Mercedes-Benz tweaks CLS styling, here Q4

MERCEDES-BENZ has unveiled the facelifted version of its swooping CLS four-door coupe, the first examples of which are due to arrive Down Under in the fourth quarter of this year.

Flaunting a new grille and a redesigned front bumper, Mercedes says the new CLS has been given a “sportier look” more befitting of its four-door coupe body style while ‘spectral blue metallic’ has been added to the colour palette.

Tweaks have been made inside the cabin too with the biggest change being the new-generation multifunction steering wheel with ‘hands on’ technology.

In overseas markets, a new diesel powerplant has been added to the range, this time boosted by the inclusion of an integrated starter generator (ISG) which can contribute an extra 15kW/200Nm under hard acceleration.

The mill in question is the CLS300d; a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit developing 195kW/550Nm without the aid of the ISG, driving all four wheels via the familiar nine-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel consumption for the new mill is rated at between 5.8-6.6 litres per 100km on the WLTP cycle thanks to its coasting abilities, while 0-100km/h is dispatched in a claimed 6.4 seconds.

The rest of the diesel range has been carried over untouched, as has the petrol range which still consists of the familiar 350, 450 4Matic and AMG 53 4Matic+ variants.

According to Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific, there are still no plans to introduce a diesel CLS locally.

While the flagship AMG six-banger will continue on as a full-time member of the line-up, a new limited-edition version will be offered globally with just 300 examples set to roll off the production line.

Dubbed the ‘Edition’, the limited run of CLS53s are finished in either ‘cashmere white magno’ or ‘selenite grey magno’ paint and come as standard with black 20-inch AMG light-alloy wheels, AMG Night Package and AMG Night Package II (blacked out exterior trim), AMG Dynamic Plus Package, two-tone AMG nappa leather upholstery and carbon trim elements.

No changes have been made under the bonnet where the turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six continues to churn out 320kW/520Nm, aided by an uprated ISG which can contribute an extra 16kW/250Nm intermittently.

The other two carry-over powertrains consist of the 220kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder CLS350, and the 270kW/500Nm straight-six, all-paw CLS450.

The current CLS has had a conservative start to 2021 with 11 units shifted across January and February, accounting for 2.6 per cent of the $70,000-plus large car segment, a segment it shares with the E-Class – the current segment leader with 157 sales (36.9%).