Official Mercedes-Benz Vision CLS pictures - READ ONLY

28 messages, Last post on Mar 01, 2004 at 12:19 AM

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What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, Coupe, Sedan

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#14 of 28 by merc1 Jan 23, 2004 (2:30 am)
Well thats the whole point of the CLS it isn't "needed" they just wanted to do something different. I've heard different things about it's size, some are saying its as large as a S-Class, but it does use the E's platform, so..... I too didn't like the styling, and I'm still not crazy about it, but I figure as long as they don't go that route with the next S-Class (the next new Benz a comin') they can do whatever they want with the CLS. Who knows they might win over a new group of buyers that would have never considered a Mercedes before. The next E won't arrive until about 2009 or so, it was brand new for 2003. M
#15 of 28 Why Continued by caneau Jan 23, 2004 (8:38 pm)
If the point of the car is to compete against the E Class, it's a big risk for MB to take in a time when DaimlerChrysler is in some serious financial problems. It costs tens of millions of dollars to develop a car that may or may not succeed. MB for the past several decades had a certain niche in the automotive world and certain cars to fill that niche. Taking a chance and trying to make an overpriced German version of the new Lexus G430 when you already have a sports sedan in your lineup I think is asking for one of the models to fail. We'll see if MB can create a new market and draw some buyers away from say a 5 series, or if we will see the CLS lining Benz dealerships. -Caneau
#16 of 28 Vison Grand Sports Tourer by jchan2 Jan 24, 2004 (2:35 pm)
I've heard that it is close to the Pacifica- I remember the Pacifica being badged as a "Sports Tourer" The new punch line in Pacifica ads is "Well beyond the SUV" The Pacifica isn't selling well, I wonder how the Vison Grand Sports Tourer will do.
#17 of 28 by merc1 Jan 25, 2004 (10:05 pm)
Well the CLS isn't going to be produced in anywhere near the numbers the E-Class is. Secondly the CLS will be priced a lot higher and won't compete directly with the E-Class, its strictly a 4-seater. The CLS uses mainly off the shelf parts and thus didn't cost nearly as much as totally new model would have cost. There is a huge price gap between the CLK and CL Coupes, of which the CLS is attempting to fill. People who buy E-Classes want practicality, the CLS won't be too good at that its more of an indulgence. I see no resemblance to the new GS, the GS is far less svelt. I predict the CLS will be a hit, its different looking for a Benz, and afterall a new Benz is hot no matter how it looks, the new CLK proves this. M
#18 of 28 pricing by ajrose Jan 26, 2004 (1:42 pm)
Any clues about price point of this model? Looks like it is meant to go head to head with BMW's new 6 series ($70k).
#19 of 28 by merc1 Jan 26, 2004 (11:20 pm)
Thats the best guess range, that of the 6-Series. I'd say the CLS350 would go for about 60K and the CLS500 for about 70K, roughly. M
#20 of 28 Reply to Merc by caneau Jan 28, 2004 (9:06 am)
I'll start from the bottom. Are you kidding me, no resemblance? Just look at the side profile. Someone got the plans to the other guy's car and copied it. The same swooping rear with the mega C-pillars to give the car extra big blind spots. The front lights swooped back ala-350Z. Sure the front end and rear end have typical Lexus and Benz treatments, but the cars from the side look too similar for it to be a coincidence. A huge price gap and off the shelf equipment. That fuels my point even more. Although I think most people are out of their mind for buying a Benz to begin with when they could have gotten a Lexus, Infiniti, or Acura for at least a couple grand less, I think they might have enough smarts to spend the extra grand or two and buy an E55 if they want a performance sedan or an S500 if they want the pinnacle of luxury. Heck, the E500 Sport might even suit their tastes for $10k less. Next, the CLK and CL coupes are based on completely different platforms. The CLK coupe is a 2 door E-Class and the CL is a 2 door S-Class. The reason they are priced so far apart is because they are completely different cars in size, performance, and purpose. The CLK is a nimble coupe or convertible for the middle aged yupi. The CL is a 2 door sedan and sitting in the driver's seat, you could mistake it for an S-Class. And everything Mercedes imports to the States is a hit...because we all see G-Classes every day while driving to work. About the Benz competing with the 6...maybe in price but probably not in characteristics. The 6 is more of a competition for the CL than anything else (big 2+2 2-door sedan with a huge amount of power). The nice part about the 6 is that it has more power, better handling, and undercuts the 6 by $20k. Also, I doubt someone in the market for a 2 door performance coupe for somewhere in the neighborhood of $80k will be drooling over a 4 door, automatic CSL any time soon. Like I said before though, nobody's really tried this sort of concept before, so who knows, maybe it will attract a whole new clientele. We'll see how the GS and CLS will fare against regular sedans and coupes.
#21 of 28 caneau by merc1 Jan 28, 2004 (11:22 pm)
Hey, you see similarities between the new GS and CLS, I don't. The GS is thick and ungainly, the CLS is lithe and swoopy. The GS is about a confused and busy as styling can be, imo. The front looks like like a Camry Solara, the rear like a Maxima. Come to think of it the GS looks like a giant Maxima, the CLS clearly doesn't. Neither one of us is going to convince the other here, so lets agree to disagree. Value and what people could or should by is also too much to get into here, we'll just have to disagree there too, obviously the sales numbers prove otherwise also. You're correct the CLK and CL are built on different platforms. Who said they weren't? However, the CLK isn't based on the E-Class , it's based on the C-Class, and the CL is based on the S, hence the CLS being based on the E-Class platform. Mercedes hasn't done a true "E-Class" Coupe since 1995. You're right in that the CLS probably won't match the 6-Series dynamically, I don't think Mercedes expects it to. Truth be told the CLS is just a swooper E-Class with a few extra perks. The 645Ci might have more power and outhandle the CL500, but the CL500 is at a styling and luxury point which the 645Ci can only dream about. The CL is a true 4-seater, I doubt the 6 will match it in room and it certainly won't match it in luxury. The 645Ci won't be able to compete with the CL55 or CL600 either, which it shouldn't considering the price. The real 645Ci competitors are the CLK500 and CLK55 AMG. " We'll see how the GS and CLS will fare against regular sedans and coupes." The GS is a regular sedan, has been since 1993 and it hasn't "fared" to well. Whether or not you see the logic behind the CLS or not, pricewise/sizewise it fits in the MB lineup. I agree, nobody wanting a true coupe is going to want a CLS, hence it being a true niche product designed to fill a void in the MB lineup with a coupe-like sedan. I predict it will be a hit. M
#22 of 28 GS vs CLS by jchan2 Feb 01, 2004 (8:09 am)
who ever came up with comparing a sedan to a coupe?
#23 of 28 WHAT WILL MSRP BE??? by rhpcpa Feb 01, 2004 (10:22 am)
I'VE SEEN SEVERAL PRICES ESTIMATED ON THE NEW CLS. ALL THE WAY FROM 40,000.+ FOR 6 CYL. TO 70,000 FOR 8 CYL. ANYONE HAVE UP TO DATE INFO.?? THANKS