While the arrival of the CLS four-sedan at Mercedes stores across Canada might give the struggling brand a little PR bump, the small volumes of the big ticket car won't be able to stop the brand's ongoing sales slump.
The $92,600 CLS500 and the $125,600 CLS55 AMG come at a bad time for the German importer as it struggles with its overall quality reputation and car sales that were down a serious 14.9 percent in 2004.
To help attract more attention to the CLS, Mercedes-Benz is trying to push this garden variety sedan (four doors with a pillar between them make sure of that) as a coupe in appearance. ''Never before have two contrasting concepts been brought together so effectively and attractively as in the new CLS,'' says JoAnne Caza of Mercedes-Benz Canada. ''The four-door CLS500 is the first vehicle to combine the emotional design of a coupe with the comfort and functionality of a sedan.''
According to Caza, ''The overall design is an accurate reflection of the coupe's emotional, experience-oriented character. Based on familiar Mercedes-Benz stylistic elements, the lines of the CLS bring out the best in such normally conflicting characteristics as dynamics and spaciousness, power and elegance, aesthetics and functionality.''
Whatever you think of its look, the 2005 CLS is capable of going from 0 to 100 kmh in a little over six seconds, while keeping its driver close to the edge of illegality at all times. The 5-litre V-8 has been tuned to produce 302 hp at 5,600 rpm and 339 lb-ft of torque from 2,700 to 4,250 rpm, which is an impressive application of grunt.
The AMG model is of course even more impressive than that, as it draws 476 hp and about 525 lb-ft of torque out of its supercharged 5.5-litre V-8. With this much juice, the AMG model will go from 0 to 100 kmh in about 4.7 seconds.
On the transmission front, the CLS500 gets a seven-speed automatic shifter, while the CLS55 uses an AMG Speedshift five-speed automatic, which of course can be used as a clutchless manual if the driver so desires.
Other standard features in the CLS500 include AIRMATIC DC air suspension, luxury automatic climate control, and 18-inch light-alloy wheels with 245/40 R 18 tires.
The styling of the CLS extends throughout the interior, Caza says. ''Engaging colours create an inviting ambience and top-quality materials ensure an extremely pleasant in-car environment. Soft leather and exquisite wood form the most important design elements of the interior, with the seats, steering wheel and automatic transmission selector lever finished in leather trim as standard.''
Handcrafted burl walnut wood lends the interior of the CLS-Class a ''particularly elegant and sophisticated feel,'' Caza adds, and a ''large and lavishly sculpted trim element distinguished by satin-painted wood dominates the instrument panel.''
As for the rear seats, Caza says the ''luxurious individual seats offer impressive freedom of movement, with a distance of 829 mm between the front and rear seats, with 1,472-mm of elbow room in the front and 1,464-mm in the rear, provide more space than many sedans.''
The $92,600 CLS500 and the $125,600 CLS55 AMG come at a bad time for the German importer as it struggles with its overall quality reputation and car sales that were down a serious 14.9 percent in 2004.
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According to Caza, ''The overall design is an accurate reflection of the coupe's emotional, experience-oriented character. Based on familiar Mercedes-Benz stylistic elements, the lines of the CLS bring out the best in such normally conflicting characteristics as dynamics and spaciousness, power and elegance, aesthetics and functionality.''
Whatever you think of its look, the 2005 CLS is capable of going from 0 to 100 kmh in a little over six seconds, while keeping its driver close to the edge of illegality at all times. The 5-litre V-8 has been tuned to produce 302 hp at 5,600 rpm and 339 lb-ft of torque from 2,700 to 4,250 rpm, which is an impressive application of grunt.
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On the transmission front, the CLS500 gets a seven-speed automatic shifter, while the CLS55 uses an AMG Speedshift five-speed automatic, which of course can be used as a clutchless manual if the driver so desires.
Other standard features in the CLS500 include AIRMATIC DC air suspension, luxury automatic climate control, and 18-inch light-alloy wheels with 245/40 R 18 tires.
The styling of the CLS extends throughout the interior, Caza says. ''Engaging colours create an inviting ambience and top-quality materials ensure an extremely pleasant in-car environment. Soft leather and exquisite wood form the most important design elements of the interior, with the seats, steering wheel and automatic transmission selector lever finished in leather trim as standard.''
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As for the rear seats, Caza says the ''luxurious individual seats offer impressive freedom of movement, with a distance of 829 mm between the front and rear seats, with 1,472-mm of elbow room in the front and 1,464-mm in the rear, provide more space than many sedans.''