Vienna, Austria - It wasn't the symphony of Strauss or the romantic notes of Mozart that floated in the Austrian air but rather a unique purr coming from the new exhaust system of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG. Or was it the CLS550's more subtle sound? Anyway, we were in the beautiful capital of Austria to put the German brand's newly redesigned and gorgeous 4-door coupes to the test.
This new generation is not a radical departure from the previous one, but the improvements are significant enough to describe the car as "all-new".
Fresh new lines
The biggest change made to the CLS550 is an aesthetic one. Designers slightly revamped the lines of what was already one of the most stunning automobiles on the road. A bit of visual fine-tuning was performed, although the unique overall shape remains basically intact.
The front grille now sports a more subtle grey finish, while the rear bumper is slightly tweaked. New trapezoid-shaped tailpipes are found on all models and, finally, every wheel set has been redesigned.
The upgrades continue inside where white-face gauges and a three-spoke steering wheel that's easier to grip await the driver. Those are the more striking changes, which means that the successful styling and layout of this remarkable German are not compromised in any way.
Even the almighty CLS63 AMG is very similar in style to the previous model. The streamlined body and stretched roofline that have become the car's trademarks are still magnificently executed.
Also new for 2009 are features like a theater-worthy Harman Kardon premium surround sound system and a highly accurate navigation system. The latter helped me get out of trouble on more than one occasion, as I wound up in the middle of the Austrian backcountry with no reference points whatsoever. The lovely female voice then guided me back to Vienna. That's what good friends will do for you.
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| We were in beautiful Vienna to put the newly redesigned 4-door coupes to the test. |
This new generation is not a radical departure from the previous one, but the improvements are significant enough to describe the car as "all-new".
Fresh new lines
The biggest change made to the CLS550 is an aesthetic one. Designers slightly revamped the lines of what was already one of the most stunning automobiles on the road. A bit of visual fine-tuning was performed, although the unique overall shape remains basically intact.
The front grille now sports a more subtle grey finish, while the rear bumper is slightly tweaked. New trapezoid-shaped tailpipes are found on all models and, finally, every wheel set has been redesigned.
The upgrades continue inside where white-face gauges and a three-spoke steering wheel that's easier to grip await the driver. Those are the more striking changes, which means that the successful styling and layout of this remarkable German are not compromised in any way.
Even the almighty CLS63 AMG is very similar in style to the previous model. The streamlined body and stretched roofline that have become the car's trademarks are still magnificently executed.
Also new for 2009 are features like a theater-worthy Harman Kardon premium surround sound system and a highly accurate navigation system. The latter helped me get out of trouble on more than one occasion, as I wound up in the middle of the Austrian backcountry with no reference points whatsoever. The lovely female voice then guided me back to Vienna. That's what good friends will do for you.
 |
| White-face gauges and a three-spoke steering wheel that's easier to grip await the driver. |