Auto Spies World Exclusive: More news on the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLE
Look out Jaguar!
From an internal Mercedes-Benz spy:
Last week we broke more news on the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Jag fighter
See article: http://www.imakenews.com/autospies/e_article000136491.cfm
More news from the MB mole...
The March 12th, 2003 Autocar article on Merc's Secret Jag Fighter, is quite accurate. Only the the nationality of the Exterior Stylist is actually American not German.
The CLE will be shown as a slightly modified prototype in Frankfurt 2003. Showcar Project Manager, Höltzel, who led the SLR and GST showcar projects is in Italy right now leading this project. Rumor has it that the showcar is a shooting-brake style sport wagon with a very "Chopped-top" look.
A further Rumor is that Porsche is developing a Jag Fighter too, a V8 Coupe' with foor doors codenamed E2. "The E2A is a 2+2 coupe, while E2B is a four-door sports wagon/shooting brake" according to Issue 488 April 2003 of "CAR" magazine. "Both are powered by the V8 Cayenne, and both have the potential to be offered in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive." Theirs may have rear-hinged doors similar to the new Mazda RX-8 but unlike the CLE which will have doors that open conventionally. Porsche originally made an attempt to build this car with their "989" prototype developed in the mid-nineties. At that time the board of directors turned down the car saying it was "too far away from their sports car tradition". After the Cayenne, they must be thinking differently. If this car makes it to the market, Mercedes may not be standing alone with their "Jag Fighter"....
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