At the beginning of October 2004 the new Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class four-door Coupé will be launched in Europe. It will arrive in Australia during the second quarter 2005.

The car is based on a unique vehicle concept which for the first time combines the elegance and dynamism of a coupé with the comfort and practicality of a saloon. Spaciousness, luggage capacity and day-to-day practicality are at the level of a saloon, while the design lines possess the emotionally charged character of a coupé. With this currently unique combination, the new CLS-Class is one coupé generation ahead.

The technical specification also points the way to the future: in addition to adaptive front airbags, sidebags and windowbags, the preventive occupant protection system PRE-SAFE is to become available for the new Mercedes Coupé in the near future. The engine range includes two powerful petrol units: in the CLS 350 a newly developed V6 with 200 kW/272 hp and in the CLS 500 a muscular eight-cylinder unit with 225 kW/306 hp. Both engines are partnered by the new seven-speed automatic transmission, 7G-TRONIC, as standard. In the top CLS 500 model features such as AIRMATIC DC air suspension and THERMOTRONIC four-zone climate control provide S-Class levels of comfort.

The precursor to the new CLS-Class was a coupé study which Mercedes-Benz presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in autumn 2003. The enthusiastic public response to this four-door coupé encouraged the management in Stuttgart to give the green light for series production.

As a unique synthesis of a coupé and a saloon, the new CLS-Class offers a great deal more added value than other coupés. In this way Mercedes-Benz is once again emphasising its role as a trendsetter for new ideas in the automotive world. The sophisticated aesthetics of this coupé design, the exclusive appointments and the trailblazing technology are particularly aimed at people who have a passion for motor cars and motoring.

The four-door coupé concept even allows passengers in the rear convenient access and egress. They have the benefit of two comfortable single seats and enjoy generous freedom of movement. There is a distance of 829 mm between the front and rear seats, which together with the shoulder and elbow-level width (1422 and 1464 millimetres respectively in the rear) puts the CLS-Class firmly in saloon territory. Newly developed seats with electric adjustment as standard are available for the driver and front passenger; on request these can be equipped with active ventilation or as a dynamic multicontour seat.

Furthermore, the boot of the new CLS-Class holds up to 505 litres (VDA measuring method) – much more than any other coupé and even many a saloon.

Both the engines available for the CLS-Class exhibit effortless performance and exemplary torque characteristics, providing the best possible conditions for dynamic driving pleasure. The CLS 350 is equipped with a newly developed V6 engine which has an output of 200 kW/272 hp and delivers its maximum torque of 350 Newton metres from a mere 2400 rpm. Both are peak values in this displacement class.

The six-cylinder Coupé accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 250 km/h. The lively V6 engine harmonises with the likewise new 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, which is standard equipment. This is the world’s first passenger car transmission of this type, and makes a major contribution to the strong acceleration and exemplary fuel consumption of the CLS 350 – 10.1 litres per 100 kilometres (NEDC combined consumption).

Standard appointments in the six-cylinder Coupé include THERMATIC automatic climate control, a stereo radio, speed-sensitive power steering, a leather-covered steering wheel, 17-inch light-alloy wheels and 245/45 R17 wide-base tyres.

With the 5.0-litre V8 engine the new CLS 500 need fear no performance comparison with thoroughbred sports cars, while offering the eight-cylinder comfort typical of a luxury-class saloon. This power unit has an output of 225 kW/306 hp and an impressive 460 Newton metres of torque. Once again the standard seven-speed automatic transmission plays its part here. The CLS-Class V8 Coupé accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. The fuel consumption is 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres (NEDC combined consumption).

The additional standard equipment in the CLS 500 (as compared with the CLS 350) includes AIRMATIC DC air suspension, THERMOTRONIC luxury climate control and 18-inch light-alloy wheels with 245/40 R18 wide-base tyres.

The new CLS-Class is equipped with the latest safety systems such as adaptive front airbags, windowbags and sidebags, as well as belt tensioners and belt force limiters on all seats, offering an extremely high level of occupant protection. In future the prize-winning Mercedes safety system PRE-SAFE will be available. In critical driving situations this system activates precautionary measures for the vehicle occupants. These measures include split-second tensioning of the seat belts, which brings the driver and front passenger into a more favourable seating position even before a potential collision. This enables the airbags to protect the occupants more effectively if an impact occurs.

In the field of handling safety Mercedes-Benz emphasises its technological leadership among car brands in the new CLS-Class with Sensotronic Brake Control SBC™ and the latest-generation Electronic Stability Programme (ESP®) as standard. A number of other innovations are also optionally available for the four-door Coupé to make driving even safer. These include powerful bi-xenon headlamps with Headlamp Assist, which Mercedes-Benz now combines with cornering lights.