Mercedes-Benz Four-door coupé elegance: The Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CGI from the 2006 Geneva Motor Show

• 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

“Close-up” – the name of this series from the Mercedes-Benz Museum says it all. Each instalment tells surprising, exciting and interesting stories about vehicles from the exhibition. In the spotlight this time: the Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CGI in the special exhibition „Youngtimer“, Collection Room 5. Until 12 April 2026, ten vehicles from the 1990s and 2000s will be on display here in a colourful and lively presentation.

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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[Rolf]

This first generation CLS is still such a beautiful and timeless design with a very special and luxurious interior. This first generation is in my opinion still the best looking 4dr Mercedes coupe ever built.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

This first generation CLS is still such a beautiful and timeless design with a very special and luxurious interior. This first generation is in my opinion still the best looking 4dr Mercedes coupe ever built.

And look at those nice wooden rollo between the backseats. The second generation had that too. It looks so good. Then picture the way this looks in, for instance, a modern day CLE. Tears in my eyes...

 

[Merc1]

And it was such a sweet driving car too. The CLS550.

M

 

[Rolf]

And look at those nice wooden rollo between the backseats. The second generation had that too. It looks so good. Then picture the way this looks in, for instance, a modern day CLE. Tears in my eyes...

The older Mercedes coupes always used to have lovely center consoles between the 2 backseats that has gotten horribly cheap looking over time.

Look at the comparison of W204 Coupe from early 2010s vs the CLE. The older C-coupe had a seat leather panel totally cover the Isofix clips while CLE is covered by cheap hard plastic. The cup holders of W204 are covered by a sliding non shiny plastic panel while CLE totally exposed shiny black plastic. The seats of the W204 and W205 are sportier and separated in the backrest while CLE has less curvier and less supportive back rest.

2011 Mercedes W204 C350 Coupe rear seat:

2016 Mercedes W205 C250 coupe rear seat:

2023 Mercedes CLE 300 coupe rear seat

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Thanks @Rolf
The decline in overall material quality is clearly visible.

 

[Giannis]

It took me years to appreciate the banana's design. It is indeed fabulous. So much in fact, that I'd quite fancy one, now that they can be bought for peanuts.

 

[SKY]

Thanks @Rolf
The decline in overall material quality is clearly visible.

Indeed. The decline in the quality of MB interiors is shameful.

 

[Yaz]

Man, I still remember the first time I spotted a CLS and chatted with the owner.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Indeed. The decline in the quality of MB interiors is shameful.

Not only MB, alas. If I compare the interior of the current BMW 5 to it’s predecessor, it’s the same.

 

[Swissbob]

Alu beam is a stunning color.

 

[SKY]

Not only MB, alas. If I compare the interior of the current BMW 5 to it’s predecessor, it’s the same.

That might be a consolation price for some people. To me it’s even worse for MB cause I see the other German brands aiming higher with their future interiors, at least design wise. MB seems clearly lost.

 

[Rolf]

That might be a consolation price for some people. To me it’s even worse for MB cause I see the other German brands aiming higher with their future interiors, at least design wise. MB seems clearly lost.

There is hope with the GLC interior, visually it looks like an improvement on the current Mercedes interiors and hopefully will back that glitz with improved quality of materials.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

That might be a consolation price for some people. To me it’s even worse for MB cause I see the other German brands aiming higher with their future interiors, at least design wise. MB seems clearly lost.

I don't agree. All are on a slippery slope on this matter. I mentioned BMW, but the same goes for Audi and Porsche. On what basis do you see the other brands aiming higher designwise? Because that design is more up your alley? Why should MB be lost or more lost than the others? I really don't see it.

 

[SKY]

I don't agree. All are on a slippery slope on this matter. I mentioned BMW, but the same goes for Audi and Porsche. On what basis do you see the other brands aiming higher designwise? Because that design is more up your alley? Why should MB be lost or more lost than the others? I really don't see it.

I honestly believe it's your preference for the brand the thing that is not allowing you to see it clearly. But I can summarize it for my point to be more clear:

• BMW:
  • Exterior design:
    • Some hits and misses recently.
    • To me the G70 is the ugliest 7er in a while, same goes for the 5er. And the line up has some silly models like the 2er GC or even the X2.
    • Yet, the new NK design seems to fix most of the problems of the G-Series and has received praise from the press on a general basis.
  • Interior design/quality:
    • While there have been some clear examples of cust cutting in the most recent models (G60 5er and G45 X3), most of the line up is still ahead of MB and Audi in terms of interior quality (G70 7er vs W223 S-Class, X5 vs GLE, 3er vs C-Class...).
    • It's hard to find an MB or an Audi that has a higher quality interior compared to its BMW peer. In terms of design, BMW has also had a more coherent evolution, going from a double digital screen to the NK iDrive with the panoramic screen and a central screen centralizing most of the controls.
    • iX3 is receiving praise from the press reviews in terms of its interior design and quality.
• Audi:
  • Exterior design:
    • Drop dead horrible across the line up. Generic and dull looking. No excuses here.
    • The only positive note is that the company seems to be aware of this and has changed its design chief.
    • The latest concept at least points to a more interesting design theme going forward.
  • Interior design/quality:
    • At its lowest point right now.
    • Again, the only positive thing to say is the new design direction seems to be way better and the company itself has admitted the quality is not there and needs to return to where it should be.
• Porsche:
  • Exterior design:
    • I would not say it is on its highest point at all.
    • And yet, I cannot think about a single MB design looking any better than its Porsche counterpart.
  • Interior design/quality:
    • Hits and misses probably here.
    • Even with that, I don't believe the latest Panamera features worse interior quality than the latest S-Class. Same goes for the Taycan and the E-Class or for the 911 and the SL/GT. The new Cayenne EV seems to have a better interior quality than the ICE model, which again is better than the GLE on every metric.
• MB:
  • Exterior design:
    • Hard to think on a single MB model looking any better than the car it came before. Or being the best looking car on its segment. Maybe the W223 is the only exception here.
    • The entire EQ is a huge mistake design wise, and it seems this has been the influence the rest of the line up has been following.
    • The same repetitive creases on the side profile of each new model, the same front bumper generation after generation, the same fake chrome imitating the exhaust pipes on each rear bumper...
    • The only positive thing appears to be the huge fake grille debuting in the GLC EQ. And while the GLC EQ is not that bad, I don't think it is good enough to replicate its design on the C-Class EV and the E-Class EV.
    • And not only that, there hardly seems to be a new concept from MB that serves as a bit of hope for the upcoming exterior design of the brand.
  • Interior design/quaity:
    • Quality at its lowest point in recent times. There is hardly a single MB that leads its segment in terms of fit & finish.
    • Design has also been erratic, going from the double screen in the W222 and W213 to the vertical screen, then the hyperscreen and now this silly black block present in the latest CLA, GLC, GLB, etc.
    • Can't think of any new concept that hints at a more promissing future for MB in terms of interior design.
    • While the quality of its interiors has clearly been a concern for its customers, I don't seem to recall MB doing the same as Audi and admitting the quality is not where it should be and promissing to bring it back where it belongs.

I could have also included VW in the mix. Another German brand where the design has been worsening in recent years and the interior quality has also resented. And yet, VW too has new concepts with promissing exterior design and even actual models (T-Roc, Polo ID, T-Cross ID). The interior quality is slowing returning to where it belongs in the new Passat, Tiguan and T-Roc.

So yep, I really cannot see how any other German brand is worse or equal to MB right now. Audi is terrible and has been for a while, but even them have presented a new design direction to have hope in the future.

 

[Rolf]

I honestly believe it's your preference for the brand the thing that is not allowing you to see it clearly. But I can summarize it for my point to be more clear:

• BMW:
  • Exterior design:
    • Some hits and misses recently.
    • To me the G70 is the ugliest 7er in a while, same goes for the 5er. And the line up has some silly models like the 2er GC or even the X2.
    • Yet, the new NK design seems to fix most of the problems of the G-Series and has received praise from the press on a general basis.
  • Interior design/quality:
    • While there have been some clear examples of cust cutting in the most recent models (G60 5er and G45 X3), most of the line up is still ahead of MB and Audi in terms of interior quality (G70 7er vs W223 S-Class, X5 vs GLE, 3er vs C-Class...).
    • It's hard to find an MB or an Audi that has a higher quality interior compared to its BMW peer. In terms of design, BMW has also had a more coherent evolution, going from a double digital screen to the NK iDrive with the panoramic screen and a central screen centralizing most of the controls.
    • iX3 is receiving praise from the press reviews in terms of its interior design and quality.
• Audi:
  • Exterior design:
    • Drop dead horrible across the line up. Generic and dull looking. No excuses here.
    • The only positive note is that the company seems to be aware of this and has changed its design chief.
    • The latest concept at least points to a more interesting design theme going forward.
  • Interior design/quality:
    • At its lowest point right now.
    • Again, the only positive thing to say is the new design direction seems to be way better and the company itself has admitted the quality is not there and needs to return to where it should be.
• Porsche:
  • Exterior design:
    • I would not say it is on its highest point at all.
    • And yet, I cannot think about a single MB design looking any better than its Porsche counterpart.
  • Interior design/quality:
    • Hits and misses probably here.
    • Even with that, I don't believe the latest Panamera features worse interior quality than the latest S-Class. Same goes for the Taycan and the E-Class or for the 911 and the SL/GT. The new Cayenne EV seems to have a better interior quality than the ICE model, which again is better than the GLE on every metric.
• MB:
  • Exterior design:
    • Hard to think on a single MB model looking any better than the car it came before. Or being the best looking car on its segment. Maybe the W223 is the only exception here.
    • The entire EQ is a huge mistake design wise, and it seems this has been the influence the rest of the line up has been following.
    • The same repetitive creases on the side profile of each new model, the same front bumper generation after generation, the same fake chrome imitating the exhaust pipes on each rear bumper...
    • The only positive thing appears to be the huge fake grille debuting in the GLC EQ. And while the GLC EQ is not that bad, I don't think it is good enough to replicate its design on the C-Class EV and the E-Class EV.
    • And not only that, there hardly seems to be a new concept from MB that serves as a bit of hope for the upcoming exterior design of the brand.
  • Interior design/quaity:
    • Quality at its lowest point in recent times. There is hardly a single MB that leads its segment in terms of fit & finish.
    • Design has also been erratic, going from the double screen in the W222 and W213 to the vertical screen, then the hyperscreen and now this silly black block present in the latest CLA, GLC, GLB, etc.
    • Can't think of any new concept that hints at a more promissing future for MB in terms of interior design.
    • While the quality of its interiors has clearly been a concern for its customers, I don't seem to recall MB doing the same as Audi and admitting the quality is not where it should be and promissing to bring it back where it belongs.

I could have also included VW in the mix. Another German brand where the design has been worsening in recent years and the interior quality has also resented. And yet, VW too has new concepts with promissing exterior design and even actual models (T-Roc, Polo ID, T-Cross ID). The interior quality is slowing returning to where it belongs in the new Passat, Tiguan and T-Roc.

So yep, I really cannot see how any other German brand is worse or equal to MB right now. Audi is terrible and has been for a while, but even them have presented a new design direction to have hope in the future.

Most of what you wrote I agree, but I dont think design wise any of the German brands are at their best. BMW has also had too many changes in their design in the last 5 years. They have so many different iterations of the double kidney grill on all their models, nothing coherent. Compare the 3 series to 5 series and 7 series. nothing common at all. The oldest car design, the 3-series is still the best looking of all the saloons, the 5 series and 7 series are the ugliest models of their series in living memory and ugliest in their class. The new X2 looks terrible with its humpback rear end. I think Audi is in a worst state than Mercedes as the styling on their cars are all evolutionary for the last 3 generations and the new A5 and A6 in the looks department are uglier than the previous A4 and A6. Porsche I think is still the best as most of their cars still look great. The only thing I can see going downhill for Porsche is their interior design and material quality, with plastic lower door cards on a 100K plus Euro car is absolutely atrocious.
VW were also on a downward spiral with the design of their ID models, but their newer models (Tiguan, T-Cross) look great and have excellent interiors. Their concept cars bring alot of hope and I believe they will move up a notch in sales in the next few years when the ID2 is launched.

We all hope the next generation of Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and VW will improve in every way and give those wannebe Chinese rivals a real thrashing.