S-Class CL-Class Facelift (Spy Photos & info)

[klier]

GT stands for Grand Tourer and the 5er GT is exacly that
Good name. Simple too, unlike the whole dictionary I sometimes see on the back of a Mercedes

 

[Merc1]

I spoke with my local MB dealer today about the upcoming CL and this is what he told me:
1. The FL version will be launched around September 2010.
2. The FL version will still be named "CL Class" and not "S Coupe"
3. The next generation of the CL, which will be launched in 2013, will be called "S Coupe" and it will also be available as a cabriolet.
Can anybody confirm this or is it just plain nonsense?
Is a 6 year generation cycle normal for the CL?? Isn't it a bit short? I was expecting the new generation to arrive in 2014 at the earliest...
Also, does anyone know how much power the CL500/CL550 will have after the FL?

He is right on the schedule, the car will appear in 2013 for the 2014 model year or in 2012 as a 2013 model.


M

 

[coolraoul]

I have no problem understanding what's the difference between ML, GL and SL. No doubt, most consumers don't either. Yes, by your logic it's random but it's also very flexible. By your logic what should we have now?

C, E and S? Ok, so then we can expand:
C Coupe, E Coupe and S Coupe? All good so far...
Then what? E SaloonCoupe? (CLS), E SemiVan? (R Class)
Sure, by your notion some nomenclature should remain like:
SL and its little brother SL Halfling
GL and the smaller GL Wannabee

Nah, for me the nice thing about leaving out the Coupe moniker is that Mercedes Benz is left with model nomenclature that they can do with as they please without turning it into a model name essay like Z4 sDrive35iS!

Well Coupe is not written on the car...
Imo the good thing with the new model designation is that it's explicit. By keeping the meaningless addition of letters to a minimum you give more exposure to the models and allow the customers not to get lost.

The most important models will be down to one letter, like the C E and S.

But instead of C, E, CLK, S, CL, you only have C, E and S. Easier to comprehend.

Sure the SUVs will stay with the old confusing model, the roadsters are now well-known enough and only two so that's good.


BMW with the best model designation... yeah, if you let the silly rubbish xDrive/sDrive stuff aside.

But with it it's the worst.

 

[Merc1]

I personally loved the old way, 500SEL, 600SEL, 500E, 300CE, etc....

But I understand the need for change. Until some of the newer model came along it really did make sense after the change.

Sport, Light. Sport Light Racing, Sport Light Short, etc. etc. GLK means G (like the original G), Light, and Short. Isn't the German work for short start with a K?

I have no problem with them going back to E and S Coupe, if thats what the cars really are. The current CL is, but the new "E" Coupe isn't.


M

 

[coolraoul]

I personally loved the old way, 500SEL, 600SEL, 500E, 300CE, etc....

But I understand the need for change. Until some of the newer model came along it really did make sense after the change.

Sport, Light. Sport Light Racing, Sport Light Short, etc. etc. GLK means G (like the original G), Light, and Short. Isn't the German work for short start with a K?

I have no problem with them going back to E and S Coupe, if thats what the cars really are. The current CL is, but the new "E" Coupe isn't.


M

S means Sonderklasse, exceptional class.
K means Kurz, short.
SL means Sport Leicht, sport light (however the latest MB press release of the SL says it means Super Light, which is incorrect).
G for Geländewagen, all-terrain.
C surely means Compact, which is an english term.
E did meant Einspritzung, Injection, now means Executive I think.

The rest is just random combination of letters vaguely related to their place in the alphabet or in older classes of the line-up.

 

[Merc1]

Yep those pretty much go with what I think and have seen also.

M

 

[Untertürkheim]

I have no problem understanding what's the difference between ML, GL and SL. No doubt, most consumers don't either. Yes, by your logic it's random but it's also very flexible. By your logic what should we have now?

C, E and S? Ok, so then we can expand:
C Coupe, E Coupe and S Coupe? All good so far...
Then what? E SaloonCoupe? (CLS), E SemiVan? (R Class)
Sure, by your notion some nomenclature should remain like:
SL and its little brother SL Halfling
GL and the smaller GL Wannabee

Nah, for me the nice thing about leaving out the Coupe moniker is that Mercedes Benz is left with model nomenclature that they can do with as they please without turning it into a model name essay like Z4 sDrive35iS!

I was thinking of what kind of nomenclature I would like to see, and the following system, based on pre-1994 would be my choice:

E = Einspritzing (Gasoline Fuel Injection)
D = Diesel
C = Coupe
G = Geländewagen
S = Sonder (Special) Class or Sport
T = Tourismus & Transport (Estate / Station Wagon)
K = Kurz (Short)
L = Lang/Long or Leicht/Leight

These should cover all models in a similar fashion to before, except the C models would then become K.

The GLK would just be the GEK/GDK, GL would be GEL or GDL, G would be GE/GD.

I think I would call the R a TEL and TDL.

 

[martinbo]

What is clear is that, compared with the old days of my Grandfather's immaculate W123 230E, modern car makers are faced with an enormous challenge in designating their products in this era of vast model proliferation and diversity.

 

[racanada04]

The most important thing is reliability! what ever they name it , 2011 CL or S coupe should have a better reliability score as it is now 6/10 compared to S550 which is 8/10(Accordind to JD Power).

 

[Merc1]

User error...they're the same exact car only difference is the door count. Meaningless difference.

M

 

[MBZFAN]

The most important thing is reliability! what ever they name it , 2011 CL or S coupe should have a better reliability score as it is now 6/10 compared to S550 which is 8/10(According to JD Power).

My 2008 CL63 has been incredibly reliable and problem free since May 2007 with nearly 40,000 miles of daily driving. In fact, with the exception of a brake job (ouch!) and one ABC issue, the car has only been to the dealer for A & B services. With the drivetrain, chassis and electronics being virtually identical to the S-Class I can't imagine any reliability differences between the the coupe and the sedan.

 

[Merc1]

I won't ask how much brakes go for on a CL63?!?


M

 

[MBZFAN]

I won't ask how much brakes go for on a CL63?!?


M

I am "in the business" so I got about $1000 off the regular price and wound up paying $2542.78 at the dealer for:

Front Pads: $232.00
Rotors (ea): $790.00
Labor: $470.85
Misc parts/supplies/tax: $259.93

I could have obtained the MB rotors for $664 and the pads for $169, but the MB service dept at this dealership has been good to me and I "owed" them the business.

 

[Merc1]

Lord have mercy.....it will be a while before I own an AMG Mercedes-Benz.

M

 

[Shining Star]

Images courtesy of Leftlanenews

 

[Merc1]

Time to just shown the damn car, next month I'm betting.... Now they're saying new new V8. Makes me sick.


M

 

[Beemer B773ER]

All these recent previews that MB is doing regarding the upcoming CLS and its dynamic design really will make this CL facelift look very dull and instantly dated..and the fact that the CL is a coupe just like the CLS is (by name) will - IMO - just hammer home the dated look of the CL.

In saying that however, the facelift is a definite improvement, and in AMG guise I'm sure it'll continue to look like a sleek, aggressive road-going speed boat!

 

[Centurion]

As much as I've been a fan of all CL generations, this facelift looks less excting after having stared at CLS mules and photos of the Shooting Brake concept.

 

[klier]

As much as I've been a fan of all CL generations, this facelift looks less excting after having stared at CLS mules and photos of the Shooting Brake concept.

Very true. This MB suddenly feels very old, and the facelift bumper in the front is downright ugly. And I am not sure about the reverse lights in the boot either.

But then again, I have never been a fan of the CL throughout the generations, and this last one here is the best one for sure.

 

[Merc1]

You guys are ridiculous. The car hasn't even been shown yet, and what do you expect Mercedes to do, dump the CL because the CLS is going to be newer looking.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the CL in reality, i.e. on the road. It is still one of the best looking cars Mercedes makes.


M