Agent00J
Agent00J
Life is too short to drive boring cars...
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SNEAK PEAK - 2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS
The Mercedes-Benz CLS was one of those cars that when it hit dealer showrooms it was RED HOT.  Stylish and well equipped, although based on the E-Class the CLS was a sexy alternative to the stoic sedan from MB, and buyers flocked to dealers to own this fashion statement.  Mercedes-Benz was even so brazen as to market this car as a coupe even though the 4-doors really made it a sedan.  The low slung roof line and seating for 4 however met the coupe requirements for MB hence the marketing as such.  Like most fashion trends however, the style came and went and now the current CLS simply takes up space at dealers as sales have fallen off drastically. 

In the meantime however, BMW, Audi and VW all want a piece of this new market segment created by Mercedes and have rushed their own interpretation of the 4-Door coupe to the auto show circuits, but so far only VW has official plans for production with the Passat CC.

Mercedes-Benz is not one to sit on their laurels however, and a redesigned CLS is coming for model year 2010.  Wearing a front end very similar to the CL-Coupes, MB has done a good job updating the CLS coupe without straying to far from the formula set forth with the original.  The pictures are grainy, but they are good enough to get a sense of what the new design looks like.

Be sure to check out the Mercedes Fashion Gallery with over 900 girls in bikinis
SNEAK PEAK - 2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS



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Peyton18Peyton18 - 7/23/2008 4:29:58 PM
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GreenPleaseGreenPlease - 7/24/2008 11:22:43 PM
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My dad has had two of these cars:

1. CLS 55 AMG, traded in last month with 105K miles on it (started with 10, he drives a lot...)
2. CLS 63 AMG, picked it up last month. Awesome car, though the throttle response could be sharper

From driving it (frequently) my suggestions to MB:

Make the rear glass longer and turn it into a lift back. Trust me, it would lower, longer, and sexier. It would be more functional and no one would think "hatch back." I've thrown the idea by my dad and he loved it. He's the target market for this vehicle (middle aged, wealthy, wants style, power, and four doors at around $125K).

A benefit of the liftback design would be longer and stronger C pillars. This would make the car stiffer and would lower the coefficient of drag for better fuel economy (my dad cares as he gets to stop for gas less often, time is $ to him).

Another thing MB could do to the CLS is give it a real rear diffuser. I'm talking F430 stuff here. It would help improve the aerodynamics, increase downforce, and look HOT.

Inside the car, lose the door mounted side air bags and opt for side air bags in the seats. Then, move the mirror, window, and lock controls to the center console. This essentially leaves a naked door. The inside of the door could be carbon fiber which would weigh less and look really cool. Production costs would be lower as you could use the same doors for both left hand and right hand drive markets.

Skip the regular sunroof. Offer either a light weight sunroof-free roof or a panoramic sunroof (ala current E and S class). My dad would most certainly spring for that option.

The wheels are already magnesium (at least they are on my dad's, he's got some 070 package...) which are stupid expensive. Why not go all out for carbon fiber?

While we are at it, drop 100 pounds by replacing the current battery with a Li-ion unit and changing the hood material from steel to carbon reinforced plastic.

Last suggestion (within reason): make the entire center stack a big touch screen. Oh, and how about a heads up display ala BMW M5 and Corvette C6 (it's Delphi's tech)? Oh, and make the front seats thinner to give people in the back some acceptable leg room.

That's it. For now...


Maverick2020Maverick2020 - 7/23/2008 4:38:01 PM
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I love this car. But hate--hate--the front-end.

The 2nd generation looks much, much better.

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golfer38golfer38 - 7/24/2008 2:21:43 PMView My AgentSpace
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If you mean the current generation, I agree. This new version, if accurate, is gorgeous and they certainly fixed that front end problem in my eyes as well.


GreenPleaseGreenPlease - 7/24/2008 11:25:39 PM
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Really? Don't you feel like that sketch makes the front look... bubbley? It just doesn't feel sharp enough to me. Too soft....

One thing is for sure: the wheel arches of the current generation CLS are PERFECT. Seriously.


golfer38golfer38 - 7/25/2008 11:42:47 AMView My AgentSpace
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I understnad what you're saying, the new design doesn't seem as sleek. I tend to think the new design looks meatier with a little more road presence.


HSCenterconsoleHSCenterconsole - 7/23/2008 4:42:12 PM
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Agent 00J, solid postings today.
By the way, what happened to 00K? Haven't seen her posting in a long time?

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Agent00JAgent00J - 7/23/2008 5:09:35 PMView My AgentSpace
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Thanks for the compliment.

Questions about 00K I am deferring to 001.

-00J


Agent001Agent001 - 7/23/2008 5:10:09 PMView My AgentSpace
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He IS doing an awesome job 2day!

OOK is still recovering

001


Homer007Homer007 - 7/24/2008 9:04:23 AM
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Dang! Recovering from what? An Alcohlism? Its been like 2 years since we've last heard from her!!!!! Stop your lies and tell us the truth.


elsupelsup - 7/24/2008 7:00:33 PM
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If by good job, you mean good job at posting OLD news, then yes, good job i guess.

Posted over two months ago across the internets

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/auto-bild-vorschau-mercedes-cls_700766.html


pchera01pchera01 - 7/23/2008 4:49:30 PM
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it looks great

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Bmw8terBmw8ter - 7/23/2008 4:58:35 PM
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Very nice....Maybach-like. Imagine if they made a 2 door out of this thing like the 90s S600 Coupe.

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Agent001Agent001 - 7/23/2008 5:13:06 PMView My AgentSpace
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You mean Ocean-Drive concept like

001


Bmw8terBmw8ter - 7/23/2008 5:32:50 PM
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Because the Ocean Drive Concept is a convertible, it's hard to see the resemblance; the front looks nothing like the Ocean Drive. But, it's pretty obvious that tail is right off of a Maybach 57.


vman1013vman1013 - 7/24/2008 10:45:46 AM
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you mean the current CL?


auto001auto001 - 7/23/2008 5:08:59 PM
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Like the current version better, don't like this gonzo.

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_43LE_43LE - 7/23/2008 5:15:32 PM
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It's hard to improve on a great design but I think that this does the trick.

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SVXXXSVXXX - 7/23/2008 5:19:05 PM
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LOVE THE Front!

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charlik05charlik05 - 7/23/2008 5:24:46 PM
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nice front. looks similar to the new audi noses on the r8 and TT.

the back looks bad though.

hope they make the car roomier in the front.

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cdokecdoke - 7/23/2008 5:27:10 PMView My AgentSpace
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The front end is a significant improvement. I have never liked the current CLS headlights. I am not so sure about the side surfaces, though- it may be just a bit much.

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PlanBPlanB - 7/23/2008 5:29:43 PM
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I like it also but that nose looks as if it was lifted straight from a 80's S Class. It gives the car design a bit of old school feel but I like its integration into the rest of the car design, very nice.

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LexusLexus - 7/23/2008 5:37:25 PM
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It look really nice, but I like the current CLS better than this one.

Lexus

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silver1silver1 - 7/23/2008 5:40:46 PM
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Agreed. The back looks horrible....The back looks like a sad 2009 Maxima.

The back looks like It's a slant down old man Rolls Royce Back instead of a Sporty Upbeat back like the current version...


0to600to60 - 7/24/2008 12:03:06 PM
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The rear light are similar to the 2009 Maxima.


lenkunlenkun - 7/23/2008 5:38:39 PM
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Looks like a Toyota Camry.

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enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 7/23/2008 6:12:51 PM
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you're so savvy. clearly in the design world.


LexusLexus - 7/23/2008 6:04:10 PM
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lenkun,

LOL.....

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enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 7/23/2008 6:11:42 PM
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very aggressive. very hot. another CLS that will sell like MAD.

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StarStar - 7/23/2008 6:33:22 PM
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Reminds me of the classic Mercedes cars. Truly a masterpiece.

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LexusKindaGuy12LexusKindaGuy12 - 7/23/2008 6:52:56 PM
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i like the rear. but the front looks like its smiling. lol

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xj13xj13 - 7/23/2008 6:59:00 PM
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Love this car, it was an instant hit. The new CLS looks even better, love the back end.

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mghazi56mghazi56 - 7/23/2008 7:43:50 PM
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Front end is beautiful, back end is OK at first glance but we will get used to it.

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lexusrox123lexusrox123 - 7/23/2008 7:56:29 PM
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this is what i call it: mercedes benz Cialis. lol

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AgentOrangeAgentOrange - 7/23/2008 7:56:35 PMView My AgentSpace
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Looks like Chris Bangle has really influenced car design.

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AudiphileAudiphile - 7/23/2008 8:47:01 PM
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Nice-looking car, but why build a car that only short people can fit into comfortably?

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delandelan - 7/23/2008 9:27:21 PMView My AgentSpace
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NUggAitsMENUggAitsME - 7/23/2008 9:42:03 PM
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sick , i'm sure it'll end up looking F**ckn sick , love the sides and the back , agreed about the artical that it went out of fashion a bit i mean it's still a HOT CAR but not a super HIT like it was when it came out , when i 1st seen it on the streets i went nuts

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chewychewy - 7/23/2008 11:46:01 PMView My AgentSpace
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the front looks good. maybe a bit too much, the rear a little droopy. the current CLS looks droopy from the rear in pics also, but really good in real life

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EL44EL44 - 7/24/2008 3:22:14 AMView My AgentSpace
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mattman953mattman953 - 7/24/2008 2:28:18 PM
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Not to my taste.

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ShelbyGTShelbyGT - 7/24/2008 5:05:14 PM
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Hmm, I think the current CLS was such a beautiful car that it had to be made even if its market and place in the lineup was unclear. But it created a new market segment that others are now following. This one picture doesn't seem to carry on the current cars beautiful coupe looks. Instead, it seems to pick up more of the current design language found in Mercedes lineup - particularly the S-Class. Their new cars, while nice and competently executed are not beautiful cars

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lakerfan213lakerfan213 - 7/25/2008 12:03:55 AM
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To me it looks nice. But I dont like that crease running from the tip of the headlights onto the side.

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themantheman - 7/25/2008 2:49:06 AM
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The Merc CLS was such an amazing design, its going to be tough for Mercedes to improve it..Its weird but the CLS design still looks fresh and modern..

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cls550cls550 - 7/25/2008 6:29:50 AM
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That's gorgeous.

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