#NAIAS Mercedes is giving us a first glimpse of the second-generation CLS-Class coupe/sedan in sculpture form here at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. An actual car will debut as the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class at the end of this year.
You should also take this resin sculpture as a statement of design intent: All future Mercedes-Benz models will adopt this new design language, says Benz Chief of Design Gorden Wagener.
"We're changing attitude from a very wedge shape to the anti-wedge," he told journalists gulping down espresso and scones. To our eyes, this is a pretty definitive about-face from the excessively rectilinear E-Class.
The flowing character line that runs down the side of the car sculpture (and drops as it meets up with the exaggerated fenders) calls to mind Benzes of the 1930s like the 540K. Wagener regards this era as one of the "most beautiful times" in Benz design history. If you took art history classes in college, you're meant to pick up on the biomorphic forms and art deco influence in this CLS sculpture.
Apparently, the only rectilinear element that will remain on the next generation of Mercedes-Benzes is the upright grille. That's the heart of Benz brand identity so there's no doing away with that.
You'll see the next installment of Wagener's sculpture series at the Geneva auto show in March.
rick8365 says:
08:01 AM, 01/11/10
This is great news IMO as I have always liked Benzes but have been turned off by the recent styling direction. The E for one, went from being just about perfect to plain ugly - very unfortunate.
rsholland says:
08:17 AM, 01/11/10
Agreed. The current Benz styling is not at all attractive.
mlh says:
12:38 PM, 01/11/10
Wow -- very nice! And I love this method of reveal -- much better than lifting a curtain off one fender at a time.
jederino says:
05:47 PM, 01/11/10
This Merc should be quite well protected, if it survived the carbonite freezing process.
mercedesfan says:
10:42 AM, 01/12/10
The CLS should be stunning, but I'm having a hard time imagining this design theme translating to an S-Class or E-Class. I love the current design language, though, so I think I might be a bit more traditional than most. Oh well, I guess I just have to wait and see, it seems as if I'm always pleasantly surprised by German design risks so hopefully this is no different.
adam_xj220 says:
08:57 PM, 02/21/10
Isn't the CL being facelifted/replaced in the next year? I would really like to see new design theme on an actual coupe.