Mercedes-Benz CLS Grand Edition Adds More Style, Little Substance

The first photo shoot of the new Mercedes-Benz CLS features "Brand Ambassador" Julia Stegner with the car as a tie-in for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Berlin 2009. We think that sums up the car nicely.

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS With New Photos

For 2009, Mercedes will be freshening the CLS sedan "coupe". Honestly, we still really can't tell the difference in the changes. The one change that's hard to miss is the addition of a new entry-level model, the CLS 280. But don't be misled by the numbers on the badge; the V6 will actually be a 3.0-liter unit. Peak output is 231 HP, which will bring the CLS to 100km/h (62mph) in 7.7 seconds. We're not sure if those are decent numbers or not, mainly because we're not exactly sure what the CLS 280 is supposed to be compared to. Perhaps Mercedes is reaching down to fight over customers with Volkswagen's upward-reaching Passat CC? Press release after the jump. More »

Where Did Acura's Dynamic Power Plenum Grille Come From?

When we saw the 2009 Acura RL and it's less than spectacular "Dynamic Power Plenum" grille at this past Chicago Auto Show, not only did we think it was a photoshopping joke (we swear we saw pixels), we wondered where the hell it had come from. It's been a while since Acura dropped a styling stinker in our laps — although Wert says he likes the look of it on something a bit smaller — this mid-cycle refresh can generally be called befitting of that description. Since nutty styling elements usually come from somewhere, we dug into the archives and came up with a pretty good candidate. More »

Mercedes CLS Gets A Little Off The Chin, New Entry-Level Package

Two weeks after pictures of the new Mercedes CLS AMG mysteriously leaked onto the internet, Mercedes-Benz has released full photos and details on the refreshed CLS. On the top end there's the newly reconfigured CLS 63 AMG with comes with the AMG-tuned 6.2-litre V8, good for 514 horsepower. The AMG also gets new 19-inch light-alloys and a new sports exhaust system. On the bottom end there's a new CLS 280, which is propelled by a V6 that makes less than half the horsepower of the AMG model. The base price for the "entry-level" CLS is $83,000 in the domestic market, with the AMG model going for just around $157,000. Press release below the jump. More »

Mercedes CLS AMG 63 Images Leak on to Internet

Although we'd already heard the new Mercedes CLS AMG wouldn't be getting a power boost beyond 514 HP under the hood, now we're not only hearing what it'll officially look like, we're seeing it. Here's the first shots of the new four-door "coupe" from Daimler — helpfully making the rounds on the internet well before the official reveal date of sometime in the indeterminately near future. Noted differences between the old n' busted model and the new hotness pictured above and below the jump are the bigger 19" wheels, new front grille, rear LED lighting and an odd little carbon fiber mini-spoiler. One more pic below the jump. More »

Tuner Mercedes 350 CLS: The ART GTR 374

The tuning floor at the Frankfurt auto show will be packed to the rafters with tweakage this year. There, among the Brabus and AC Schnitzers, will be upstarts like Nuremberg's ART, a firm not known for restraint. But with its latest tuning job, performed on the Mercedes 350 CLS — the GTR 374 — the company's putting on a more serious face. A DTM-style body kit over redline rims and black racing stripes gives it a more earthbound look than some of the company's other creations. Under the hood, a supercharger system increases horsepower to 374 and torque to 376 lb-ft. Inside, it's a festival of ultra-suede, naturally. We'll get a reading from the Messe floor, next month. [via World Car Fans] More »

Spy Photos: Mercedes CLS

The site that's all about the car scene in the Deutschland just posted a couple of pics of what they're claiming is the new Mercedes CLS. The pictures, taken this week in Bodo, Norway, seem to indicate the heavyweight four-door is in for a mild-mannered facelift with this mid-cycle refresh. Really, that's all we got here...unless anyone has any good Norwegian jokes. – Ray Wert More »

Can't Front on the Redlines: The ART GTR 374

The tuning gang at Germany's ART appear ready to redeem themselves from sins of flamboyance against Mercedes. The GTR 374 is a far more down-to-business, muscle-car-inspired CLS kit than the company's other baller-docious designs. Supporting a more elegant, though no less testosterone-warped, styling program, the GTR 374 features a supercharger-intercooler system with heat exchanger, tweaked computer (with top-speed delimiter) and stainless-steel sport exhaust, all producing 368 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque — atop a lowered suspension. It's no monster of rock, but at least it won't make the neighbors' kids hide under the bed. – Mike Spinelli More »

Nissan Skyline, Mercedes CLS: Separated At Birth?

The folks over at Nihon Car & Bike swear they see some precision there in the new Nissan Skyline. We're not entirely convinced yet, but take a look at our Skyline gallery and our Mercedes CLS gallery below and take a look for yourself. Then, you know, let's discuss. – Ray Wert More »

Das Rokit: Brabus Super CLS Breaks Speed Record

The Brabus rocketeers say they've broken the speed record for street-legal sedans, having been certified by Germany's technical standards agency, T V, for hitting over 227 mph on the Nardo test track in southern Italy. The ber tuner's ber sedan, the Rocket — based on a Mercedes-Benz CLS — is powered by a bored-out and twin turbo'd V12 displacing 6.3 liters and producing 730 hp and an electronically limited 811 lb-ft of torque (it also meets EURO IV emissions). We'd imagine the record will spark an arms race among German tuning shops who'd rather not let the maniacal laughter from the Bottrop boys go unchallenged. – Mike Spinelli More »

Matted Merc: Ai Design's CLS AMG

One of the Jalops just happened to be visiting Ai Design at its home in Tuckahoe, NY on a day this matte-finish Mercedes CLS 55 AMG sat on a garage lift casting its evil gaze upon the workshop. Naturally, the most striking feature of the car — customized for DC Shoes co-founder Ken Block — is a flawlessly applied flat black paint job (whose price tag was pegged unofficially at around $30,000). Using a Brabus K8 performance kit and sport exhausts, the team boosted horsepower to 575 from 469 stock. They also tricked it out with a Brabus suspension module, Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires over Radenergie R10 20" wheels and Brembo eight-piston racing brake calipers and 15" discs in front, and four-pot calipers and 13.6" discs in the rear. It's really super hot in person, though we'd imagine fingerprints could become troublesome. Hey, there's always cashmere gloves. [Gallery] – Mike Spinelli More »

Dieses Ist Ein Pogea: More on the Mercedes CLS Wagon

The guys at BenzInsider have solved the mystery of the Mercedes CLS wagon, a shot of which recently launched a thousand speculations. Turns out its called the TLS MK1, and it's a fabrication of Germany's Pogea Racing, a Laupheim-based tuner of Audi and Mercedes-Benz product. They appear to have grafted the front portion of a CLS onto an E55 AMG T-Modell (station wagon). Why? Why the hell not? Click through for more pics. More »

Was Ist Dis? Mercedes CLS Wagon?

It sure as hell looks like one. Could Dr. Z's teutonic minions really be planning a CLS Country Squire? And what will the motoring press call it, a coupewagen? (Then again, a wagon is just a sawsall away from an El Camino). The questions are multitude. More »

Claus Ettenberger: Teutonic Butterfly Sadist

Reportedly, this particular Brabus-tuned CLS was the #1 killer of members of order lepidoptera in the American Southwest on July 27th, 2006. Claus Ettenberger may be adept at avoiding American police agencies, but when Judgement Day comes, he's gonna have to answer to the butterflies. More »

Tuning the Crap Out of a Mercedes CLS: The Brabus Rocket

The boys at Brabus have finally let their maniacal laughter get the better of them. The tuning shop has created a Mercedes CLS — the Brabus Rocket — fitted with a twin-turbo V12 configuration that, according to the company, will propel it to 225.18492005328 mph, which (but for everything to the right of the decimal), is really freaking fast for a sedan. The price for such madness is in the neighborhood of $438,000, meaning Brabus spared no tweak to make the Rocket the most extreme sedan on the 'bahn. The engine is a 730 hp monster that needs a freaking torque limiter to keep it from turning itself into molten lava (811 ft.-lbs max). Now that's extreme. More »

Tuner Orbiter: ART's Mercedes CLS GTR

Some would say the new Mercedes CLS tuner from ART looks like it rolled up nine weeks after the Space Shuttle Discovery broke from its leash and mounted a 1973 Ford Pinto. Others — likely Yakuza members — would say... Hell they wouldn't say anything. They'd just make you disappear into the Sea of Japan for such a slight against white-on-white, garishly appointed Mercs. That's why we're staying mute on this one. More »

Mercedes to Introduce New, More Efficient CLS 350

Engine geeks, hold on to your pocket protectors. Mercedes announced a new CLS model fitted with a stratified-charge, direct-injection V6 that produces 292 hp and 269 lbs.-ft of torque, while getting a combined US-converted mileage figure of around 25 mpg. Pretty sneaky, Hans. More »

Mercedes CLS 63 and CLK 63 AMG Models to Debut in Geneva

AMG's naturally aspirated (gezundheit) 6.3-liter V8 — its first powerplant not to be derived from an existing Mercedes mill — is debuting in a couple more models at the Geneva show later this month. The company will unveil its CLS 63 and CLK 63 at the show, both of which will get the SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC transmission, 155mph limited top speed and a kiss on the cheek by the world's motoring press. Naturally. More »

Driving a Mighty Mercedes: GCF on the Carlsson CK55

What's it like to rock a Carlsson-tuned Mercedes CLS 55 AMG on the unrestricted autobahn, legally nudging aside police bikes at (140mph) with a polite flick of the blinker? Nick Hall, writing for German Car Fans has some idea:

This car is just stretching its legs at the old car s artificially induced 155mph top end and will now scorch all the way to 200mph without trouble, barging police out the way at every opportunity. The figures belong to a top end Ferrari or Lamborghini, which is a truly monumental achievement for a 1920kg car with sofas instead of seats and the quiet, regal air of a gentleman s club.

He had us at "High." More »

Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 May Be Available Stateside in 2007

Leftlane News picked up on a sparkly bit of conjecture offered by AutoSpies, that is, Mercedes will bring a lower-priced CLS to the US market — the CLS350 — in 2007. LFN estimates the less-pricey version of the four-door "coupe," sporting Merc's 3.5-liter V6 (272bhp in the UK), will cost in the $50,000 range. We're skeptical that the company would risk cannibalizing its E-Class for a cheap(er) thriller like the CLS. Then again, if Merc's market-research twiddlers have somehow identified two distinct target markets for the models, the plan could be viable. More »

Popular Mechanics Picks Mercedes CLS as Tops in Design

The popular kids just are just smitten with the showing of Mercedes-Benz this year. First Popular Science picked the 2006 S-Class as the Grand Award winner among its Best of the New for 2006. Now, Popular Mechanics has named the Merc CLS 500/55 winner in the design category of its Best New Cars and Trucks of 2006. Considering all the trouble some Mercedes cars have had with its electrical systems this past year, we doubt Popular Electronics will chime in on a hat-trick anytime soon. More »

ASMA Design's Mercedes CLS Shark

ASMA Design, a Mercedes tuning and aftermarket cosmetics shop recently carpetbombed the press with photos of its new CLS Shark, which it introduced in Frankfurt last month. The Shark is ASMA's showcase car promoting its CLS upgrade program, which includes commensurate chrome jewelry, a body kit, suspension mods, custom exhaust kit and (stop snickering) intake "gills" carved into the CLS's flanks. Overkill or killing machine? We dare not make the call. More »

Frankfurt Premiere: Brabus Rocket

Once upon a time in the 70's, Mercedes Benz made the world's fastest four-door: the 300SEL 6.3. Fast forward to Frankfurt; Brabus' power-crazed spannermeisters have finally recaptured the crown for the three-pointed star with a heavily-modded Mercedes CLS. The uber-tuner claims their inventively-named "Brabus Rocket" tops-out at 217mph (electronically limited due to tire limitations, natuerlich). Nostalgia lovers will be delighted to hear that a 6.3-liter twin-turbo V12 provides propulsion, stumping-up a scarcely credible 730hp @ 5100 rpm. Serving platter-sized ceramic brakes and an optional coil-over suspension should help owners' maintain their lifestyle, while the usual Brabus "pimp my Benz" extras will proclaim your max speed dominance. Over to you Bentley... More »

Kleeman CLS 50K S8: Jumpin' Jehosephat. Or Juergen.

Can we just say that we're gonna miss J rgen Schrempp? He's got one of the best names in the business, he's fun to pick on, and we love running that one middle-finger photochop of him every so often. Here's one from the house that J rgen devalued, uplifted by those horsepower-happy wackos at Kleeman you know, the people who brought you the Viper/Bentley/Aston/whatever else-stomping C-Class? 5.0L of breathed-on Stuttgarty goodness and a blower conspire to spin out 595hp at 5800 RPM. Just watch your head getting out of the rear doors. More »