Mercedes cuts the crap

Newswheel staff :: 04 May 2005 :: Filed under Coupe, Saloon, Mercedes Benz, Mercedes Benz CL coupe, Mercedes Benz S-Class, Europe & UK, US

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MB revival continues

After a decade of cranking out some fairly tatty cars by Mercedes' historically peerless standards (the most recent consequence of which is a reported loss of $1.2 billion in the first quarter of this year), most agree the firm is finally on the mend. After the improvements made over existing models with both the new M and A Class models, it looks likes MB’s new flagship land yachts will continue the upward trend. Replacements for the current S-Class and the CL coupe have been captured by German rag Auto Bild wearing little more than a few strips of black tape. And the big saloon in particular looks like a class act.

Immediately apparent, compared with the rather gloopy, organic lines of the current car, are the taught, controlled surfaces. At the rear, the brake light clusters and the way the boot lid sits proud takes a cue from the Maybach super-saloon. But overall, the car’s aesthetic is more closely related to the recently launched M-Class as evidenced by the sharply defined wheel arches and similar front light cluster treatment.
What’s more, the pre-production car caught boasts impressively gnat’s-chuff-tight shut lines. While we doubt it will match the fabulously over-engineered, utterly bomb proof early-90s vintage S-Class (the W140) for pure unburstability, it bodes well. Certainly, it looks leagues ahead of the current S-Class incumbent, the plasticky, insubstantial W220.

Arguably, the new CL is less impressive. Although the frontal treatment and lights ape the upcoming S-Class, it’s less chiselled and has more than a whiff of the current CLK about it thanks to a rising waistline and rather predictable and bulbous, semi-circular rear light clusters.

Both cars are likely to be hammering their way past slower autobahn traffic some time in 2006.

Linkage:
Auto Bild pics