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(from Mercedes-Benz
Press Release) World premiere at the 2010 Paris motor show:
The new CLS - the new design icon from Mercedes-BenzStuttgart
-- The CLS brings
refined sportiness to life
-- Visualisation of the Mercedes-Benz brand values
-- Athletic proportions, perceptible design idiom
-- Expressive front design features central star in the grille
-- Dynamic, feature line flowing back towards the rear
-- Elegance with handcrafted details in the interior
A generation ahead: with
the CLS, Mercedes-Benz created a new vehicle category in 2003 which
for the first time combined the elegance and dynamism of a coupé
with the comfort and functionality of a saloon. The public were
delighted, the competition astounded and a style icon was born: for
years the CLS has endured as the only four-door coupé 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 Coupé."
Celebrating its world
premiere at the Paris motor show (2 - 17 October 2010), the new CLS
builds on the pioneering role of its predecessor yet at the same
time is an entirely new edition. "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 coupés."
Exterior: classic Coupé styling
with distinctive front
The proportions remain
as spectacular as ever: long bonnet, narrow-look windows with
frameless side windows, dynamic roof sweeping back at an angle
towards the rear. The four-door coupé from Mercedes-Benz immediately
made its mark in 2003 as a new style icon. Now the proportions are
the same - and yet everything is different: the second generation of
this design trendsetter has adopted 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 bonnet but is formed separately. This highlights
the long, sporty bonnet even further. The grille is dominated by the
large central star, which underlines the car's relationship to the
other coupés of the brand and also enhances brand identity. The
large, elongated dark air inlets with black grilles also add to the
vehicle's athletic appearance.
Design brings high-tech features
to life
Another distinguishing
feature comes in the form of the full LED headlamps, which are the
world's first to offer all of the regular 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 offering low beam functions. The side
light can also be seen when the dipped beam function is switched on,
thereby creating a novel and separate night-time design and
distinctive look. The lowest level of the headlamp houses the main
beam and nightview functions. A total of 71 LEDs not only provide an
unmistakable appearance, but also 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
areas. The front edge of the structure, above the mudguards, which
slopes off towards the rear - known as the dropping line by
designers - is not only a novel design feature but also represents a
new interpretation of a formal design element harking back to the
uniquely rich wealth of forms present in historic Mercedes sports
cars.
A distinctive and
muscular sports car-like shoulder line above the rear axle
highlights the athletic character of the new CLS. The flared wheel
arches resemble the powerful thighs of a feline predator waiting to
pounce.
The side view is rounded
off with wide wrap-around tail lights featuring LED technology which
are arranged in the form of a linking element to the rear of the
vehicle. The shape is emphasized by the broad shoulder line, which
is clearly visible from behind and supports the flat hardtop. A wide
metal insert adds a further visual highlight at the rear.
The interior: design brings
quality to life
The interior of the CLS
is also distinguished by a timeless design which combines
straightforward elegance with innovative details and handcrafted
perfection. An eye-catching feature is the wrap-around effect of the
cockpit: a high line sweeps from the driver's door over the
instrument panel support and across to the front passenger door. The
central display has also been integrated harmoniously into the upper
part of the instrument panel. At the same time, the downward
sweeping side line on the doors continues the dynamic dropping line
of the exterior.
As a design trendsetter,
the CLS sets new standards in interiors with its wide variety of
individualisation options. Five interior colours, five trim designs
and also three qualities of leather are available to choose from. As
a result, each CLS is a one-off piece and can be configured
individually between warm naturalness and cool modernity.
The CLS also lives up to
its role as a design icon thanks to the innovative nature of the
materials used. These comprise an exciting mixture of satin and
high-gloss finishes used on the metal surfaces. Highlights here also
include matt galvanised air vents, for example, which form the ideal
framework for a high-gloss-trimmed analogue clock.
Handcrafted perfection
is reflected in details such as the stitched seat covers or the
so-called sewn covering for the dashboard. For the latter, the
individual parts of the leather cover are sewn together by hand in a
process which takes several hours, after which they are fitted and
upholstered with high-quality foam. Prior to this process, the
leather is also heated up to preshrink it, so that it will retain
its shape even after extreme exposure to direct sunlight.
The particularly fine,
1.6 millimetre thick semi-aniline PASSION leather which is used
meets the highest standards in terms of both look and feel.
Protected by only a light pigmentation, the natural pore structure
remains intact and the leather has an especially warm and soft feel
to it. Since the natural characteristics also remain visible for the
most part, the semi-aniline leather requires a very precise manual
selection process.
The refined sportiness
of the interior of the CLS is further reflected in the generous use
of high-quality trim elements. They are located on the instrument
panel support of the centre console and on parts of the door
linings. Customers can choose between three exclusive types of wood:
high-gloss brown burr walnut, high-gloss black ash and satin-finish
light-brown poplar. The wood has even been perfectly fitted around
difficult contours for a masterful handcrafted finish, and the wood
trim has been matched according to grain, as part of an elaborate
selection process, to create a harmonised overall impression.
The interior can be
given an even more progressive look with the addition of piano
lacquer or carbon fibre trim elements. Handcrafted perfection once
again plays a prominent role in the production process. Up to seven
layers are applied and polished for the piano lacquer trim, for
example, until the desired high-gloss finish is achieved.
