Mercedes-Benz has long been synonymous with luxury, innovation, and groundbreaking design in the automotive world. In 2003, they carved out a new niche with the introduction of the CLS, a vehicle that daringly merged the sleek silhouette of a coupe with the practicality of a sedan. For 2019, the Mercedes-Benz CLS Class enters its third generation, building upon this legacy while pioneering a fresh design language and incorporating cutting-edge technology. This new model is not just an evolution; it’s a revolution, promising to deliver an unparalleled blend of style, comfort, and performance to discerning drivers.
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS Class makes a bold statement with its exterior design, ushering in a new era for Mercedes-Benz aesthetics. The design philosophy emphasizes clean contours and minimalist lines, moving away from sharp edges to embrace sensual purity. The front fascia is particularly striking, dominated by a diamond grille that widens towards its base, reminiscent of the powerful Mercedes-AMG GT. This grille, a hallmark of Mercedes-Benz coupes, features a single louver and is instantly recognizable. Flanking the grille are wide, low-set headlights that slant inwards, dynamically tracing the grille’s outline and giving the car an assertive gaze. The hood is seamlessly integrated into the body, creating a smooth, uninterrupted surface that contributes to the car’s streamlined appearance.
Moving along the sides, the CLS Class maintains its signature arching waistline and low greenhouse, elements that define its coupe character. The frameless side windows enhance the sleek profile, while the forward-slanting front end, likened to a shark’s nose, adds to the vehicle’s dynamic and elongated appearance. The surfaces are generously curved, further emphasizing the sensual purity design language, where lines are minimized and forms are fluid.
The rear of the 2019 CLS Class is equally distinctive, featuring a muscular shoulder line that flows elegantly into the flat rear. The two-section taillamps are a classic coupe cue, positioned to accentuate the car’s width and low stance. Reflectors are integrated into the rear bumper, and the license plate is also located in the bumper, allowing the iconic Mercedes star to take center stage on the trunk lid. The LED taillamps themselves are a work of art, with a crystalline appearance and a three-dimensional effect, adding a touch of modern sophistication.
Stepping inside the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS Class reveals a luxurious interior that mirrors the flowing lines of the exterior. The cabin is designed with a focus on spaciousness and high-quality materials, creating an environment of refined comfort. The sporty, width-accentuated cockpit immediately draws attention, with color combinations carefully chosen to enhance the feeling of generous space. The interior design flows seamlessly from the front to the rear doors, creating a cohesive and enveloping atmosphere.
A standout feature of the interior is the ambient lighting, particularly the illuminated air vents that resemble jet aircraft turbines. These vents not only provide functional illumination but also serve as a striking design element, adding a touch of futuristic flair. The seats are newly designed for this model, featuring high-quality piping and a hand-finished appearance, further contributing to the luxurious ambiance. Notably, for the first time, the CLS Coupe offers seating for five passengers, with the outer rear seats styled to resemble individual seats, maintaining the sporty aesthetic while increasing practicality. The rear seat backrests can be folded in a 40/20/40 split, offering versatility for cargo and passenger configurations.
The technology within the 2019 CLS Class is equally impressive. The CLS 450 comes standard with a high-resolution 12.3-inch central display, and optionally offers a dual-screen setup with two 12.3-inch displays merging under a single glass cover to form a widescreen cockpit. This digital instrument cluster is fully configurable, allowing drivers to customize the information displayed based on their needs and preferences. Three display styles – Classic, Sport, and Progressive – offer further personalization options to match different moods or interior appointments. The ambient lighting system is also highly customizable, offering a choice of 64 colors, extending to the illuminated air vents. Intelligently, the ambient lighting can even provide feedback on climate control adjustments, briefly changing color to red when warming the temperature and blue when cooling it.
Beyond aesthetics and interior comfort, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS Class excels in providing a holistic sense of well-being through its ENERGIZING Comfort system. This innovative feature links various comfort systems within the vehicle, including climate control (with fragrancing), seats (heating, ventilation, massage), surface and steering wheel heating, lighting, and musical atmospheres. ENERGIZING Comfort allows drivers to select from six pre-programmed modes – Refresh/Freshness, Warmth, Vitality, Joy, Comfort/Well-Being, and Training – each designed to create a specific wellness experience tailored to the driver’s mood and needs. The Training mode even offers muscle relaxation, muscle activation, and balance exercises, enhancing well-being and performance on long journeys.
Drawing on technology from the flagship S-Class, the 2019 CLS Class is equipped with the latest generation of driving assistance systems. The Driver Assistance Package offers route-based speed adaptation and comprehensive driver support. Standard safety features include Active Brake Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST, and PRE-SAFE® occupant protection system. A new standard feature, PRE-SAFE® Sound, prepares occupants’ hearing for potential accident noise if a collision risk is detected.
The optional Driver Assistance Package further enhances safety and convenience with features like Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Steering Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, PRE-SAFE® PLUS, and PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side. Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC and Active Steering Assist provide enhanced support for maintaining a safe distance and steering, even automatically adjusting speed for bends and junctions. Active Lane Change Assist has also been significantly improved. Utilizing enhanced camera and radar systems, the new CLS Class has an improved awareness of its surroundings and, for the first time, uses map and navigation data to anticipate driving behavior. The “Assistance Graphics” menu in the instrument cluster provides a clear overview of active assistance functions, displayed both on-screen and in the head-up display. All assistance functions are conveniently controlled from the steering wheel. In stop-and-go traffic, the CLS can now handle stops of up to 3 seconds, automatically resuming movement and following traffic flow.
The optional LED Intelligent Light System further enhances visibility with advanced LED headlamps and Ultra Wide Beam high beams. The Ultra Wide Beams significantly increase road and surrounding area illumination, providing a substantial improvement in nighttime driving visibility. Adaptive Highbeam Assist, also part of the LED Intelligent Light System, allows for continuous main beam usage without dazzling other drivers, intelligently switching off LEDs in the high beam modules when oncoming or preceding vehicles are detected.
Underneath the sculpted body, the 2019 CLS Class features a sophisticated suspension system. A four-link front suspension and five-link rear suspension provide a foundation for both comfort and dynamic handling. A dynamically tuned steel comfort suspension is standard, while the optional AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension offers an improved, adjustable, and adaptive damping system. Drivers can further tailor the driving experience using the driving mode switch, selecting from comfortable to sporty settings.
Powering the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 and CLS 450 4MATIC models is a completely new, systematically electrified in-line six-cylinder engine with EQ Boost (integrated starter/generator) and a 48-volt onboard electrical system. This innovative engine delivers 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an additional 21 horsepower and significant torque available via EQ Boost for short bursts. The EQ Boost system assists the combustion engine during acceleration, enables “sailing” (driving without the combustion engine), and recuperates energy to charge the battery. This technology not only enhances performance but also improves fuel efficiency, rivaling high-voltage hybrid systems. The new in-line six-cylinder engine offers the performance of a traditional eight-cylinder engine with significantly reduced fuel consumption. The CLS 450 also comes standard with a particulate filter.
For those seeking an even more exclusive experience, the Edition 1 model of the 2019 CLS Class offers heightened luxury and unique design elements. The COPPER ART interior concept features black pearl nappa leather seats with diamond-design center sections and copper-colored accents. Copper-colored contrasting topstitching adorns the center console, seats, armrests, dashboard, and door linings. The Edition 1 also boasts a unique diamond grille with matt chrome pins and a copper-colored shimmer on the louver. The exterior is based on the AMG Line and includes LED Intelligent Light headlamps as standard and 19-inch multi-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels in black with a high-sheen rim flange. “Edition 1” lettering on the front fenders and interior details like a nappa leather dashboard, natural grain black ash wood trim, an IWC analogue clock, and “Edition 1” badging further distinguish this special model.
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS Class is more than just a car; it’s a statement of intent. It embodies Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to pushing design boundaries, integrating cutting-edge technology, and delivering unparalleled luxury and performance. As the third generation of the model that pioneered the four-door coupe segment, the 2019 CLS Class confidently redefines its category, offering a compelling blend of emotion and intelligence for the modern driver. Set to make its world premiere at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show and arrive in U.S. dealerships in late 2018, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS Class is poised to once again capture the hearts and minds of luxury car enthusiasts worldwide.
