2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Luxury car
•The CLS brings refined performance to life
•Embodiement of the Mercedes-Benz brand values
•Athletic proportions, strong design language
•Expressive front design features central star in the grille
•Dynamic character line flowing back towards the rear
•Elegance with handcrafted details in the interior
A generation ahead: The CLS-Class created a new vehicle category in 2003 by combining the elegance and expressiveness of a coup? with the comfort and functionality of a sedan. The CLS delighted the public, astounded the competition and created a new style icon: for years the CLS has endured as the only four-door coupe in its class, and since October 2004 it has been the car of choice for around 170,000 buyers worldwide. ‘Customers all over the world benefited from our bold move to launch a completely new vehicle concept onto the market’, explains a delighted Dr. Joachim Schmidt, member of the board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sales & Marketing. ‘And with its exciting design, the new edition of the CLS also benefits from the fact that we are a whole generation ahead of the competition with our four-door Coup?.’
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Luxury sedan
Celebrating its world premiere at the Paris motor show (October 2 – 17, 2010), the 2012 CLS-Class builds on the pioneering role of its predecessor with a fresh new interpretation. ‘The new CLS points the way forward for the future perceptible design idiom of Mercedes-Benz‘, explains Professor Gorden Wagener, head of design at Mercedes-Benz. ‘At the same time it takes its inspiration from the great tradition of stylish, refined sportiness which has always been a feature of Mercedes coupes.’
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class interior view
The proportions remain as spectacular as ever: long hood, tightly-styled frameless side windows and a dynamic roof sweeping back at an angle towards the rear. The four-door Coupe from Mercedes-Benz immediately made its mark in 2003 as a new style icon. Though the proportions are the same, the second generation of this design trendsetter has a completely new look.
What immediately strikes the eye is the innovative front design, which is reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Visually, the radiator grille is not integrated into the hood but formed separately. This further highlights the long, sporty hood. The grille is dominated by the large central star, which unites the car with other Mercedes-Benz coupes and also enhances brand identity. The large, elongated dark air inlets with black grilles also add to the vehicle’s athletic appearance. Another distinguishing feature comes in the form of the full LED headlamps, which are the world’s first to offer all of the dynamic light functions using LED technology. This innovation boasts an impressive design – inside they are divided into three arrow-shaped layers from top to bottom: the upper layer contains an LED indicator, beneath which is a striking LED side light offers LED low beam functions. The side light can also be seen when the high beam is activated, thereby creating a unique night-time design. The lowest level of the headlamp houses the main beam and nightview functions. A total of 71 LED’s provide an unmistakable appearance as well as a significantly enhanced view of the road compared with previous systems.
The typical CLS outline, with its elegantly long proportions, is the dominating attribute of the new model. The effect of the dynamic, athletic form has been enhanced with a new interplay of lines and surfaces. A unique ‘dropping line’, which begins above the front wheel-wells and slopes downward towards the rear, represents a new interpretation of a renowned design hallmark of historic Mercedes sports cars.
A distinctive and muscular sports car-like shoulder line above the rear axle highlights the athletic character of the 2012 CLS. The flared wheel arches resemble the powerful thighs of a feline predator waiting to pounce.
