The CLS-Class from Mercedes-Benz is the pioneer of the four-door coupe segment and slight changes and improvements have shown the CLS-Class to continue to be a top performer for this very exclusive segment. For many years a coupe had to only have two doors to be considered a coupe. When four doors were on a vehicle it seemed to lose the sportiness and excellence that had previously adorned its two-door partner making the four door sedans feel boring and lacking in driving excitement. The CLS changed this a few years ago when it unleashed the CLS-Class as the first four-door coupe to the world.
A few others make their way into this segment, the Audi A7 and the BMW 6 Series, both of which are high performers as well making this a very competitive segment of the auto industry. The look of the CLS- Class is not one that runs and hides, it is very much as fast as it appears it should be. For the new model year the CLS-Class adds a CLS400 turbo V6 model and gains a major facelift across the lineup. Along with these changes a standing view screen is added to the dashboard and the CLS550 adds a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Driving the CLS-Class gives drivers a feel of aggression, speed, acceleration and a dynamic driving performance that is smooth and easy to fully enjoy. This very enjoyable ride is the result of the finely tuned and highly active Mercedes-Benz suspension that keeps the car glued to the road. To go along with this great suspension an almost overly-responsive steering system is in place to help keep the car going where the driver needs it to with ease and a slight change of the steering. All of this gives the CLS-Class one of the best rides on the market today, not real surprising when it comes to Mercedes-Benz.
There are three engines that can be found in the CLS-Class sports coupe. The first of these three shows up as a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine which is located in the power compartment of the CLS400. This engine offers 329 horsepower and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. When mated to the transmission this model gives fuel efficiency of 20 city/30 hwy mpg for the RWD models and 20 city/28 hwy mpg for the AWD versions.
The next engine is the 4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine found in the CLS550. This beast shows up with 402 horsepower and 443 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine will bring in decent fuel numbers that show up at 17 city/26 hwy mpg for the RWD versions and 17 city/24 hwy mpg for the AWD models.
At the top of the line the engine is a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine found in the CLS63 AMG S 4Matic. This engine offers up to 577 horsepower and 590 lb.-ft. of torque and brings in fuel efficiency of 16 city/22 hwy mpg. This power and at least decent fuel number make for one of the most potent AMG models on the road today.
When lavish luxury is desired Mercedes-Benz delivers in the CLS-Class which offers a huge amount of posh and supple materials to cover the various surfaces of this high class four-door sports coupe. For the tech lovers there is an abundance of tech aboard in the obvious infotainment system and various high end safety features that allow this car to be one of the best performers on the road. To add even more looks to the vehicle plenty of wood trim colors and textures make for a very enjoyable and intriguing luxury sports car which is one of the best to ride in or drive.
Other than the obvious exterior feature of this being one of the only four-door coupes on the road the CLS-Class is a gorgeous luxury sports car that gives more than it gets. With a long and low hood angle that seems to very nicely transition to the roof line that flows all the way to the rear of the car this is one car that offers a great aerodynamic look without giving up a ton of interior head room. The fastback look on the rear of the CLS gives an even more aggressive stance and appearance to give the car a great look that a sports car should have.
For the CLS-Class the standard features on board include an interesting suspension change. The CLS400 has the traditional sports while all other models add air adjustable suspensions that give an even smoother ride. The other standard features include 14-way power and heated front seats, leather upholstery, automatic climate control, multi-color ambient lighting and an eight-inch audio display. The CLS550 adds a navigation system and a 14-speaker Harman/kardon sound system. All CLS models are equipped with twelve airbags, Attention Assist drowsiness monitor, the Electronic Stability Program and bi-xenon headlights. On the AMG S a limited slip rear differential is standard fare giving even better sport performance.
The CLS-Class does offer some great optional features even though the base model is pretty well loaded. These optional features include full LED headlights, a rearview camera, heated and ventilated front seats, an iPod interface, split-folding rear seats, an electric trunk closer, adaptive highbeam headlights, Distronic PLUS cruise control, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Parktronic with Advanced Parking Assist and Night View Assist PLUS with Pedestrian Detection. The CLS63 AMG S 4Matic can be had with ceramic brake and a Bang & Olufsen audio system. Adding any or all of these features really turns the already luxurious CLS-Class into one that has it all for any driver to fully enjoy.
The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS400 starts out with a price of $67,000. To add the 4Matic AWD the price increases by $2,500 to add a great deal of added control to the vehicle. The CLS550 starts around $74,000 and the CLS63 AMG S 4Matic will begin life above the $107,500 mark. The AMG will top out fully loaded around $150,000 making this a very high end sports car that can be truly appreciated by those who can afford this awesome four-door coupe.
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