- The original motor show vehicle in the special exhibition “Youngtimer” (Young Classics) at the Mercedes-Benz Museum
- Design appearance of this young Mercedes-Benz brand icon with special exterior colour “Satin alubeam silver”, 19-inch multi-spoke wheels and elegant interior
- CGI direct injection: Higher power and lower consumption
No. 8/2025: Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CGI (model series 219)
Paint like liquid metal: This Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CGI is quite stationary – and yet appears to be in motion. The extraordinary “Satin alubeam silver” exterior paintwork contributes significantly to this special effect. It was composed exclusively for the 2006 motor show vehicles and was never part of the official delivery programme. A silver tone with a smooth, silky lustre that softly refracts the light. The eyes glide over the sculpted surfaces of the coupé saloon, and one thing becomes immediately clear: this is a matter of subtle nuances rather than showmanship.
Powerful presence: The 19-inch multi-spoke wheels in shiny silver aluminium harmonise perfectly with the colour and design. They fill the wheel arches, while the low black tyre sidewalls extend the profile, making the car look dynamic yet also elegant. It is precisely this blend that makes the CLS one of the latest design and brand icons from Mercedes-Benz. The one-off Vision CLS vehicle was presented in 2003. The response was overwhelming, so much so that an almost unchanged production version followed in 2004.
Expressive: Like a car in a bespoke suit – that’s how many people perceived the CLS. It combined the elegance of a coupé with the everyday practicality of a saloon. A slim roofline, flowing surfaces and muscular proportions made it the dream car of an entire generation. Not to mention a great success for former chief designer Peter Pfeiffer and his team – and a strategic stroke of luck for Mercedes-Benz. The four-door coupé sharpened the brand image: It wasn’t just the performance, comfort and technology that counted, but also the emotive design. Once again, Mercedes-Benz made design an important reason to buy.
Individual elegance: In the CLS 350 CGI at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, the designers also made strong statements on the inside. When you open the door of the vehicle in the special exhibition „Youngtimer“, you are surrounded by a pleasant aroma, even after almost 20 years: The interior is trimmed in fine semi-aniline nappa leather, which is soft and luxurious with a black-anthracite tone – contrasting perfectly with the cool, silvery exterior. Burr wood inlays round off the ambience, creating an extremely cosy and prestigious interior. Sporty elegance and fine craftsmanship come together perfectly in this four-door coupé.
In the spotlight: What else makes this Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CGI special? In 2006, it was a technology platform. Not least of all because this show car marked the first appearance of CGI petrol injection in front of a large audience at the Geneva Motor Show. The abbreviation stands for “charged gasoline injection” – a technology that provides additional power and reduces consumption. The V6 engine developed 215 kW (292 hp) from a displacement of 3.5 litres, with the top speed limited to 250 km/h. After its premiere, this petrol injection system went into series production, and the CLS 350 CGI was built on a regular basis from 2006 to 2010.
A witness to its era: This exhibit in the special exhibition thus documents the brand, innovation and design history of its era in a unique way. Anyone who has seen this fascinatingly sporty vehicle will understand why the brand looked different in the new millennium than it had before – more self-confident, more emotional, bolder. Right from the start, the CLS had everything it needed to be a design icon for the brand. It will always remain one.
Back to the future: The current special exhibition „Youngtimer“ at the Mercedes-Benz Museum can be seen in Collection Room 5 until 12 April 2026. Ten iconic vehicles from the 1990s and 2000s are specially exhibited in a colourful and entertaining presentation, including authentic fashion from those times. The thematic display islands range from “Easy Life” to “Subtlety” and “Space”. They embed the vehicles in the lifestyle of their era. Interactive stations with topics ranging from retro gaming to generative image creation with the help of artificial intelligence accompany the exhibition, and also bring the turn of the millennium into the present.
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