Revealed: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS

And is it just me or is the brake light on the bottom of the bumper? I'm guessing the carbon fiber is just part of this "edition 1". Can't wait for some tan leather shots. But to me, the hood looks a little plain. Needs a couple of intakes.

Too bad it looks like crap... again. Really. The long front overhang isn't 'classic' it's pedestrian safety laws destroying another profile. They could have at least put the engine aft of the drive axles, then it would have a proper short front clip. Instead we have bland cut lines on the doors, a long 'nose' and tail lights flanked by harsh shut lines of the trunk topped off with a lazy chrome strip.

As Coco Chanel said, "Style comes and goes, elegance is forever." This my fellow readers, is NOT forever.

Sad. Overwrought. Trendy. Words that should never describe a Mercedes Benz, aptly describe this tart. Throw. It. Back.

Tail lights look exactly like a Porsche 911

@phoenixc
As you can probably tell by my name, I'm not exactly the biggest Benz fan. But I have to admit for their current style this is good. I, too, miss the good old Benzes like the old Grossers and the classic 280. They sort of lost their touch of class and resorted to flashy little shiny things for those who have chihuahuas in their purses and drink those soy latte things, which I still don't know what it is. But their new midlife crisis aside, this is a stunning car. Stunning - but not beautiful. Not timeless either.

Guess this is the sedan for people who lust for something so unique they don't mind that it's not even remotely cohesive.

Stunning. I love the side profile. The old CLS never looked like a $100k car to me...now it does.

I guess I should've said $75-$100k car.

Side note: where have I seen that front end before...

http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx

@bentleymansam: how exactly do those tailights look EXACTLY like a porsche 911's?????????????????

for those of u who havent noticed thts a CLS350! a V6 interesting but predictable

While I'm sure this is an unbelievable ride, style wise, i am absolutely NOT feeling the longish front overhang. Also, for whatever reason, i am just a fan of the side view mirrors here - some just ackward and unbalanced imo.

Kudos to the steering wheel team for FINALLY putting a better steering wheel on a Merc. This one above is a bit sporty but still handsome. Overall, I still prefer the simplicity of the previous CLS..

Since the A7 is practically the same price as an A8 once you get a decent engine, LED daytime-running lights, 4wd, etc, I would have thought that MB would do the same thing by making the interior and exterior of the CLS to be closer to an S/Cl class than an E class.

The exterior for me I think is overall a success for me. Points I dont like about it are:
-the exhaust pipe surrounds are square, but you can clearly see that real circular exhaust pipes
-agree with phoenixc, lazy chrome strip on the boot.
-the CLS should have its own unique side profile! Instead we get the same curl from the E-class (which MB copied from the Bently Continental GT)
-does this model have some sort of AMG bodykit? because the distinction between AMG and non-AMG models is becoming blurred, as the front bumper of this CLS looks like an AMG

The interior however is so dissappointing! It looks way to similar to the cheap,brittle plasticy interior of the E-class. I was expecting more gizmos from the S-class like:
-Dual-view screen where the driver and passenger see different things on the same screen (eg. sat nav & a movie)
-Digital instrument cluster!!!!

I don't know if it's me, but WHY does this car remind me of the latest generation Maxima??

wow.. this is SO much better than the current CLS. The interior came out much nicer than the scanned leaked photos show. The front design is phenomenal. I'm assuming this is the model with the sports/AMG package. Hopefully it's the sports package so there isn't a $6k premium to get it looking like this. Amazing, amazing redesign.

@lexusaddict- It's the rear fog light.

Beautiful car. The new E is boring. This is perfect. And I for one love the carbon fiber interior. Awesome.

Only time will tell if this is a timeless syled car. But, the operative word here is "stunning". It is a stunning car, but if you get into the details, there are some problems. I don't like MB interiors-- MB should take a look at Infinitis-- but if it works for MB lovers, then they are fine.

Bottom line-- a head turner. But don't focus in on it.

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

i dont understand what benz is doin anymore

It's the fog light at the rear in the middle!!!!! Of course!

I never liked the original CLS.

But this, this is is stunning. Absolutely stunning inside and out.

absolutely beautiful, shame about the column shifter. can't wait to see all the different configurations.

It's not a coupe...it's a sedan.

I think its gorgeous and MB its sticking with their current design in all their models..... Nothing can’t beat the first generation...!!!

For more information of visit the website, http://www.4x4trucks-forsale.com

While I am a huge BMW fan (sell them sctually) I can admit when another companys car is amazing to me. This CLS look 1000000000000000000 times better than the E class.coupe. This is one of the best looking four door cars ever produced. WOW the front and backl are both amazing. I am not sure which look better. The side profile is spoit on. They took a lot of styling ques from the comcept. The headlights are really well done and so are the taillights. The interior is also 10 times nicer than the old CLS and current E. Finally Benz gives a great sterring wheel in a car (3 spoke is the key) because the 4 spoke sterring wheel they has with pimples growing off the side is one of the worst in history. I want to see one of these is White with a dark brown leather interior and Piano trim. Great job BENZ.

Nice, but not as striking as the original.

Out of all these Coup-ans out there I still think the VW CC is the one that got the proportions and styling the best.

I can honestly sigh relief for MB to eliminate the idiotic-horrible-looking ANALOG clock inside the dashboard!!

The design looked pretty impressive in this picture, I may actually consider this car...
But must see the real thing first...

Too bad that the analog clock made it through the current E-Class... Just horrible!

I think this car looks more mature and luxury than the previous design which I had really liked. It looked like an elegant "dynamic" sports coupe with serious muscle and it was. Even though I am not a Mercedes fan, I almost bought one (I am sure they stole some customers from other car manufacturers). This model does not give me the same inspiration for some reason. Especially the back screams the driver is a grandfather….I would take the back of the previous design and use the front of this design (tone it down a little, too dramatic) and you have a great car then...

whats stunning is how some people are reacting to this car. This takes the business of the Sonata's design to the 3rd power. Way too much going on and I do not like the long hood, short deck look on a car this massive. Interior is same old blocky E class design. Why is the exterior all curves while the interior is full of dull angles and buttons. Also, those MB climate controls have been around for 7-8 years. Its time for something more modern with actualy temp displays instead of numbers on the dial.

Mercedes finally got a fresh new steering wheel!

Speaking of steering wheels, look at the buttons. Jaguar anyone?

SLS front, Maxima rear

i just dont like the back PHAT fenders. i dont think anyone does.

everything else looking nice and modern.

E and S have the silly fenders. so does the cl which makes it look silly.

FORM should FOLLOW FUNCTION

With all do respect to the designers of the new model, the 1st Gen CLS was real innovative with its design cues and reflected a never seen before attitude in car design. that was the most dynamic, geniously shaped unique design i had ever seen up until its introduction in 2005. This 2nd Gen however, is a CL with a twist. nothing more. MB has earned some reputation in making something good broken. you can see it with the aweful facelift of the current SL, which was absolutely perfect when launched. Hope they bare in mind Einstein's moto - "immagination is more important then knowledge"...

I still think the 1st generation made more of a statement. The execution of this is remarkable, but this can pass for an E-Class. I somehow believe the rear wheel bulge should have been removed to seperate it from the E and S-Class.

On another note, this does have some sort of appearance package...check the link of the stripped down version in Red.

http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2010/08/mercedes-benz-cls/Mercedes-Benz-CLS-design-evaluation-5-lg.jpg

I still think the 1st generation made more of a statement. The execution of this is remarkable, but this can pass for an E-Class. I somehow believe the rear wheel bulge should have been removed to seperate it from the E and S-Class.

On another note, this does have some sort of appearance package...check the link of the stripped down version in Red.

http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2010/08/mercedes-benz-cls/Mercedes-Benz-CLS-design-evaluation-5-lg.jpg

I still think the 1st generation made more of a statement. The execution of this is remarkable, but this can pass for an E-Class. I somehow believe the rear wheel bulge should have been removed to seperate it from the E and S-Class.

On another note, this does have some sort of appearance package...check the link of the stripped down version in Red.

http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2010/08/mercedes-benz-cls/Mercedes-Benz-CLS-design-evaluation-5-lg.jpg

Sorry for excessive posts...how do you delete?

btw guys.. mercedes does have the engine specs released.

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/innovation/future/cls_class

a little investigative journalism goes a long way ;-)