't feel up to the same level of quality. The chassis really comes alive only when you spring for the 500-hp M6.
Lexus LS: The LS may not be as inspiring to drive or look at it, but Lexus does provide an alternative in the form of cheaper, much conservative luxury sedan. The LS has every possible feature wrapped inside a body that is quite stable and "tossable" on the road. Though not really a direct competitor, the LS is still a great sporty luxury sedan.
Specifications:
2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS550/CLS63 AMG
Price: $92,000/$125,000 (estimated)
Engine: 5.5-litre V8; 6.2-litre V8
Fuel consumption (combined): NA
Power: 382/507 hp
Torque: 391/465 lb-ft
