CLS [Renders] 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS (gen 3)

[HUTSUTAo]

Where is this from? There seems to be a full set of leak pictures lurking around.

 

[Emex]

They've taken one of my favourite cars and ruined it. The prev shape CLS was a stunner, the model before it matured into a classic shape. Mr Wagner, you have failed me.

 

[slicknick]

Let's not pass judgement till we get to see the official pictures, but I have to admit, I had high hopes, and it's not looking good

 

[Yaz]

I wouldn't hold my breath. At minimum, they should have given it a different interior like the previous generations.

 

[wallstbear]

Well this is what you get for the whole MRA and family face philosophy. The CLS from the get go was meant to be the outlier, the rebel and the exception. Now it's just a 4 door version of the E-coupe (w/ a couple of tweaks here and there but still).

I don't hate it, but I just feel nothing. And for something that should elicit some emotion, this design is coming off as a failure.

...

 

[wallstbear]

Just wondering -- would you buy something like this (trying to fit the CL"S" theme here)?

 

[Monster]

Just wondering -- would you have bought something like this (trying to fit the CL"S" theme)?

Yes for sure.

 

[sako97]

Just wondering -- would you buy something like this (trying to fit the CL"S" theme here)?

If it looked like that, I'd go for it with the quickness. A real CL"S", sigh.

Excellent photoshop, btw.

 

[slicknick]

Just wondering -- would you buy something like this (trying to fit the CL"S" theme here)?

Absolutely

 

[Serpens]

Just wondering -- would you buy something like this (trying to fit the CL"S" theme here)?

Well, now you see why MB is strongly considering ditching the S-class coupe/vert and doing a 4-Door coupe instead.

 

[sako97]

Well, now you see why MB is strongly considering ditching the S-class coupe/vert and doing a 4-Door coupe instead.

Kind of like how the was 6er GC was by far the best looking 6er.

 

[Der Hofmeister]

This is a monumental mistake by Mercedes-Benz. Traditional CLS customers will be forced to look into into other, more decent options on the market, like the A7 Sportback (which is absolutely brilliant technologically and styling wise). The C 257 will be an even bigger sales flop compared to outgoing C 218. The addition of an extra seat in the back and the copy-paste E-Class interior doubled by the close-to-S-Class price tagging will see potential clients march away to BMW and Audi. And, in this way, the fortune of the CLS is settled down. Sales of this model will likely position lower than those of the current C 218, as the CLS can now be seen as an irrational choice in the lineup - E-Class bits for S-Class price.

Pardon me, but I think that one good design is like wine - it gets better as time passes by. A good design does not need adequate exterior colours and rims to look - you know - good. If any artifice is needed, then that design is precarious and cannot withstand the test of time. The new CLS is already looking odd by trying so desperately to look special. The effort of the team led by Gorden Wagener is in vain. They ruined a model that, sort of, became an icon for Mercedes-Benz.

And the one who lead the design of the first CLS (and of the second, as well) was Peter Pffeifer, which Wagener, as we all know, can't stand. I really don't get it why Wagener gets so much power of decision, so much free hand. His personality is driven by too much ego. Seeing what he has done so far, he is neither very talented nor bright. More of a wannabe and nothing else. His replacement would better come sooner than later.

If the C 257 atrocity is the way to go, then there are not many hopes left for the future GLE, GLS, C-Class, SL, S-Class.

 

[Merc1]

Oh my goodness. It's like reading the Guiding Light instead of watching it.

M

 

[Deleted member 1071]

^^ " A good design does not need adequate exterior colors and rims to look-you know-good."

It is difficult for me to cite examples with regard to current offerings.

Porsches' 991 Carreras & 718 Cayman/Boxster would be obvious, I reckon. BMWs' 4 series coupes are quite palatable in their most basic configurations. A "strippo" Audi A6 sedan or Avant does not look all that laughable. I personally have never seen a "strippo" series I A7, but I imagine that it too would not be offensive to the eye.

 

[Centurion]

The C 257 will be an even bigger sales flop compared to outgoing C 218.

Another problem for the CLS is that the current E-Class in the right colour and trim is a sensual and elegant car. That means the CLS needs to be drop dead gorgeous to convince anyone to pay the premium for a “better” design.

 

[wallstbear]

Thanks. I used microsoft Paint. lol.

So anyway, this is what I don't get. The S coupe while a brilliant design essentially priced itself out of the market (in my part of the world for every S coupe I see, I can see like 7 Ferraris, and 15 Bentleys).

Now that they can't keep the CLS as unique as the original C219, might as well bite the bullet, make the S coupe an S 4door coupe and call it a day.

Pretty sure the development timeline will be super short (3-5 months). Why do the extra work? What can this CLS do that the regular E class can't do reasonably well?

If it looked like that, I'd go for it with the quickness. A real CL"S", sigh.

Excellent photoshop, btw.

Well, now you see why MB is strongly considering ditching the S-class coupe/vert and doing a 4-Door coupe instead.

 

[Matski]

W218 was one of the best looking modern Mercedes in my opinion, whereas this... there's literally nothing I like about it. Hate the lights front and rear, and in profile it has the same problems I had with the E-coupe, it looks a bit like a bar of soap, and the rear wheels look tiny.

6GT isn't a patch on 6GC*, new A7 looks worse than the old one*, and one of my favourite Mercs is now an underwheeled bar of soap*. What happened to this segment?



*other opinions may vary

 

[data]

Are not missing parking sensors to these photos?

 

[HUTSUTAo]

 

[Monster]

Are not missing parking sensors to these photos?

The front parking sensors are now placed in the lower air intake/grill area.