LA show: Mercedes teases new-gen CLS

MERCEDES-BENZ has taken to social media to tease its third-generation CLS-Class liftback sedan ahead of a debut later this month at the Los Angeles (LA) motor show and an Australian arrival in mid-2018.

The German manufacturer has given hints as to the interior and exterior styling of the new model, which has existed in its current form since 2011 and was given a mid-life refresh in 2015.

A single darkened image has been released of the CLS from front-on showing a new right-angled LED daytime running light signature, indicating a new style of headlight for the updated model.

It looks as though the CLS-Class will use a similar headlight design first seen on the Concept A Sedan unveiled at the Shanghai motor show in April, which is also expected to be seen on the next-generation A-Class.

Few other details can be gleaned from the exterior image, other than the grille will be split horizontally by a chrome line running through the three-pointed star badge and a subtle front spoiler will feature on the bumper.

The interior teaser image reveals the Comand Online fully digital instrument cluster and multimedia screen, comprising two 12.3-inch monitors encased in a single glass film as seen on the new E-Class range.

Also visible are the circular air vents also seen on the E-Class, a push-start ignition button, carbon-fibre dash trim and red-coloured interior ambient lighting.

In the image, the user appears to be scrolling through Mercedes’ Energising Comfort function, which syncs together the vehicle’s climate control, seat heating, ventilation and massage and ambient lighting functions.

Visible are four different settings – Freshness, Warmth, Vitality and Joy.

When the CLS-Class eventually arrives in production guise in the middle of next year, it is expected to utilise Benz’s crop of new 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engines, and could also be the first AMG-tuned model to use hybrid power.

The AMG CLS53 is reported to team a 320kW petrol six-pot engine to a 50kW electric motor for a combined total output of 370kW, with torque said to be comfortably in excess of 550Nm.

It will likely replace the twin-turbo V6 AMG 43 variant currently offered on a number of Mercedes models.

The range-topping 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 AMG 63 variant is expected to remain.

More details on the third-gen CLS-Class will be revealed with the car’s unveiling at the LA show, beginning on November 29.