Our spy photographers have caught the next generation Mercedes-Benz CLS on camera for the first time, hinting at some of the evolutionary design changes coming on the next version of Mercedes’ four-door coupe.
While the front end of the car is heavily masked off, it appears that the next CLS will sport slimmer LED headlamps, possibly in tandem with a slimmer grille. The long bonnet slopes downwards into a flatter front end.
The car’s beltline appears to rise more towards the rear than before, and the boot lid sits flat and sticks out rather than following the smooth curve of the roofline and back window, though it is possible this is part of the mule’s disguise.
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Beneath the oddly shaped boot lid is the most obvious design change – the taillights. Unlike the diagonal, tear shaped ones fitted to the current model they’re horizontal, similar to the taillights on the S-Class coupe.
When it arrives we expect the next CLS to share its platform and some of its engines with the new E-Class, though it will be a noticeably longer and wider car.
Regardless, sharing a platform with the E-Class has prompted some reports of a name change, speculating that the next CLS will actually be called the CLE.
Introduced in 2005, the CLS stood out thanks to its svelte, sleek looks and low, sloping roofline combined with four doors and a 2+2 seating layout. The current model was introduced in 2011 and received a facelift in 2014. We know it is on its way out given Mercedes has already said its goodbyes with a Final Edition special, but we’re still a few years away from the new version’s release.
We expect a reveal to take place in the second half if 2017 and for the car to arrive in showrooms at some point in 2018. We might not see a Shooting Brake version appear, given sales of the estate bodied CLS have been slow.
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