Spy Shots: New Mercedes CL-Class (Updated)

[Variance]

World Car Fans: Next Gen Mercedes CL Coupe and AMG

IMO, the rear and sides are awful. They're horrbily blob-like. The previous CL had so much more presence.

[Flybrian]

Mercedes, baby, you and I have so much fun. I love you.

[CSpec]

Ugh, that is one ugly car. I don't see any reason to pony up for this over a CLS55.

[Croc]

Those photos are "computer-enhanced." Expect it to look better in person and for real.

[pow]

Most of the new Benzes look questionable in photos, but great in person. The R-class's rear view is really nice, IMO, and the S-class's bulging fenders actually work.

[Charger4U]

awesome, thanks for posting varaince.

[regfootball]

fly, you beat me to the punch. it also is slightly like a 95 riv boattail rear.

what is up with mercedes and the rear wheel arches now? YUK.

overall its pretty decent but with some hoky aspects.

[Nick]

Those photos are "computer-enhanced."  Expect it to look better in person and for real.

Let's hope so...right now it looks bloated and just doesn't look good at all. I love the current CL...this is a dissapointment.

[Bimmer325]

Those pictures look like a car half it's price.

I expect it to look much better in authentic, non-enhanced images.

[The O.C.]

.....especially with the new S-Class (yuk) I'm becoming less-and-less a fan of M-Benz stying and <gasp> more-and-more a fan of Bangle's efforts......

The 6-series is SO much more musclular and dramatic than this CL......

[Bimmer325]

O.C., I shared your opinion of the S-Class until I started seeing them on the road.

I can honestly say it's gorgeous in person.

[Robert Hall]

Looks odd..the C-pillar treatment looks like the CLK..not as nice as the current CL (where the rear glass wraps and the pillar is narrower at the base than further up).

[regfootball]

O.C., I shared your opinion of the S-Class until I started seeing them on the road. 

I can honestly say it's gorgeous in person.

i saw it at the auto show and also sat in it.

its not stunning in person. its not a dramatic diff from the last one overall. the interior is nice other than the geriatric dash.

the four door coupe mercedes makes is a true stunner. the s class is merely pleasant.

give me an XJ, maserati or A8 instead.

Edited March 19, 2006 by regfootball

[Ravenfreak13]

It looks older then my cars.

[MyerShift]

Reminds me more of a Hyundai than anything else.

Funny how corporate tie-ups, regardless how brief, lead to similar styling.

[ocnblu]

I don't care for the huge quarter windows. Does this mean the new car won't have the full hardtop effect of four open windows? How can a glass that big retract into that small quarter panel?

[ponchoman49]

Mercedes, baby, you and I have so much fun. I love you.

Still more proof that styling is unimaginative and unoriginal. It makes it even worse that the sides of all these new cars are all going over to the naked unprotected side look which is so dull.

[ToniCipriani]

Mercedes, baby, you and I have so much fun. I love you.

Actually...

They're out of ideas so they're rebadging their competitor's:

[torobud]

Mercedes, baby, you and I have so much fun. I love you.

Front End terrible...

Back End But then again I love Aurora's anyway...

[The O.C.]

O.C., I shared your opinion of the S-Class until I started seeing them on the road. 

I can honestly say it's gorgeous in person.

.....see, to me, on the road they look bloated and overweight and decisively un-glamourous.....

......certainly not anywhere near as imposing and athletic-looking as a sport-packaged 750 or just about any Audi A8.....OR the previous, AMG version (or AMG-wheel-equipped) S-class.

I've never been a Maybach fan...and to me, it just looks like a slightly-shrunken Maybach....

I was talking last night to a close friend that is a (automotive) wholesaler....and he said that the new S-class is getting a chilly reception in the eyes of many consumers. Of course some will buy it JUST because it's the "new" S-class....but he said the resale values of the previous-generation S-class, while they took a nose-dive JUST prior to the arrival of the new S, are starting to solidify as a result of people seeing the new one in person.

Even in car-conscious southern California, I've only seen two new ones on the road now.....

On a side-note........(from this same friend).....M-Benz of Laguna Niguel, one of the largest-volume Benz dealers in the country, is selling only 7 (!) new R-classes per month....and just rec'd a shipment of 50 (!) new ones to stock.....!

[Flybrian]

Both the A8 and Jag XJ are simply the best-looking high-lux fullsizers around in their carriage and overall look. Even the restyled 7er has some odd angles, notably (still) the rear, though its better than the ghastly original.

The new S isn't horrible, but it just isn't anything worthwhile, IMO. The last generation looked quite nice in comparison. This has a mini-Maybach look which begs the question, what's the point of Maybach?

O.C., the lack of R-Class movement isn't surprising. Its big, ungainly and expennnnnnnnnnnnnsive. Plus, everyone already has a Mercedes. No one cares anymore.

[turbo200]

I have actually started to see a lot more S-class' recently. The car is stunning in person, to me. It is detailed, athletic, elegant, and stylized. I'd call it and the M-class two of the most stylish new products on the road, and the CLS, A8, and S the most stylish sedans on the road. The new front end in person isn't a dramatic departure, but the improvements are profound and rachet up the grace and flow of the lines.

The wierd thing about this picture of the new CL and the new S is how much inspiration is taken from BMW. The S has a blatant Bangle butt, only well done and graceful, like the refreshed 7 has become. The CL's sides and lower bodywork scream 3-series and Z4. As is these are computer enhanced shots, the side is awful, though the rear I could see liking. The front is clearly not representative of a new MB.

Edited March 31, 2006 by turbo200

[Variance]

Update:

There are new shots out. Once again camo-free and this time there is no major computer enhancement. Everything you see should be what the CL will look like in showrooms

Read "Spy photos: 2008 Mercedes Benz CL coupe" @ Edmunds Straightline

[sciguy_0504]

Ouch, that rear window is pretty bad. Otherwise, it's alright, I guess. It kind of looks like a 6 Series.

[Croc]

Update:

There are new shots out. Once again camo-free and this time there is no major computer enhancement. Everything you see should be what the CL will look like in showrooms

Read "Spy photos: 2008 Mercedes Benz CL coupe" @ Edmunds Straightline

from your link:

Other than some minor enhancement to clean off some strategically placed pieces of tape

yeaaaaaaaa...I wanna see the spy shots

[pow]

I have actually started to see a lot more S-class' recently. The car is stunning in person, to me. It is detailed, athletic, elegant, and stylized. I'd call it and the M-class two of the most stylish new products on the road, and the CLS, A8, and S the most stylish sedans on the road. The new front end in person isn't a dramatic departure, but the improvements are profound and rachet up the grace and flow of the lines.

The wierd thing about this picture of the new CL and the new S is how much inspiration is taken from BMW. The S has a blatant Bangle butt, only well done and graceful, like the refreshed 7 has become. The CL's sides and lower bodywork scream 3-series and Z4. As is these are computer enhanced shots, the side is awful, though the rear I could see liking. The front is clearly not representative of a new MB.

Yeah, my aunt has a S550 "Launch Edition" and it's stunning in person, both inside and out. I love the designo touches (graphite paint, black/cream interior, extended leather, matte wood) and the glass roof, but sadly it doesn't have Distronic. Between that and the 7-series, I'd have a hard time.

[Variance]

Update:

Read "Spy Photos: More Mercedes CL 63 AMG" @ World Car Fans

[MyerShift]

Oh my, it's unpleasant.