ajm0824

First letme say that I'm been driving my first MB, an E320, for two weeks now and I never thought it was possible to love such an inanimate object as a car this much. Only to find out that this car is far from inanimate.

That being said...



Anybody else wonder about the placement of the CLS



(Purely Unsubstantiated paranoid skeptical thinking)



But, is it possible with the CLS350 (around 54,000 euros) and CLS500 (around 67,000 euros) that they are setting it up to replace the E class, and stay with me here.. instead of outright replacing the E, phasing it out over a couple of years. This way if the new CLS is not well received initially, they do not entirely jeopardize their bread and butter (E class). Also gives them an opportunity to try out a new direction for the company (especially with the impending next generation S).



Anybody possibly know how much resources were spent on the CLS' development?(might give an indication of how much their betting on it?)

Anybody know how far along in development they are with the new W221?


Makes you wonder where they are positioning themselves with the ultra luxury Maybach available (Sales of which I'm not sure of).



Or maybe it's a knee-jerk reaction to the 6-Series BMW, after all it is an around 60,000 "coup", as they call it, albeit it is a 4-door.



Just curious about any comments. likes...dislikes...



Personally when I first saw it at the NY auto show this past April, I couldn't even look at it. But these things have a funny way of growing on you. I'm seeing pics of the CLS55 and can't help but wonder, if in a year from now, when I see them on the road, I'm gonna want one!







Thanks.

HELL ONA HARLEY

I'm not going to speculate on the placement of the new CLS, but there is no way its going to replace the E..... The CLS is just another car to lure other (different) potential buyers over to MB.... Although I haven't seen one in person yet, I really like the CLS in the pictures and would consider one as my next benz....

ATS

I stopped reading your post at the "replacing the E class". Mercedes just spent over 2 billion dollars designing this E class. You have to be insane to think they would throw that out the window to replace that with a "4 door" "coupe" - which to me is an oxymoron.

Anyways, 2 billion is more then all N/A car companies combined spent on R & D across their total product line.

ajm0824

I'm not tring to spread rumors, or be "insane", just tring to gain little insight to big DC's thought process. As after owning my new E (BTW: my first).. I almost surely will be a repeat customer.

In 3 or so yrs from now when a replacement to the w211 is due... with the upcoming W221 likely taking on similar cues (front) as the CLS (IMO), isn't it possible that the next generation E will take on similar cues. Then what will you have, Two 4-door cars that are priced the same, with the same engines, that look more and more similar?

Again just a far off flegling thought...

Merely seems overcrowded with it in the lineup...that's all.

maybe too soon to speculate, though

ATS

The E320 will dissapear and be replaced with the 350, so will (eventually) the E500 and E55 replaced and be replaced with bigger brother models. But the E class will not dissapear. Look at how long each model run lasts (about 10 years).

They are not in the business of throwing money away.

DWP

Oh? They bought Chrysler Corporation, did they not?

lig

:LOL:

back on topic - am I the only one who thinks the CLS is unattractive? If I want a coupe - I'll buy a coupe - not some droopy looking Aurora/Acura wannabe.

saffrontiger

Wow, glad we all have opinions. Acura...no, Aurora...are you kidding me?!

lig

I'm not joking... I think the roofline in the rear looks like an Aurora or the old TL.

I could be more grouchy than usual because my HK stereo has been out for few days now and I lost a stoplight race to a lightly modded Miata last night (CAI only)

moa4r

I dont get the whole aurora comparison...anyway, I dont really care if they call it a coupe or a sedan, its still gonna be pimp... I personally think it fits right in between the e and the s class, but looks a lot better than both, inside and out.

MBWorld1

Have only seen the pictures of it so far and it is ugly.
The CLS looks like it doesn't belong in the MB line up. It just stands out as being too far off. Hope MB doesn't start making all their other cars with similar styling.

MBZman

Ok, I feel compelled to chime in. I saw the CLS at the L.A. Auto show. I felt that the whole design was absolutely beautiful. Very elegant, smooth strong lines. It didn't remind me of a Honda, Acura, Olds or anything else. The only part of the car that doesn't set well with me are the front lights. Overall, it is one of the nicest designs MB is going to have in their lineup. Many people at the show expressed how "beautiful" the car looked.

Although many may disagree, I do think that MB needs another class between the E & S class. The E class is a very nice car but geared towards a family man/housewife. The only S class I would consider is the S500, with ABC & any sport package available. So figure E500 = $65,000, S500 = $90,000 +. There is definately a whole to be filled, sure I'm not taking into account the S430 which is probably on it's way out or the AMG's but there is still a whole.

To take it a step further, I think they need another class between the C & E. The C is to small, boxy, down market for my taste and you already know what I think of the E. I feel comfy paying between $50,000 - $75,000 for a car, hence my decision to purchase the CLK. I don't want a four door family sedan and with that attitude MB's lineup is very limited in my price range. Why not come out with a four door coup like the CLS, a true 2 door and a convertable thus replacing the CLK? Slot them between the C & E class.

Please don't get me wrong, I love MB's and think very highly of all their cars. It's great that they have come out with cars such as the SL 65 & CL 65, the only criticism I have is that MB needs to focus more on the bottom half of their lineup.

Sorry for the long post.

konigstiger

In seeing the CLS up close – one on one, what is your opinion of the dash design, detail, quality, and materials used (i.e.: wood)?

CALBenzo

They had an ugly green one at the Lovesmercedes tour here in SF. As I recall, which may not be much, it reminded me of the E-Class interior.

CALBenzo

Here is a thread of the AMG version that partially shows the interior.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c219/74816-new-mercedes-benz-cls-55-amg-unveiled.html

benzboy

It's a good looking car and I agree that it will not "replace" the E but be additive to the line.

konigstiger

Hey thanks, I’ve seen countless pictures but was looking more for a “hands on” opinion.

DWP

Several more interior pix here:

http://www.edmunds.com/future/2005/m...Mercedes-Benz*

Looks to have a divided rear seat, like the BMW 645.

MBZman

Konigstiger, unfortunately it was roped off at the auto show, so I was only able to walk up to it, not sit in it. The controls, air conditioning, radio, etc. are the exact same as in the E-class so whatever you think of the E-class controls will apply to the CLS. As for the dash design, specifically the wood, it is very Jaguar like, I commented that it's the interior Jaguar should have made. There's a lot of wood which is a big departure from traditional MB's. As for the overall quality/fit and finish of the CLS, I was speaking to my Dad a couple of weeks ago who recently traded his 2002 E320 in for a 2004 E500. He feels that the quality of the controls as well as the fit & finish of the interior are light years ahead of his previous E. Based on that the CLS should be pretty good. I know people have had some problems with their E's, especially first year, but having driven my Dad's extensively IMO it's one of the highest quality MB's made today. It certainly puts my 2002 CLK (208) to shame.

CALBenzo, I agree! It seems that MB is picking the ugliest colors possible to show the CLS, it's a shame since newer Benz's are what I like to call very color dependent, for example a new CLK to me is ugly in silver but looks great in darker colors.

I'm going to the lovemercedestour this weekend so hopefully they'll have a CLS I can get into and check out.

ajm0824

I hear ya, I just registered for the lovemercedestour in LI.

BTW: I am thoroughly enjoying my new E, but is it wrong that I now want one of just about every MB they make?

My father is going to pick-up the new S next year, so I'm anxious to see that.

HELL ONA HARLEY

I could'nt agree more..... There seems to be alot of debate about the classification of this car, (sedan or coupe) but I really couldn't care less what they call it...

HELL ONA HARLEY

You too???? Thought it might be just me.

CALBenzo

I like it, but I don't love it. At certain angles, it looks Ford Taurus-ish to me. Is it just me??

DWP

A car with four doors, a roof and a B-pillar ain't no "coupe" by any known definition of the word, regardless of the name M-B chooses to promote it by. It's a four-door sedan. This is rapidly becoming my favorite link from this forum:

http://www.fecundity.com/pmagnus/humpty.html

I was going to wonder aloud why this board didn't establish a forum specifically for CLS speculation and bloviation, but it already has. Two, in fact.

ATS

Yeah.. They are going after the CLK and SLK market but are targeting family people. Hence the "4 door coupe ". It really is an E that has a K styling. I personally love the inside and hate the outside although if Merc wanted to give me one I wouldn't complain..