Auto Spies World Exclusive: Special report MB CLS and next generation S-class

 
email: Robert.wolf@era.com

SPECIAL REPORT- UPDATE MERCEDES-BENZ CLS, 05-06 S 
(See more photos and details, in our special CLS articles, throughout this week’s newsletter)

www.autospies.com
 
You’ve heard the old saying…”Everything comes out in the wash”, right?

About a year ago, we alerted our readers to new Mercedes-Benz models that were in development and published a special report, detailing the specifics of the 2005-06 next generation S-class and and a totally new model at that time “Code named the CLE 4-door coupe”. That model is now called the CLS.

We snapped a photo of the prototype S-class but were unable to photograph the CLS, so we wrote down all the details of what we saw and experienced. We sat in both cars and spent about two hours with the new models.

After we published the article, many internet sites and “supposed experts” doubted the validity of our claims. Of course, no one could possibly know more than them. They have access to manufacturer press releases (by the way, so do 10,000 other internet sites including us). Even the magazines missed the mark when they did articles about the CLS. This includes ALL the major domestic and international magazines. You can pick up on any newsstand.

In fact, we scooped EVERYONE so bad on this story, that the MB forums and sites still don’t even have a CLS category on their sites or in print.

So over the last nine months speculation has been rampant about the next generation S and CLS. The international magazines have hired their photoshop artists to “guess” and produce prototype photos. The all did a reasonable job, but were really far off, on most aspects of the CLS and S.

We did follow up articles critiquing these drawings and supposed facts stating they were still way off on their designs but the experts said we were wrong.

But remember, THEY are the experts right?

NOT!

Let’s go back to our special report and see who was right…

We’ll let our readers and the internet be the judge, of how close we were, and how far off the others were

Here’s how we described the CLS almost a year ago…

A few months ago we talked about a new car coming from Mercedes-Benz called the CLE four door coupe.
 
Well we saw it for the first time last week.
 
The car is visually stunning to say the least.
 
When the focus group saw the car for the first time there were gasps in the room. They were almost awestruck!
 
The group also thought it looked more expensive and had as much cachet, on first glance, than the CL500 sitting next to it. Of course, our guess is the car will go for a slight premium over the existing E/CLK (which were both panned as ‘old fashioned and boring’ by the focus group) and nowhere near the price of a CL.
 
The cars design is much more aggressive looking than this picture from AutoBild illustrates.
 

 
The roofline is much more raked than the photo with much shorter side windows (unbelievably short!).
 
The front of the car does not have the separated headlights shown in the picture but uses a new style tall ‘L’ shaped headlight…similar to the look of the G35 coupe lights, but with a tall ‘L’. The front stance is very muscular and rounded, similar to a more aggressive looking Infiniti Q45, if you can picture that. (Now you can)
 
In certain ways, you could say the car is a modern interpretation of the old Infiniti J30 meeting the Chrysler crossfire (We always thought it was the best looking Infiniti of it’s time…I know, that’s not saying much… and we like the Crossfire). We’re trying to help you build a visual picture of how this car looks in your mind.
 
The rear of the car employs an extremely sloped trunk line virtually identical to the photo above but with different style taillights. The taillights looked to be a similar style to the Chrysler 300m.
 
Inside the car MB has taken a lot of visual queues from Jaguar.
 
The dash has the high flat look of current Jaguars with huge wood panels. And it’s more intelligently laid out inside than the E or CLK.
 
The dashboard gauges are recessed in more than any current MB.
 
And because it’s a four door coupe, rear seat room is not much larger that the current CLK’s. BUT, it has four doors so it’s easier to get in to that small space.
 
We think the car will be a roaring success when it is introduced.
 
We also think a healthy amount of people looking at the E-class and CLK would choose this car instead.
 
It has the drama of the SL, CL and older MB’s, at a much more affordable price.
 
MB, you’ve got another winner on your hands!
 
I would personally choose this car over a current E or CLK.
 
If you have any further info on these cars email rumors@autospies.com
 
Here’s a picture of the real car shown in Frankfurt this week:
 

 

 
So how did we do?

Why have we gone through this exercise? Because we also covered the next S-class which is still not introduced, and we want you to know that our info on the S, is even MORE accurate than the CLS info.

Here is a reprint of the entire report for your reading pleasure.

The next S-class isn’t due for another year, but at AutoSpies.com, you can read about it now.

Look for information as accurate as this about a year from now everywhere else. :)

Be sure to let everyone know, who has the REAL inside scoop on the world’s best automobiles.
 

REPRINT- Auto Spies World Exclusive

We unveil the 2005-06 Mercedes-Benz S-class prototype (W221)
 
As predicted by Auto Spies, the new S-class looks like a smaller version of the Maybach
 
The Spies got a two hour sneak preview last week of the 2005-06 S-class concepts (see exclusive pictures below) as well as the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLE (cross between CL and E), also known in spy circles as the four door E-class coupe (more on that below).
 
2005 S-class prototype-short wheelbase version

*For the doubters who don't think this is the protoype, note the second hump in the middle of the dash for the navigation/dvd screen
 

 
The boys from Stuttgart were at an undisclosed location (hint: where the surf meets the turf) last week, doing focus group evaluations of the next generation S-class and a vehicle that will be in a brand new category, the MB CLE.
 
Two S-class concepts-Short and long wheelbase were shown
 
Initial impressions:
 
They walked us into an area where the cars were displayed
 
The new S-classes were lined up next to the Lexus LS430, 2003 (New Audi A8), VW Phaeton (We thought it would look better than it did), BMW 745li and current S-class.
 

 
Instantaneously, the entire focus group pointed to the new S-classes (the focus group was never told the model name, just that these were prototype MB’s) and said that they were by far the best looking of the bunch.
 
It was amazing, although the spy pictures don’t bring out their full beauty, how gorgeous they really were!
 
The other cars in the room looked dated by twenty years next to the S-classes (how do those MB designers do that!).
 
We know what you’re going to say…” Well, they may have looked better than the Lexus but what about the NEW A8, 745 and Phaeton?” Hands down, these new cars made even those look old and tired.
 
Especially the 745!
 
One of the first things we noticed about the cars, were their ‘muscular stances’.
 
They are cars that exuded amazing presence, like nothing else on the road.
 
Remember how cool the old E500’s looked with the fenders above the wheels flared out? Well these new rides fenders are flared out with extreme aggression. If you’ve ever seen a Ford Explorer, Eddie Bauer edition with its flared wheel fenders, you’ll get the idea of how pronounced they are on these new S’s.
 
As we walked around the cars, the next thing we noticed was Maybach-like rear. The first thought that came to mind was “Now this is how it should have been implemented!”
 
The back has a similar look to the 745 but is done much more subtly and elegantly.
 
Rear lights look similar to the technique used on the GST and Maybach
 

 
And yes, Mercedes-Benz will be following BMW’s lead and have their own version of iDrive…except, they will have FRONT and REAR controllers. (See diagrams below)
 


 
Other observations that were made by the Spies and other group members:
 
Leather quality (especially seats) was much higher quality than in the current S-class cars. As Marv Albert would say…YESSSS!
 
All the controls for the seats (including massage etc.) are on the doors.
 
They used a beautiful combination of wood and brushed aluminum.
 
The black plastic control buttons on the dash are larger than in current cars.
 
The control buttons were made of a combination of brushed aluminum and textured aluminum (like on the handle of a ratchet set). The texture is so you can ‘feel’ the button without looking…good idea!
 
DVD screens are built-in to the rear of the front headrests with individual DVD players for each rear passenger. DVD media tray is also mounted into back of the rear seats. (See diagram below)
 

 
The headlights although similar to the current S-class are distinctively different. They look much more expensive than even the 2003 S-class headlights.
 
The aggressive wheel wells look like they can accept much larger tires than were on the car…maybe 22’s?
 
The long wheelbase car was shown with a photo-chromatic panorama roof…KILLER!
 
The cars looked like they cost TWICE as much as their competitors.  Definitely, due to the Maybach supercar influence.
 
They will implement a steering wheel transmission shifter, ala BMW 745…the MB shifter has left the building! L
 
There were more interior storage trays inside the cars…two drawers, in particular mounted in the dash below heat/cool/radio, again ala BMW 745.
 
The exterior door handles are similar to the current generation S-class.
 
Keyless go will be standard, there was no slot on the dash for a key.
 
There were two antennae on the back of the car (See diagram below)

 
Observers noted the current S-class looked very dated compared to the new cars.
 
Rear orthopedic seats were shown in the vehicles. Controls were on the rear console in front of the iDrive-like controller. Seats could be adjusted EXACTLY like high end front seat adjustments work.
 
A new feature mounted as a lever to the left of the headlights was ‘night view’ (similar to Cadillac/Lexus night vision).
 
Dashboard was shown still implementing the electroluminescent gauges.
 

 
We saved the best for last…What would be better than owning a $350K Maybach? Well, we think the new S-class is BETTER looking than the Maybach. Think of it as a more aggressive and sporty version of the Maybach. AND more people will be able to afford it and enjoy it!
 
Well done Mercedes-Benz…have a salesman contact us so we can be first on the list to get one of these beauties!
 
2005? Mercedes-Benz CLE
 

 

 

 
 
 
A few months ago we talked about a new car coming from Mercedes-Benz called the CLE four door coupe.
 
Well we saw it for the first time last week.
 
The car is visually stunning to say the least.
 
When the focus group saw the car for the first time there were gasps in the room. They were almost awestruck!
 
The group also thought it looked more expensive and had as much cachet, on first glance, than the CL500 sitting next to it. Of course, our guess is the car will go for a slight premium over the existing E/CLK (which were both panned as ‘old fashioned and boring’ by the focus group) and nowhere near the price of a CL.
 
The cars design is much more aggressive looking than this picture from AutoBild illustrates.
 
The roofline is much more raked than the photo with much shorter side windows (unbelievably short!).
 
The front of the car does not have the separated headlights shown in the picture but uses a new style tall ‘L’ shaped headlight…similar to the look of the G35 coupe lights, but with a tall ‘L’. The front stance is very muscular and rounded, similar to a more aggressive looking Infiniti Q45, if you can picture that.
 
In certain ways, you could say the car is a modern interpretation of the old Infiniti J30 meeting the Chrysler crossfire (We always thought it was the best looking Infiniti of it’s time…I know, that’s not saying much… and we like the Crossfire). We’re trying to help you build a visual picture of how this car looks in your mind.
 
The rear of the car employs an extremely sloped trunk line virtually identical to the photo above but with different style taillights. The taillights looked to be a similar style to the Chrysler 300m.
 
Inside the car MB has taken a lot of visual queues from Jaguar.
 
The dash has the high flat look of current Jaguars with huge wood panels. And it’s more intelligently laid out inside than the E or CLK.
 
The dashboard gauges are recessed in more than any current MB.
 
And because it’s a four door coupe, rear seat room is not much larger that the current CLK’s. BUT, it has four doors so it’s easier to get in to that small space. J
 
We think the car will be a roaring success when it is introduced.
 
We also think a healthy amount of people looking at the E-class and CLK would choose this car instead.
 
It has the drama of the SL, CL and older MB’s, at a much more affordable price.
 
MB, you’ve got another winner on your hands!
 
I would personally choose this car over a current E or CLK.
 
If you have any further info on these cars email rumors@autospies.com
 
 
 
 

email andre: avoglezon@mbzlongbeach.com